MANCHESTER – The state’s only nonprofit online news outlet – InDepthNH.org – took home seven awards in its category and its founder was honored for Lifetime Achievement at the New Hampshire Press Association’s Distinguished Journalism banquet Wednesday night.
Nancy West, who founded InDepthNH.org and the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism, was a Lifetime Achievement winner. InDepthNH.org’s State House Bureau Chief Garry Rayno won first place for his reporting on the Northern Pass project and another first place for his column Distant Dome.
“I’m really proud of Garry’s work. He is well-respected in Concord and around the state for his deep understanding of the issues that he covers and because he is a true gentleman,” West said.
Susan Dromey Heeter took home second place for her column Joyful Musings. She also writes Decoding the Vibe, a behind the scenes look at the candidates who are criss-crossing the state during the primary season.
“Susan’s columns are usually humorous and laugh-out-loud funny. But she can also make me cry,” West said.
InDepthNH.org columnist and podcaster Wayne D. King was honored for his column The View From Rattlesnake Ridge earlier this year by the New England Newspaper and Press Association.
“If you haven’t listened to Wayne’s podcasts Radical Centrist and NH Secrets, Legends and Lore, you must start today. They are rich in history, kindness and humor with great music by Free Joseph as well,” West said.
West also won awards Wednesday for her investigative series on the so-called Laurie List of dishonest police officers and for feature writing about a young man who was locked up in the Secure Psychiatric Unit at the men’s prison even though he hadn’t committed a crime.
InDepthNH.org, which has been publishing online for more than four years, won first place for general excellence, digital presence. Montana West, who is the integrated media producer at NH PBS, designed InDepthNH.org’s website and continues to be a valuable resource.
InDepthNH.org also won a community service award for its archives on the Northern Pass transmission line proposal.
John DiStaso of WMUR, Dean Shalhoup of The Nashua Telegraph and Joe McQuaid of New Hampshire Union Leader were also honored for Lifetime Achievement.
Manchester Ink Link, a hyperlocal news website in Manchester founded by Carol Robidoux, took home a second-place award for general excellence, digital presence.
On hand for the celebration was veteran journalist Paula Tracy, who covers the State House and other news that matters for InDepthNH.org. Paula writes IHoP-NH, a video essay about why citizens show up to lobby their lawmakers In the Hallways of Power. And she is working on special projects for our first-in-the-nation primary coverage.
And award-winning photographer Bob LaPree, who has recently joined InDepthNH.org as special projects photographer/videographer.
“Having Paula and Bob on board – not to mention the help we have gotten since we launched from another veteran journalist Bob Charest – makes InDepthNH.org an even stronger journalistic presence in New Hampshire,” West said.
This story will be updated with the full list of winners from all of the news outlets in New Hampshire.