Two Bangor Daily News reporters won top honors Tuesday in this year’s Better Newspaper Contest from the National Newspaper Association Foundation.
The group, billed as “the voice of America’s community newspapers,” is one of the largest newspaper associations in the country.
Deputy Investigations Editor Callie Ferguson, along with Maine Monitor reporter Josh Keefe, won first place in the investigative category for their co-reported “Stop Punching Him” series. Rural government reporter Daniel O’Connor won first place in local government reporting with Evan W. Houk and Judith Meyer of The Maine Monitor for their coverage of the Washington County budget crisis.
“Fantastic reporting! This is what journalism is all about,” a judge wrote in response to the stories about the budget crisis, which helped explain a complex issue and how residents would be affected.
The “Stop Punching Him” series exposed holes in Maine State Police’s narrative around the 2024 arrest of Justin Savage, whom state troopers threw to the ground and hit repeatedly as he yelled that he couldn’t breathe. State lawmakers were briefed on the agency’s use of force and complaint review policies because of the reporting.
Both award-winning series were born out of the partnership between the BDN and The Maine Monitor, a nonprofit digital newsroom. The Monitor coordinates with the BDN’s investigations team, Maine Focus, and both newsrooms share O’Connor as a reporter.
The stories were chosen out of more than 1,500 entries to the contest this year.
Read the award-winning stories:
— A trooper repeatedly punched a handcuffed man in the face. The Maine State Police promoted him.
— Maine police described a combative suspect trying to escape. Video shows otherwise.
— Beating of handcuffed man casts doubt on Maine State Police’s perfect record of clearing officers
— Lawyer calls for criminal investigation into troopers who beat a man in handcuffs
— ‘We’re screwed’: Washington County officials face outcry over proposed 40% budget hike