The Indianapolis Recorder won ten awards, including three first place plaques, from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2023 Best in Indiana Journalism Awards Friday, April 26, 2024.
Environmental and health reporter, Jade Jackson won first place for coverage of race and diversity issues with the series, Hues of Heritage: Exploring Afro-Latino identity, colorism and pride.
By exploring the intersectionality of race and culture, Jackson highlights Afro-Latinos making waves in the Indianapolis community.
Hues of Heritage: Exploring Afro-Latino identity, colorism and pride (part one)
Jackson also won first place for election and campaign coverage for the story, Barred but never barred: ‘Yes! You Can Vote!,’ highlighting how previously incarcerated Hoosiers do have the right to vote in the state.
With the misconception that people who have previously been convicted of a crime cannot vote, Jackson’s coverage dispels the notion that often keeps people from the polls, featuring people who have voted after being released from prison and organizations working to register previously incarcerated people to vote.
Barred but never barred: ‘Yes! You Can Vote!’
Graphic designer, Eryn Forrest won first place for graphics and illustrations for a public circulation below 10,000 for her “Pixellated Jesus,” a design created for the story, Controversy arises as ‘I Am Jesus Christ’ tackles religion in gaming.
Other SPJ awards the Indianapolis Recorder won
Other awards include sports reporter, Noral Parham winning second place for best sports column writing for the story, Prime paradigm shift: How Deion Sanders is changing the culture in Colorado.
Prime paradigm shift: How Deion Sanders is changing the culture in Colorado
Jackson won second place for best coverage of children’s issues for the story, ‘These are our children! Activists protest NRA convention in downtown Indianapolis.
‘These are our children!’ Activists protest NRA Convention in downtown Indianapolis
Arts and culture reporter, Chloe McGowan, won second place for best business or consumer affairs reporting for the story, ‘Try it, you might like it:’ Indy’s Black-owned vegan restaurants are making waves in the community.
‘Try it, you might like it’: Indy’s Black-owned vegan restaurants are making waves in the community
Parham also won third place for best coverage of race and diversity issues for the story, ‘Si, se puede:’ The leaps and bounds of immigrant success.
‘Si, se puede:’ The leaps and bounds of immigrant success
Jackson won third place for best criminal justice reporting for the story, Law and language: When language is a barrier in the criminal justice system.
Law and language: When language is a barrier in the criminal justice system
Racial justice reporter, Garrett Simms won third place for best coverage of social justice issues for the story, Organization highlights survivor’s stories, demands end to police brutality.
Organization highlights survivor’s stories, demands end to police brutality
Jayden Kennett won best environmental reporting for the story, Sackett v EPA: One big win for real estate developers, one huge loss in the fight to protect Indiana’s wetlands.
