The East Tennessee Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has for many years hosted its annual Golden Press Card Awards honoring journalistic excellence in the eastern region of Tennessee. I’ve never thrown my hat in the ring, nor has Alan. The impact of the work is its own reward, right?
Well, I still believe that’s true. But it’s nice to get a little credit sometimes too, I guess.
Last night’s Golden Press Card Awards at Maple Hall downtown was a standing room only concentration of local and regional journalists. It was affirming to be in a room full of people who believe deeply in the power of telling community stories.
This year’s contest had over 200 entries. The media were split up into different categories: Newspaper (Large), Newspaper (Small), Digital Only, Student Journalism, Television and Radio. The awards were judged by the San Diego SPJ Pro Chapter. You can view a full list of the winners here.
In the Digital Only category, Inside of Knoxville won first in 13 out of 18 categories and earned 17 awards total. I could not be more proud of and thankful for honorees Angela Dennis, Alan Sims, Heather Ryerson, Keith Leonard, Paul James, Rachel Woods and Tommy Bateman. Kudos also to Scott Barker of Compass with whom we shared one award.
Media outlets honored for work produced in 2025 included BLANK Newspaper, Capital B News, Compass, Hellbender Press, Inside of Knoxville, Knox TN Today, Knox News, Land Grant Films, Overlooked in Appalachia, The Daily Beacon, The Daily Times, The Volunteer Channel, UT Chattanooga, WATE, WBIR, WCYB, WJHL, WVLT and WUOT.
I was especially impressed by the student journalists, already doing sophisticated work as they prepare for a career that, despite all the uncertainty, remains one of the most vital forms of public service. Honors like this help build both confidence and portfolios.
Thanks to SPJ for its support and especially chapter president Maria Cornelius who organized the awards and emceed the event.
ARTS & CULTURE REPORTING
- 1st Place: Reclaiming the Bottom: Renee Kesler Brings Legacy to Covenant Health Park by Angela Dennis
- Judges’ Comments: “The historical context and deep reporting made the article feel thorough and deeply relevant.”
- 2nd Place: “Art and Its People” package including KMA Director Steven Matijcio and the ‘Appalachian Imaginary, Between the Lines of Jered Sprecher’s ‘Under the Branches’ and ‘Her’ Opens at Lilienthal Gallery by Leslie Bateman
BEST DIGITAL CONTENT
- 1st Place: “A Multimedia Look at Big Ears” package including Big Ears Through the Kaleidoscope: Part I and Big Ears Through the Kaleidoscope: Part II by Leslie Bateman
BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY REPORTING
- 1st Place: “Innovation and Adaptation” package including High Resolutions Grows, Adapts & Celebrates 30 Years by Alan Sims, What’s the Big Deal About This Downtown EV Charging Station? by Leslie Bateman and Big Slate Expands Possibilities of Media Production in Knoxville by Keith Leonard
- Judges’ Comments: “Inside of Knoxville provides strong local business coverage. A good job by a local independent online website.”
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING
- 1st Place: “Sustainability in the Urban Landscape” package including What Happens When Urban Forestry Partners With Ijams Nature Center? by Heather Ryerson, What’s the Big Deal About This Downtown EV Charging Station? and Park(ing) Day 2025: Turning Parking Spots into Pop-Up Parks by Leslie Bateman
- Judges’ Comments: “A thorough and informative series.”
DEADLINE/BREAKING NEWS REPORTING
- 1st Place: UT Moves Forward with Maplehurst Deal by Leslie Bateman
CONTINUING COVERAGE
- 1st Place: “Gay Street Bridge: From Structural Crisis to Reopening” package including Gay Street Bridge Status Clarified; An Interview with Councilmember Smith, Gay Street Bridge Repairs on Schedule; City Also Studying Possible Future Replacement Options and Gay Street Bridge Repair (and replacement) Update by Alan Sims; and Bridges as Battlegrounds: An Update on Gay Street and Gay Street Bridge Reopens to Pedestrians & Cyclists by Leslie Bateman
- Judges’ Comments: “This coverage kept viewers in the loop throughout the entire process. It highlights the importance of this historic bridge while addressing the challenges of bringing new life to the bridge. It also recognizes the tension of the need for pedestrian/bike friendly infrastructure in a car dominant area.”
