Boston Globe Rhode Island wins 43 R.I. Press Association editorial awards – The Boston Globe

PROVIDENCE — The Boston Globe Rhode Island team won 43 awards — including 18 first place finishes for Distinguished Journalist, News/Editorial Columnist, investigative reporting, spot news, community journalism, neighborhood coverage, government reporting, and in other categories — in the 2025 Rhode Island Press Association contest honoring work published in 2024.

Alexa Gagosz, Amanda Milkovits, Carlos Muñoz, Christopher Gavin, Dan McGowan, Ed Fitzpatrick, Omar Mohammed, and Steph Machado each received multiple honors at the awards ceremony, which was held at the Quonset “O” Club in North Kingstown, R.I., on May 9. Globe correspondents Alexa Coultoff, Bob Abelman, and Kevin McNamara also won awards for work published in Globe Rhode Island, as did Globe photographers Erin Clark, Lane Turner, and David L. Ryan.

Milkovits, who won first place for investigative reporting, was also honored for first place in general excellence as Distinguished Journalist.

“She has a gift for getting vulnerable people to open up to her and trust her with their stories, and she seeks justice for those unable to fight for themselves,” her entry read. “Her in-depth reporting, tireless questioning, and endless curiosity has had an undeniable impact in the Ocean State, leading to changes in procedures, accountability practices, and policies at the state and local levels.”

Gagosz garnered top honors for her coverage of housing and homelessness in Rhode Island, winning first place in the Single Topic Series category for the fourth year in a row. The Globe Rhode Island team took second place in this same category for their comprehensive coverage of the Washington Bridge closure.

Here are the stories and topics that were singled out for awards:

Distinguished Journalist

First place: Amanda Milkovits, The Boston Globe

News/Editorial Columnist

First Place: Dan McGowan, The Boston Globe

Best Digital Presentation

First place: “Millions of dollars, two investigations, and one lawsuit later: It’s been one year since the Washington Bridge shut down” by Alexa Gagosz and Steph Machado

Best website

Second place: Boston Globe Rhode Island

Feature Photo

Second place: “Their baby was born premature with complex medical needs. The hospital and his deaf parents adapted to help him survive.” by Erin Clark

News Story (Short)

First Place: “The Fed just cut rates. Here is what it means for Rhode Island.” by Omar Mohammed

Third Place: “Karaoke singers belted out three songs at a Providence restaurant in May. Now, the eatery is facing a lawsuit.” by Christopher Gavin

Spot News Story

First Place: “A 10,000-year-old great white shark tooth just washed up on a R.I. beach — again” by Christopher Gavin

Second Place: “The girl wasn’t the intended target. But she became a shooting victim before her 8th birthday.” by Amanda Milkovits and Steph Machado

Investigative or Analytical News Story

First Place: “A man was charged with killing a girl decades after she went missing. The case fell apart, and the accusation cost him everything.” by Amanda Milkovits

Second Place: “Institutionalized in R.I.: A thousand nights stuck in a system that fails kids” by Steph Machado (this investigative report, a broadcast version of which appeared on an episode of WSBE-TV’s “Rhode Island PBS Weekly,” was also nominated for a regional Emmy award).

Community Journalism

First Place: “Brown University transfers 255 acres in Bristol, R.I., to the Pokanoket Indian tribe: ‘We are the original stewards’” by Edward Fitzpatrick

Neighborhood Coverage

First Place: Three stories about Woonsocket, R.I., by Alexa Coultoff. Stories highlighted for this award included:

Government Reporting

First Place: “R.I.’s housing department faces internal struggles, scrutiny over contracts, incomplete projects” by Alexa Gagosz

Third Place: “Cranston, R.I., mayor’s ties to solar developer’s lawyer spill over into election” by Amanda Milkovits

Education Story

Second Place: “‘I became Natalie again.’ At age 90, she’s getting her college degree.” by Dan McGowan

Third Place: “How Career and Tech Education is changing the school landscape in R.I.” by Steph Machado

Religion or Spirituality Story

Third Place: “Finding his faith community: Mayor of Providence Brett Smiley converts to Judaism” by Steph Machado

