Our Newsroom Wins Statewide Honors For Reporting on Police, Public Lands, Native History

The New Mexico Press Women honored reporters and editors from the Ctrl+P Publishing group with 7 awards for excellence in reporting in the organization's 2023 communications contest, including three statewide first place honors for reporting on police misconduct, public lands, and Native American history.

Environment and conservation reporter Gwynne Unruh won first place for News Feature for her story chronicling a neighborhood's fight to stop city development in a revered open space parcel.   The story, part of a larger series, appeared in The Paper.  Unruh also received 2nd place honors for writing on fights to recognize and protect indigenous water rights.  That coverage appeared in The Paper and Sandoval Signpost.

Tabitha Clay won first place for News Story for her use of public records and sources to detail the series of police decisions that led to a SWAT standoff and fire that killed a 14-year old boy.  The story was told through police video footage and police reports obtained exclusively by Clay and published in The Paper.  NMPW also awarded Clay 2nd place for another policing story involving the shooting of an unarmed man by Chaves County sheriff's deputies.

For the second year in a row, Acoma Pueblo native Jonathan Sims won first place for Continuing Coverage of New Mexico's Indian school legacy.  His research and reporting led to the rediscovery of an Indian school grave under a city park.  The push and pull between the city, tribal families and community are part of an ongoing series by Sims. His award winning reporting has appeared in The Paper, the Sandoval Signpost and the Corrales Comment, all part of the Ctrl+P Publishing group.   

Sims' coverage on this topic won recognition from the National Federation of Press women for best Continuing Coverage nationwide in 2022.

In the news categories, Tierna Unruh Enos also won 3rd place for news coverage of New Mexico's fake elector attempts following the 2020 elections.

Stephanie Hainsfurther, editor of The Paper, was also recognized for her reporting on arts and culture. Hainsfurther received 2nd place honors for writing on local arts organization Opera Southwest.

"Without local newspapers, stories like these would never be reported anymore," says Pat Davis, owner and president of Ctrl+P Publishing. "These amazing reporters show just how important it is to support and preserve local news and the storytellers who bring their newsrooms and communities they serve to life."

"It doesn't go unnoticed," adds Davis, "that the award winners making up the press women's most awarded newsroom are all women or journalists of color.   Investing in diverse voices creates better journalism and the communities we serve are better for it."

The New Mexico Press Women , organized in 1950, is an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women. It is an organization of professional journalists and communicators that promotes the highest ethical standards while looking to the future in professional development, networking and protecting First Amendment rights.  Statewide winners will go forward for consideration for awards from the National Federation of Presswomen. 

Ctrl+P Publishing is on a mission to preserve local newspapers. The group owns and publishes the Sandoval Signpost, the Corrales Comment, and The Independent (East Mountains and Torrance Co.). It also publishes The Paper, Albuquerque's alt-weekly and arts guide.