KYUK won 13 Alaska Press Club awards for journalism produced in 2019. The annual contest honors reporting produced by Alaskan journalists working in media outlets across the state.
KYUK’s 2019 honors include three first place awards for journalism produced in all media categories. In the radio category, KYUK received four first place awards, two second place awards, and four third place awards.
We share these awards with the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Every story is a collaboration between the people involved in the story, the journalist, and the audience. Quyana for supporting KYUK and for sharing your experiences, questions, insights, and stories with us. Congratulations to you and to our staff.
KYUK’s 2019 Alaska Press Club Awards
Best Solo Journalism in All Media
- First Place
- Title: “Not Enough Kids In Red Devil”
- By Katie Basile
- Comments from judge Lois Norder: “KYUK’s Katie Basile entry was a clear standout. She not only provides a feel for the tiny community of Red Devil and its residents, she also illuminated the complex issues about its survival.”
Best Multimedia Presentation in All Media
- First Place
- Title: “Watch: Can Bethel Afford The Costs Of Climate Change?”
- By Krysti Shallenberger, Katie Basile, and Joey Mendolia
- Comments from judge Matt Miller: “A well-reported story augmented by thoughtful video and audio.”
Best Online Video Journalism in All Media
- First Place
- Title: “Video: A Record Breaking Finish in the 40th K300”
- By Katie Basile, Kathy Engler, Rosie Evan, Angela Denning, Zachariah Hughes, Kaylee King, Anna Rose MacArthur, Ben Matheson, Joey Mendolia, Gabby Salgado, and Dean Swope
- Comments from judge Brian McCrone: “Clear by the delivery that the video was edited for the web. Quick-paced and on the-ground. Narrator kept it exciting and competitive, like a sports announcer.”
Radio: Best Single Story Reporting
- First Place
- Title: “After 20 Year Wait, Newtok Residents Leave Home To Pioneer Mertarvik”
- By Greg Kim
- Comments from judge Bob Collins: “Really great use of sound in this story of people who ‘feel happy and sad at the same time.’ Your description of Albertina Charles was heartbreaking. I’ll be honest with you. Originally, I had this entry down for second place but I didn’t finalize the results. Over the next two weeks, I kept thinking about Ms. Charles and specifically the last cut which you left us with. I kept thinking about the people of Newtok. I listened to both pieces again and again. Both were really good, but this one wouldn’t let go of me.”
Radio: Best Sports Reporting
- First Place
- Title: “How Bethel Created Four-Time K300 Sled Dog Race Champ Pete Kaiser”
- By Krysti Shallenberger
Radio: Best Reporting on Health
- First Place
- Title: “What Happens When A Community Gets Running Water? People Get Healthier.”
- By Anna Rose MacArthur
- Comments from judge Tom Banse: “Strong opening and closing scenes. Judicious sprinkling of health stats made this profile of one rural Alaska village relevant to all. Superb job.”
Radio: Best Same-Day Feature
- First Place
- Title: “Bethel Gives Hero's Welcome To Iditarod Champion Pete Kaiser”
- By Anna Rose MacArthur
- Comments from judge Amy Robinson: “Winning entry did a great job conveying the energy of the day. Good writing, delivery, and use of ambi sound. An all around strong piece.”
Radio: Best Same-Day Feature
- Third Place
- Title: “New George Attla Documentary Brings Together Community And Sled Dog Racing”
- By Krysti Shallenberger
Radio: Best Sound-Rich Feature
- Second Place
- Title: “Bethel Gives Hero's Welcome To Iditarod Champion Pete Kaiser”
- By Anna Rose MacArthur
- Comments from judge Corey Flintoff: “This piece uses sound effectively to capture a moment of community triumph, the return of a champion. Good interplay of voices with ambience, cheers, chants, and firetrucks.”
Radio: Best Sound-Rich Feature
- Third Place
- Titel: “How Searchers Are Working To Recover Napaskiak Man Who Drowned In Kuskokwim”
- By Greg Kim
- Comments from judge Corey Flintoff: “This was a moving and culturally sensitive piece about searching for the body of a missing man. It uses ambience effectively to take us to the scene, and good use of local voices to tell the story.”
Radio: Vern McCorkle Award for Best Business Reporting
- Second Place
- Title: “At The Moment, Donlin Gold Isn't Building A Mine. But It Is Building A Church”
- By Krysti Shallenberger
- Comments from judge Ashley Gross: “Really interesting story about the PR moves of a major mining company and what it's doing to try to win the hearts and minds of people in the Y-K Delta.”
Radio: Best Culture Reporting
- Third Place
- Title: “Yup'ik Elders Revive Traditional Baby Parka”
- By Krysti Shallenberger
Radio: Best Profile
- Third Place
- Title: “Kipnuk Celebrates The Life Of Keoni Aliralria At Graduation”
- By Greg Kim
- Comments from judge Cara Hetland: "Emotional - love the unity in this story."
Find the full 2019 Alaska Press Club Contest award list here.