Reporting on the Environment

Second Place: “‘Ghost gear’ haunts R.I. waters, harming marine life and the environment” by Carlos R. Muñoz

Science or Health Care Story

First Place: “As the private-equity-firm owners look to sell, the future of two safety-net hospitals in R.I. is at stake” by Alexa Gagosz

Third place: “‘She would’ve been alive’: Opening of safe injection site in R.I. is personal for councilwoman who once opposed it” by Steph Machado

Business Story

First Place: “A wealthy developer in Providence has a one-of-a-kind tax deal meant for affordable housing” by Steph Machado

Third Place: “What happens to Rhode Island’s economy if Hasbro moves to Boston?” by Alexa Gagosz

Personality Photo or Portrait

Third place: “‘This could be any of us’: A former journalist ended up homeless. Then, his story inspired a Narragansett family to help.” by Lane Turner

Profile or Personality Story

Second place: “‘This could be any of us’: A former journalist ended up homeless. Then, his story inspired a Narragansett family to help.” by Edward Fitzpatrick

History Journalism

First Place: “What happened to Providence’s Snowtown?” by Carlos R. Muñoz

Third Place: “New mural in Providence honors lost Chinatown and historic drag queen” by Alexa Gagosz

News/Features Columnist

Third Place: Bob Abelman, Globe Rhode Island theater columnist

Feature Story (Short)

Second Place: “These are the unwritten rules of Rhode Island” by Dan McGowan

Feature Story (In-Depth)

First Place: “Teens incarcerated in R.I. write obituaries for the forgotten: ‘No one should be just a number’” by Amanda Milkovits

Second Place: “‘The news says inflation is going down, but nobody sees it’: Long lines for food reveal a desperate need in R.I.” by Edward Fitzpatrick

Arts or Entertainment Story

Third Place: “10 of the year’s most memorable moments in R.I. theater” by Bob Abelman

Best Email Newsletter

Third Place: “The Rhode Island Food Club” by Alexa Gagosz

Food and Dining story

Third Place: “A centuries-old method for tastier fish is catching on in Providence” by Alexa Gagosz

Photo Series or Picture Story

First place: “For teens living with chronic illness, a prom night to remember” by Erin Clark

Sports Story

First Place: “‘A point of pride’: Rhode Island FC barrels its way to the USL title game” by Omar Mohammed

Third Place: “Providence College faces URI on Saturday. It’s more than just a basketball game.” by Kevin McNamara

Sports Feature Story

First Place: “He’s served 14 years in America’s most thankless job: Little League baseball president” by Dan McGowan

Tourism Story

First Place: “A trip to Newport, R.I., inspired by HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’” by Christopher Gavin

Third Place: “Restaurant Guide: Where to eat in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence, R.I.” by the Boston Globe Rhode Island staff

Weather or Climate Photo:

Second Place: “R.I. town offering buyouts to homeowners in some flood-prone neigborhoods” by David L. Ryan

Single-Topic Series

First Place: Housing and Homelessness in Rhode Island, by Alexa Gagosz.

For the second time in as many years, Gagosz’s dedication to holding government officials accountable led to the resignation of the state’s Housing Secretary, and once again she dug in her heels to cover every aspect of the aftermath, from the dysfunction within the state’s housing department to the resignation of the housing secretary’s deputy to the appointment of yet another new Housing Secretary. Stories highlighted in this award included:

Second Place: Coverage of the Washington Bridge, by the Globe Rhode Island staff.

The Washington Bridge plays a critical role in Rhode Island, carrying Interstate 195 into the area and connecting the cities of Providence and East Providence. Approximately 96,000 cars cross it each day. When it abruptly closed after a “catastrophic failure” in late December 2023, the entire Globe Rhode Island team sprang into action. In 2024, we kept our spotlight focused on the closure of the bridge and the aftermath, covering every angle, from money spent to lawsuits filed to people and businesses directly affected. Stories highlighted in this award included:

Lylah Alphonse can be reached at lylah.alphonse@globe.com. Follow her @WriteEditRepeat.