DIGITAL COMMENTARY
- 1st Place: “When National Politics Hit Home” package including When Broken Windows Aren’t Just Broken Windows, Cut Off Again: Federal Grant to Reconnect East Knoxville Slashed While Pedestrian Bridge Moves Ahead and Bridges as Battlegrounds by Leslie Bateman
- Judges’ Comments: “This is what deeply vested local journalism looks like. Bateman writes with clear passion about the issues affecting her community: how transit is essential to equity, the struggles the LGBTQ have had to face and, most importantly, how federal policy continues to hold back initiatives to move communities forward.”
GENERAL REPORTING
- 1st Place: Magnolia Redevelopment & the Fight For Chilhowee Park by Leslie Bateman
- Judges’ Comments: “The winning piece provided evocative background and historical information that undergirded the piece.”
- 2nd Place: Phase 3 Opens as First Creek at Austin Redefines Affordable Housing in Knoxville by Leslie Bateman
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS REPORTING
- 1st Place: “City Council Game Show Forum” package including Compass & IOK Present ‘City Council Candidate Forum: The Game Show by Leslie Bateman, Forum Feud: A Recap of the Night City Council Went Full Game Show by Scott Barker (Compass) and photos by Rachel Woods
LOCAL IMPACT OF FEDERAL CHANGES
- 1st Place: “Federal Changes, Local Consequences” package including Waymakers, Not Gatekeepers: How a Knoxville-Led Collective Is Rewriting Arts Funding in Appalachia by Leslie Bateman, Centro Hispano: New Headquarters, New Challenges by Alan Sims and Funding Cuts and Legislation Threaten to Silence Knoxville Community Media by K.W. Leonard
- Judges’ Comments: “Authoritative, clear reporting and writing on the federal impact locally, framed for local audiences.”
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
- 1st Place: “Two Acts of Vandalism” package including When Broken Windows Aren’t Just Broken Windows and Bridges as Battlegrounds by Leslie Bateman
- Judges’ Comments: “Two excellent examples of investigative reporting by an independent online site. The use of probability statistics was especially creative.”
SERIES/PACKAGE/PROJECT WRITING
- 1st Place: “Reclaiming Knoxville’s Baseball Legacy” package including Reclaiming the Bottom: Renee Kesler Brings Legacy to Covenant Health Park by Angela Dennis, Statues Honoring Negro Southern League Knoxville Giants Unveiled at Covenant Health Park by Alan Sims, Absolute Beginners: A Brief Look at the History of Baseball in Knoxville by Paul James
- Judges’ Comments: “A fascinating series about minor league baseball in Knoxville that shined a light on both the sport and the complicated legacy of urban renewal.”
- 2nd Place: “Augusta Quarry Reopens” package including You Don’t Have to Break the Law Anymore to Swim at Augusta Quarry and Summer Dreamin’: A Sneak Peek at Augusta Quarry by Leslie Bateman
SPORTS REPORTING
- 1st Place: Nearly Two Decades In, Hard Knox Roller Derby Is Still Jammin’ by Keith Leonard.
- Judges’ Comments: “A nice blend of background to bring a reader new to roller derby up to speed, sprinkled with colorful and memorable details like the perfect sprinkles on a doughnut. Go get ’em Barbara Bushwacker!”
- 2nd Place: Is This Love That We’re Feeling? One Knox SC Playoff Soccer Comes to Town by Tommy Bateman
- Judges’ Comments: “A bit more of a column than a pure sports report, but the obvious affection between this team and its city is depicted nicely.”
Additionally, Angela Dennis and Leslie Bateman were 1st and 2nd respectively in the FREELANCE WRITING category for non-IOK publications.
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