Murrow Local News Fellows earn 14 awards in SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism contest

Journalists affiliated with the Washington State University Murrow Local News Fellowship earned numerous honors in the 2025 Society of Professional Journalists Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards and the Evergreen State A-Mark Prizes, underscoring the impact of local accountability reporting, investigative journalism and community-centered storytelling across Washington state. Managed by WSU's Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, the fellowship places early-career journalists in newsrooms across Washington to strengthen local and civic coverage.

The award-winning work spans topics including immigration, artificial intelligence in government, fentanyl's impact on communities, economic pressures facing agriculture and shipping, racial equity, education accountability and federal policy impacts in rural communities. The winners, announced June 2, included nine Murrow Local News Fellows who earned 14 awards in this year's competition.

Among the honorees, InvestigateWest fellow Moe K. Clark received two separate awards for the same investigation into teacher sexual misconduct allegations in Mercer Island schools. Clark's reporting won first place in SPJ Northwest's Education Reporting category and also earned third place in the Evergreen State A-Mark Prizes, which carry cash awards recognizing outstanding public-service journalism.

"These awards reflect the depth of reporting and public service our fellows bring to local newsrooms across the Pacific Northwest," said Ben Shors, director of the Murrow Local News Fellowship. "Their work demonstrates the essential role local journalism plays in helping communities understand complex issues, hold institutions accountable and tell stories that otherwise might go uncovered."

Launched in 2024 with support from the Washington State Legislature, the Murrow Local News Fellowship has funded two-year positions for 16 reporters working in communities ranging from the Yakima Valley to the Olympic Peninsula. The fellows' work was recognized in the Society of Professional Journalists Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards, which honor outstanding journalism from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

See the full list of award winners.