Established in 1993, the Excellence in Journalism Awards recognize outstanding reporting on LGBTQ+ communities and issues. This year's winners included Columbia Journalism School alumni whose work explored topics ranging from life in wartime Ukraine and LGBTQ+ refugees in Kenya to education policy and documentary storytelling.
Celebrate the winners below:
Lydia Polgreen, '00 M.S., was named Journalist of the Year, one of the organization's highest honors recognizing outstanding contributions to the field.
J. Lester Feder, '08 M.A. Politics, received the Excellence in Book Writing Award for “The Queer Face of War: Portraits and Stories from Ukraine,” documenting the experiences of LGBTQ+ people living through Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Brooke Sopelsa, '07 M.S., alongside fellow NBC News reporter Jo Yurcaba, received the Excellence in Newswriting, Non-Daily Award for At least 21 hospitals have ended or restricted trans care for minors since January, an NBC News investigation examining the rollback of gender-affirming care for transgender minors across the United States.
Emily Judem, '12 M.S., and Rob Tokanel, '18 M.S., were part of the team honored with the Excellence in Documentary Award for “Living in Pryde,” a GBH News documentary exploring LGBTQ+ experiences and community.
Spencer Macnaughton, '15 M.S., earned the Excellence in Business Coverage Award for reporting on the growth of "Biblically Responsible Investing" and its effects on LGBTQ+ Americans. He was also recognized alongside Emma Paidra, '24 M.S., with the Excellence in Education Coverage Award for an investigation into corporal punishment laws across the United States titled “Biting, Throwing, Burning and Whipping Children Is Still Legal in Many Parts of the U.S. Why?”
Jacob Templin, '09 M.S., and Nyasha Kadandara, '15 M.S., were among the journalists recognized with the Excellence in International Coverage Award for “Why LGBTQ+ refugees no longer want to stay in Kenya,” a report on LGBTQ+ refugees navigating life in Kenya.
