Arizona Luminaria has been named Community News Outlet of the Year by the Arizona Press Club, capping a banner year of recognition that also includes awards for political reporting excellence and journalist of the year honors.
Our nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom, which publishes in Spanish and English and launched in 2022, won awards in multiple categories in the statewide journalism honors announced last week. Diné reporter Chelsea Curtis was named the Virg Hill Arizona Journalist of the Year for her “Reclaiming Their Stories” project. Emily Bregel of the Arizona Daily Star and Jason Wolf of the Arizona Republic also were honored in the category.
Curtis’ compelling Indigenous-led investigative and explanatory reporting includes a series of narrative and accountability news stories that center justice for Native people, as well as a first-of-its-kind database dedicated to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and Transgender People in Arizona. The project was supported by the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Fund for Indigenous Journalists and the Data-Driven Reporting Project, a program of the Google News Initiative and Medill at Northwestern.
“I’m incredibly honored to receive this award and even more grateful to the families and communities who’ve trusted me to share their stories. Your voices are the heart of this work,” said Curtis, a Navajo Nation citizen. “I share this recognition with the Indigenous journalists and storytellers who’ve come before me and whose work paved the way for my project and this award to even be possible.”
“To me, this award reflects what our communities have always known: that Indigenous storytelling is valuable and necessary,” she added.
The Community News Outlet of the Year Award recognizes an entire journalism organization and news team for its engagement with and impact to the community in 2024. Tucson Sentinel and Arizona Public Media were awarded second and third place honors, respectively.
“This recognition validates what we’ve known from day one — that Southern Arizonans need independent local journalism that helps people get the information they need to make their communities stronger,” said Co-founder and Principal Executive Editor Dianna Náńez. “These awards reflect the dedication of our entire team and the trust our readers have placed in us over the past four years.”
“As a Latina- and women-led newsroom, we set out to rebuild local journalism in a more ethical and equitable way. As the proud daughter and granddaughter of Mexican immigrants and farmworkers who sacrificed for me and my familia, I set out to serve people who deserve truth, dignity and journalism that shines a light on justice and policies that harm our communities,” Náńez added. “We are grateful to Arizona Luminaria’s caring journalists, the beautiful borderlands communities we serve and for the work Arizona Press Club does to promote excellence in journalism.”
Arizona Luminaria provides news free from paywalls that bar people from vital journalism they need and want to make informed decisions, as well as makes its stories free to republish by local and national news outlets.
Our team of local journalists is committed to community- and people-centered reporting — in Tucson, Southern Arizona and other underserved and underrepresented communities across the state — that helps people take action on local issues they care about. Co-founders Becky Pallack, Dianna Náñez and Irene Fischler McKisson have 60-plus years of combined experience in Arizona journalism.
“When we started Arizona Luminaria, our goal was to give Tucson and Southern Arizona local news people can trust and use,” said Co-Founder and Principal Executive Irene Fischler McKisson. “Winning Community News Outlet of the Year celebrates our newsroom’s work and also honors the people who share their stories with us.”
In-depth civic, explanatory and investigative reporting needs investment to thrive. You can support our local journalism by becoming a member today and signing up for our newsletter.
Arizona Luminaria’s coverage of the Pima County sheriff election took center stage with reporter John Washington winning the John Kolbe Award for Political Reporting. Judges praised the focus on Southern Arizona voters.
“There were many compelling election coverage entries, but I love that this publication went big on a down ballot race and really kept their focus on the readers. It’s obvious a lot of intentionality went into deciding what the best use of their time would be in a busy election. They provided voters with useful stories and tools to make informed decisions. I also liked the background check idea. Bravo.”
Reporter Carolina Cuellar earned second place in education reporting for her investigation into English-only education policies in the state. The story was produced in collaboration with Open Campus and took an in-depth look at how under Arizona laws and policies, children who aren’t proficient in English are segregated at school for hours at a time from their peers whose primary language is English.
Cuellar’s work showed how many Spanish-speaking Latino children and other English language learners are harmed by inequitable education opportunities in core studies, which negatively affects their high school graduation rates and postsecondary educational outcomes.
Washington also placed third in arts, food, beverage reporting and criticism for his vibrant coverage of Karima Walker’s sonic art installation about the Santa Cruz River.
Samantha Callicutt, who recently graduated from the University of Arizona, received third place in personality profile reporting for her story for Arizona Luminaria about a Syrian mother who found refuge in Tucson after fleeing civil war.
There are still several categories yet to be announced.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print.
