Delaware Online wins investigative reporting prize, 17 other awards

Delaware Online/The News Journal won the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism for its reporting revealing hundreds of invalid teacher licenses in Delaware.

The work by reporters Kelly Powers and Esteban Parra led to lawmakers proposing a bill that would tighten licensing requirements for public school employees and penalize districts that retain unlicensed staff.

The judges cited the work for “meticulous and thorough reporting” and “a fair and balanced presentation of the situation.”

The A‑Mark prize honors excellence in watchdog and accountability reporting. It is backed by The A‑Mark Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit supporting investigative and unbiased social‑issue journalism, in partnership with the Maryland‑Delaware‑DC Press Association.

“The reporting from Kelly Powers and Esteban Parra reflects the very best of investigative journalism in Delaware – thorough, fair and impactful,’’ said Mike Feeley, executive editor of The News Journal and Delaware Online. “We are proud to see their work awarded with the inaugural A-Mark Prize in a highly competitive field.

“I congratulate all of Delaware Online’s award winners in this year’s MDDC Awards for their commitment to journalism that strengthens our communities,’’ Feeley said.

Delaware Online/The News Journal won a total of 18 awards May 8 at the MDDC Press Association’s annual conference.

The MDDC Awards recognizes news publications from Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. For each category, a first- and second-place winner is chosen based on circulation divisions. A part of the largest-circulation division, Delaware Online/The News Journal competes against news sites like the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Banner and Washington Post.

Here is the list of winners, with links to the stories that took home the prizes.

Best of Show

• News-Driven Art or Illustration: Luis Solano, “American’s deadliest habit”

First Place

Second Place

• Feature Story: Non-Profile: Xerxes Wilson, “Why this Delaware prison is making tattooing part of its educational programming”
• Sports Feature Story: Brandon Holveck, Martin Frank, “Eagles’ Saquon Barkley’s historic season built on selflessness, generational athleticism”
• Local Column: Critical Thinking: Xerxes Wilson, “Broken bones, brick walls and searching for accountability”
• Sports Photo (Feature): Benjamin Chambers, “Delaware wins 61-31 against UTEP in Conference USA regular season finale”
• Public Service Reporting: Krys’tal Griffin, “While these Delaware riders depend on Paratransit, the service still lags post-pandemic”
• Breaking News: The News Journal staff, “Delaware State trooper killed by shooter prevented other deaths, state officials say”
• News Page Design: Luis Solano, “American’s deadliest habit”
• Page 1 Design: Stephanie Lindholm, “Musical haven in Delaware”
• Continuing Reporting: Kelly Powers, Shane Brennan, “Your property taxes are changing. What Delaware homeowners should know about new laws”
• General Website Excellence, The News Journal