19 May Evergreen State A-Mark Prize Honors 3 Reporting Investigations
Evergreen State A-Mark Prize Honors 3 Reporting Investigations
SEATTLE — The Society of Professional Journalists’ Western Washington chapter announced today winners of the inaugural Evergreen State A-Mark Award for Investigative Reporting, recognizing accountability journalism on child welfare and family courts, civil commitment and public safety systems and school district oversight of educator sexual misconduct.
The winning investigations were produced by reporters at InvestigateWest, the Mercer Island Reporter and The Seattle Times.
Several of those involved in the winning investigations will discuss their reporting projects May 28 at 7 p.m. for a free hour-long webinar. Reserve your spot now!
The three top projects were selected from 12 entries submitted by nine Washington news organizations. The winners share $15,000 in cash prizes, funded by the A-Mark Foundation, which recognizes the significant time, resources and public-service value required to produce high-impact investigative journalism.
“By awarding a cash prize to the journalists and the outlets that published the work, our intention is to help sustain this kind of rigorous and essential reporting,” said Tracey DeFrancesco, A-Mark’s chief operating officer.
The award is part of the Region 10 SPJ Excellence in Journalism Awards for 2025; winners in the other categories, spanning the best of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington, will be announced May 29.
“We’re fortunate to have the support of the A-Mark Foundation in its mission to recognize excellence in watchdog reporting in all 50 states,” said Jody Brannon, president of the SPJ Western Washington chapter. “Each Washington entry exemplifies strong, public-service journalism, and choosing among them was extremely difficult. Investigative reporting is expensive, time-consuming work, and A-Mark’s support helps ensure journalists can continue holding powerful individuals and institutions accountable. I’m so happy for the winners and their newsrooms.”
First Place: “Protecting Abused Kids”
Kelsey Turner, InvestigateWest
Judges awarded first place to Kelsey Turner for a powerful investigation into Washington’s family court system and the outsized influence of guardians ad litem in custody decisions.
Judges praised the reporting for its rigor and narrative strength, calling it “an exceptional piece of investigative journalism; scrupulously reported, meticulously researched and sharply written.” Another judge noted that the investigation“examines how a flawed and complex system gives guardians ad litem undue influence over custody outcomes, with little training, oversight or accountability.”
The judges highlighted Turner’s use of extensive court and police records to fairly represent multiple perspectives, even when some parties declined to comment, and her ability to use a single, deeply reported case to illuminate broader systemic failures. The follow-up reporting, they said, strengthened the investigation by addressing accountability gaps and reform efforts.
Kelsey wins $5,000, and the newsroom $2,500.
Second Place: “Uncommitted: McNeil Island’s Special Commitment Center”
Rebecca Moss, The Seattle Times
Second place went to Rebecca Moss for an in-depth examination of conditions at the McNeil Island Special Commitment Center and the systems charged with overseeing civilly committed individuals.
Judges commended the series for its clarity and accountability focus, calling it “a thorough and incisive examination of a deeply troubled system.”
The reporting was also lauded for its strong storytelling and effective use of personal accounts to humanize a highly technical and sensitive subject, deepening public understanding of an issue with significant consequences for Washington communities.
For her coverage, Moss’s entry said she “requested and reviewed more than 8,000 pages of Department of Corrections inspection reports, court and 911 records and police reports from more than two dozen addresses, which together showed that warnings raised by corrections officers at these transitional homes often went ignored by Department of Social and Health Services officials and courts.” Additionally, “In auditing the state’s spending, Moss found nearly $12 million in expenses paid in the past decade could not be accounted for by DSHS.”
Moss wins $3,000, plus $1,500 for the newsroom.
Third Place: “Teacher sexual misconduct on Mercer Island”
Moe K. Clark, InvestigateWest and Andy Nystrom, Mercer Island Reporter
Judges awarded third place to a collaborative investigation between two newsrooms that uncovered oversight failures in the Mercer Island School District’s handling of educator sexual misconduct. The story was spurred by a previous investigation in collaboration with Andy Nystrom at the Mercer Island Reporter.
Judges praised the reporters for centering the survivors’ stories while holding those in power accountable, and for providing context around best practices that helped readers understand both the failures and potential solutions.
The judges noted the investigation’s strong documentation — including official records and expert analysis — and its clear presentation of how institutional cultures can enable misconduct, making it a compelling example of accountability journalism rooted in community impact.
The reporting wins $2,000 with the newsrooms splitting $1,000.
“InvestigateWest is incredibly proud of Kelsey Turner and Moe K. Clark for this well-deserved recognition,” said Jacob Fries, executive director of InvestigateWest. “Their work reflects the best of investigative journalism: rigorous reporting, moral clarity and a deep commitment to holding powerful systems accountable. We’re especially grateful that Moe’s investigation with Andy Nystrom and the Mercer Island Reporter was recognized, because that project shows what collaboration can make possible. When local newsrooms pool resources and expertise, we can produce ambitious, high-impact journalism that might otherwise be out of reach.”
About the Award
A panel of five judges with experience in investigative reporting, editing and journalism education evaluated entries based on initiative, depth of reporting, public impact, storytelling quality, and accountability. Each judge based their decisions on a 10-point scale, allowing for fair calculations to account for recusals. Those involved in the judging:
• Jody Brannon, president of the SPJ’s Western Washington Pro Chapter and manager of the Murrow Local News Fellowship program
Alex Bruell, immediate past president of SPJ’s Western Washington Pro Chapter and a media instructor/adviser at UW-Tacoma for student publications. He previously was reporter/editor of the Vashon Beachcomber.
• Taylor Mirfendereski, a board member of SPJ’s Western Washington Pro Chapter and an independent multimedia investigative reporter and photographer. She previously was an investigative reporter at KING-TV.
• Penny Rosenberg, president of SPJ’s Oregon Pro Chapter and regional editor at Lee Publications
• Ray Garcia, marketing, communications and coalition manager at Rebuild Local News, and a Western Washington journalism graduate.
The Evergreen State A-Mark Award for Investigative Journalism recognizes excellence in reporting that uncovers information of vital public importance and demonstrates exceptional journalistic skill and integrity. The A-Mark Foundation is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in 1997. In May 2024, A-Mark adopted a revised mission statement: “Making focused grants to organizations that offer awards to promote and encourage journalism and investigative reporting.”
Additional Region 10 SPJ Excellence in Journalism Award winners for their 2025 work will be announced May 29 in conjunction with the Oregon SPJ chapter’s annual fundraising banquet. The money and trophies will be distributed at the annual Western Washington celebration this autumn.
See the posting that introduced the inaugural contest and its rules.
Contact:
Jody Brannon
President, Society of Professional Journalists – Western Washington Chapter
For information about SPJ and the contest
Email: spjwash@gmail.com
Tracey DeFrancesco
For information about the A-Mark Foundation and its awards program
Email: tracey@amarkfoundation.org
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