Journal sweeps continuing coverage, multimedia coverage at NMPA awards

The Albuquerque Journal took home several first- and second-place awards in the New Mexico Press Association 2025 Better Newspaper Contest, including a sweep of ongoing/continuing coverage and the best use of multimedia categories.

The Journal was recognized for best news coverage, best sports coverage and best use of multimedia, which was awarded to Staff Writer Nakayla McCelland and Staff Photographer Chancey Bush for a video story about a balloon pilot during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Coverage of a mass shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces earned a first-place award in the breaking news category for Journal staff writers Algernon D’Ammassa, Matthew Reisen and Justin Garcia.

Reisen, now the News editor, and Investigative Reporter Colleen Heild earned best ongoing/continuing coverage for reporting on a decades-long scandal involving officers from the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police, as well as a defense attorney and his investigator.

Rounding out the first-place awards, Staff Writer Sean Reider won for sports writing for a profile on University of New Mexico receiver Michael Buckley. Staff Photographers Jessica Baca won for sports photo and Eddie Moore won for feature photo.

The Journal also won first place for its obituary page and for classified advertising.

Journal Capitol Bureau Chief Dan Boyd won second place in the environmental or agricultural writing category.

Staff Writer Gregory R.C. Hasman won second for feature writing. Staff Writer Rick Wright earned second place in obituary news. Logan Royce Beitmen, a staff writer, received second place in the review category.

Staff Writers Cathy Cook, Olivier Uyttebrouck and Heild received second place in the best ongoing/continuing coverage for a series on medical malpractice in New Mexico.

Sports Writer James Yodice and Bush also earned second place in the multimedia category for a feature on Ruidoso High School football in the wake of devastating fires and floods.

Journal staff also took home second place in general excellence, design and typography and second place in editorials.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta special section also earned second place.

The Journal took home second place for a digital advertising campaign and best web advertisement.

The Journal competes in Daily Class 1, which is for daily newspapers with a circulation of 5,000 or more.