Arizona Daily Star wins AZ Newspaper, Journalist and Photographer of the Year honors

The Arizona Daily Star won top honors in the Arizona Newspapers Association’s annual awards announced Saturday.

The Star, under publisher John D’Orlando and editor Jill Jorden Spitz, earned Arizona Newspaper of the Year in the daily category.

Star columnist Tim Steller was named the 2021 Journalist of the Year for his investigative commentary on issues involving the U.S.-Mexico border, immigration and political rhetoric.

Kelly Presnell of the Star won a fourth consecutive award as ANA Photographer of the Year.

The Star also received first place for community service and journalistic achievement.

The contest was judged by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association and The Associated Press’ West regional bureau.

The AP’s Member of the Year award also went to the Arizona Daily Star. It was presented by Peter Prengaman, the AP’s news director for the Western United States.

Here are the Star’s other winners:

Editorial page excellence: first place

Newspaper website: first place

Special section or magazine: first place

Best news story: first place, Curt Prendergast, for “Future of border wall”; second place, Danyelle Khmara, for “Tucson school districts’ enrollment suffers”; third place, Justin Sayers and Jasmine Demers, for “Tucson nursing home has state’s worst COVID-19 death toll.”

Best sustained coverage or series: first place, Patty Machelor, for “COVID-19 evictions crisis.”

Enterprise reporting: first place, Curt Prendergast, for “Future of border wall about to be handed over to voters”; third place, Tony Davis, for “Tucson’s south side has 9 of the city’s 10 hottest neighborhoods.”

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Best column, feature or commentary: first place, Tim Steller, for “Border panic is overblown”; second place, David Fitzsimmons, for “Seeking refuge from the virus in our desert wilderness”; third place, Tim Steller, for “Outgoing county attorney tied hands of new one on key case.”

Investigative reporting: second place, Justin Sayers, for “UA’s work with conservative PR firm to promote coronavirus efforts raises ‘red flags’”; and third place, Justin Sayers, Stephanie Casanova and Alex Devoid, for “In Tucson’s Latino communities, coronavirus didn’t create problems, it exposed existing ones.”

Best sports story: first place, Caitlin Schmidt, for “3 race car-driving girls make track history”; second place, Bruce Pascoe, for “Legendary UA basketball coach Lute Olson dies”.

Best team, sport or sports beat coverage: first place, Caitlin Schmidt, for “Title IX and other issues in UA athletic department.”

Best feature story: second place, Danyelle Khmara, for “Amid pandemic, Tucson educators form grassroots system to support families in need”; third place, Cathalena E. Burch, for “retired Tucson cop heading for Hollywood’s bright lights, big dreams.”

Best news photograph: first place, Mamta Popat, for “Hug tunnel’; second place, Kelly Presnell, for “Bighorn Fire.”

Best sports photograph: second place, Mamta Popat, for “Words with referee”; third place, Kelly Presnell, for “COVID tennis.”

Best feature photograph: first place, Kelly Presnell, for “Drive in”; second place, Kelly Presnell, for “COVID Christmas.”

Best feature photo layout or photo story: first place, Mamta Popat, for “State of Denial”; second place, Rebecca Sasnett, for “Tucson’s fitness world leans on technology and the internet.”

Reporting and newswriting excellence: second place

Departmental news and copywriting excellence: second place

Page design excellence: second place

Best use of photography: second place