Arts, Culture & Community Features

Former KYUK Reporter Takes Top Awards At Press Club, KYUK Earns 7 Awards Total

KYUK

Published April 30, 2019 at 12:57 PM AKDT

KYUK proudly took home seven awards during the annual Alaska Press Club Conference last week. Among KYUK’s accolades, former reporter Teresa Cotsirilos earned an honorable mention in the prestigious all media Public Service Award for her series about the daily struggles of a village police officer in Mountain Village.

But that’s not all. Cotsirilos beat out Alaska’s top investigative reporters in all media to win first place in investigative reporting for that same series.

The four-part series gave listeners an intimate look at VPO Anna Bill’s efforts to save her village from suicide, and the challenges that brought her there. Later, then-Governor Bill Walker honored Bill with the 2018 Shirley Demientieff Award at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention.

KYUK news director Anna Rose MacArthur took home three Alaska Press Club awards for her stories on Napakiak’s erosion threatening its school, and a local musher on a winning streak. Finally, Alaska's Energy Desk’s Bethel correspondent Krysti Shallenberger took home an award for her story about Donlin Gold’s mission to move a mountain to mine gold.

Congratulations to our reporters. We are honored to continue KYUK’s mission of powerful storytelling in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Public Service Award, All Media

Honorable Mention

“For her detailed reporting of the life of an overburdened Village Police Officer in Mountain Village and the challenges facing those in law enforcement positions in rural communities.”

Teresa Cotsirilos

Best Investigative Reporting, All Media

First Place

“Four-part Series on Policing, Safety and Public Health in Mountain Village.”

Teresa Cotsirilos

Best Single Story Reporting, Radio

Third Place

“As Yaska Trial Is Delayed Again, Aniak Searches For Answers.”