01 Jun SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards 2025
The Oregonian/Oregon Live, Jeremiah Hayden Amass Honors
The Society of Professional Journalists Region 10 has announced the winners of its 2025 Excellence in Journalism Awards, recognizing outstanding work across writing, photography, design, audio, video, and magazine journalism in the five-state region. More than 450 first-, second- and third-place awards were presented across divisions and circulation categories for journalism produced in the calendar year of 2025.
The Oregon chapter announced winners from around the Beaver State in a May 29 fundraiser in Portland.
In mid-May, the winners of the inaugural Evergreen State A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting were announced, a category for journalists in and organizations serving Washington. Watch a truncated Zoom conversation with the winners.
The Western Washington chapter in October in Seattle will host a celebration to distribute trophies and certificates to winners across the region.
This year, first-place winners in Region 10 can choose to donate the cost of creating and mailing their trophy to a chapter scholarship fund; they will still receive a certificate.
This year’s contest offered 67 awards across six categories, for journalism produced in the calendar year 2025: writing (24), audio (13), video 9, magazines (9), photo and design (8) and at-Large (3). It drew 464 submissions.
View the winners’ list, organized by category.
News Organizations: Most Honored
The Oregonian/OregonLive earned more combined awards than any other news organization, capturing 35 total placements — including a competition-leading 18 first-place finishes, 12 seconds, and 5 thirds. The Portland-based outlet’s haul reflects its dominant footprint across multiple categories and circulation groups.
Two organizations had 33 awards: Oregon Public Broadcasting, emphasizing excellence in audio and video with 11 firsts, 10 seconds and 12 thirds; and The Seattle Times (10 firsts, 12 seconds, and 10 thirds), affirming its status as the region’s most decorated daily newspaper.
Close behind, The Columbian (Vancouver) claimed 20 awards including 9 first-place prizes, while KUOW (Seattle’s main NPR station) took 19 awards with 10 first-place wins — tied with The Times for second-most firsts overall. Cascade PBS followed with 17 awards (7 firsts) and Premier Media Group earned 15 awards including 7 first-place honors.
Among smaller organizations, Cascadia Daily News and Montana Public Radio each captured 12 awards with 5 first-place wins apiece. Seattle Gay News led among niche and specialty outlets with 7 first-place awards out of 9 total. InvestigateWest and The Spokesman-Review each collected 10 awards, with The Spokesman-Review earning 6 firsts.
Individual Journalists: Top Performers
PRINT: Jeremiah Hayden (Portland Mercury / Street Roots) and Blake Peterson (Premier Media Group) led all named journalists. Hayden earned 6 total placements with 4 firsts and 2 seconds. Peterson earned 5 total placements — 2 firsts, 2 seconds, and 1 third.
MULTIMEDIA/VISUALS: Ellis Juhlin of Montana Public Radio emerged as the region’s top radio journalist, earning multiple firsts across environment, science, and feature reporting categories and placing in additional competition areas. Jaelynn Grisso of Cascade PBS stood out as the leading television journalist, with two firsts and two seconds spanning feature reporting, federal coverage and investigative work.
Beth Verge of Alaska’s News Source was Alaska’s most decorated journalist, with firsts in general assignment, same-day reporting and investigative categories. KUOW photographer Megan Farmer secured four honors, three firsts for story/portfolio, essay and spot news, plus a second in that category.
About the SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards
The Society of Professional Journalists’ annual Northwest Chapter’s Excellence in Journalism Awards honors the best journalism produced by reporters, editors, photographers, designers, producers, and news organizations across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Entries are judged by independent journalists outside the region. Awards are given across multiple divisions, based on format and size.
This year’s contest was coordinated by former Puget Sound-area resident Becky Day, a frequent facilitator of award contests and the former executive director of the California Society of Newspaper Editors and JAWS, the Journalism & Women Symposium.
Members of the San Diego Press Club served as judges; in turn, this summer members of the Oregon and Washington chapters will evaluate the entries in that region’s contest. To volunteer, contact spjwash@gmail.com.
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