Here's what awards the Journal won for its work in 2024

The Albuquerque Journal took 17 awards in the Society of Professional Journalists 2025 Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism competition, one of the most prestigious contests for news organizations based in the Southwest.

Among the awards were seven first-place finishes for photography, columns, headline writing and sports coverage and six second-place finishes, including “Looking for the light,” the final piece written by longtime Journal and Albuquerque Tribune writer Ollie Reed Jr., who died within days of it being published.

The Journal also received three first place, two second place and two third place awards in the New Mexico Press Women’s contest.

Additionally, visual journalist Chancey Bush earned the National Press Photographers Association 2024 Photographer of the Year award for the southern region.

First place

The winners, followed by category and judges’ comments.

Chancey Bush for Spot News Photography: “Tattoo shop owner gunned down inside shop in Downtown Albuquerque.” The raw emotion jumps off the image and hits the viewer’s heart. The viewer can’t help but feel pulled into the tragedy depicted magnificently here.

Bush for Sports Photography/Videography: “Unleash the Beast” Round one of the PBR Ty Murray Invitational at the Pit. The viewer is completely engaged and in the action in this remarkable image.

Jessica Baca for News Photography/Videography: “The end of a long chapter”: Seaman 2nd Class John Auld, killed in Pearl Harbor, buried in ABQ. The subject is portrayed uniquely and through the lens delivers an impactful portrait.

Geoff Grammer for Sports Columns: “Portal Kombat: Don’t be fooled by what you see on social media.” This piece demystifies the transfer-portal process and demonstrates how the portal changes things for players, coaches and programs — and not always in ways that are intended.

James Yodice for Sports News Writing: “Warriors rising.” Incredible article. I fully understand what it takes to come back after devastation.

Beth Trujillo for Headline Writing: It’s a plunderful life. The headline “Welcome to Jurassic Pottery” about a potter who features dinosaurs and dragons in her work is clever, sparks interest, and reflects the subject well.

Jeff Tucker for Columns/Op Ed: “Heinrich’s Puerto Rican statehood bill could cost NM a House seat.” This opinion writer stood out for using witty comments and for citing helpful facts about lawmakers and how they ducked on crime bills in the statehouse.

Second Place

Personal/Humor Column: Ollie Reed Jr. — “Looking for the light”

Beat Reporting: Matthew Reisen — “A candid conversation among officers”

Editorial Cartoons: John Trever

Breaking News: Gregory R.C. Hasman — “UNM protest escalates”

Business Enterprise Reporting: Megan Gleason — “The Earth is always hot”

Climate Photography/Videography: Eddie Moore — “Enjoying the fruits of your labor — if you have labor”

Third Place

Religion Feature: Cathy Cook — “Tranquility on Tomé Hill”

Features Short Form: Nakayla McClelland — “A carny life”

Feature Photography/Videography: Bush — “Children get covered in foamy bubbles”

New Mexico Press Women

First Place

Bush — two entries: “Bull rider” and “The art of bodybuilders”

Cook — “Tranquility on Tomé Hill”

Second Place

McClelland — “Lawsuits allege Santa Fe spa fleeced tourists, overcharged clients”

Bush — “Gathering of Nations Powwow”

Third Place

Bush — “Foam Zone”

Cook — “El Vado Dam faces further construction delays”

Honorable Mention

Jay Newton-Small, Journal executive editor — “Score one for bureaucracy in its battle with technology”

McClelland — “Tamale tias who make Christmas”

Reed — “Looking for the light”