Father-and-son winners: Great Plains Journalism Awards presented

The Great Plains Journalism Awards, an eight-state regional honor presented by the Tulsa Press Club, were announced today.

I was excited to win in the News Reporting (Outside the Region) category for my Associated Press story on churches rebuilding after a massive tornado struck Mayfield, Kentucky.

A deadly tornado plowed into six historic churches as it swept through a Kentucky town. As the rubble is cleared, it’s already apparent the congregations are unlikely to rebuild anything resembling their previous architectural glory. https://t.co/VEY8KTrVi5
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 28, 2022

The judges said of my story:

“Deeply reported, very well-written, full of great voices and quotes. This story offers a look at a very specific issue within a broader natural disaster, the loss of houses of worship and what can and cannot be done going forward as rebuilding looms. Very well-done story, with a perfect kicker quote.”

Even cooler than winning myself was seeing my son Keaton Ross, an investigative reporter for Oklahoma Watch, recognized in the Online Project category.

Keaton’s piece on “Why most Oklahoma state legislative races are uncontested” impressed the judges (not to mention his father).