KFSK’s news team returned earlier this week from the annual Alaska Press Club conference in Anchorage, bringing home five awards for stories published last year.
News Director Olivia Rose’s coverage of Petersburg locals rescuing a man from frigid waters last April was awarded second place in the Best Public Safety Reporting (Audio) category.
“In what COULD have been just a police log, Rose fleshes out a vivid, pulse-pounding story. Great detail and first-hand account and maybe one of the (to me) funniest ending quotes I’ve ever read,” Angel Carreras of NPR wrote in the judge’s comments.
Rose also reported a story last March about a unique fundraiser for Petersburg’s Mitkof Dance Troupe, where six local fathers took their turn in the spotlight. That feature placed third in the Best Arts Reporting (Audio) category.
“A good arts story is not just about the unexpected. The unexpected happens all the time. A good arts story gives us insight into the psyche of the people creating,” category judge Andrew Villegas of Colorado Public Radio commented. “I love this story because we get an idea of what DRIVES these fathers, and it turns what could be a relatively trite piece into an interestingly profound one.”
News Reporter Taylor Heckart’s story about a science-backed approach to reading that helped boost Petersburg elementary reading scores was awarded second place in the Best Education Reporting (Audio) category.
“The reporter did a great job of explaining the success of this reading program and how the administration implemented it with consistency and positive results,” wrote Adam Raney of NPR in the judge’s comments.
Heckart also covered the local hospital’s annual Pedal/Paddle Battle fundraiser last summer with KFSK’s intern, Hannah Weaver. Their story placed second in the Best Sports Reporting (Audio) category.
Weaver also published a story last summer about tannery closures hindering Alaska sea otter hunters, which earned third place in the Best Culture Reporting (Audio) category.
“Really well done explaining the problem and some of the solutions,” category judge Cara Hetland of South Dakota Public Broadcasting commented about the story.
Alongside these recognitions, the Petersburg Pilot was awarded first place in the Best Weekly Newspaper (Print) category. The award was named to Pilot Publisher Orin Pierson and staff members Ola Richards, Lizzie Thompson, Dasha Wilder and Aiden Luhr.
“Well-rounded and well-designed newspaper with balanced coverage of hard news, features, sports, opinion page and community milestones. Story and photos about mass firing of federal workers stood out for its impactful reporting of a community gutted by termination notices,” wrote category judge Bill Kunerth, a retired journalist and publisher. “This paper has a good pulse on the community. It is also one of the best designed papers we’ve seen with a clean and easy to read format. Readers are getting their money’s worth with a paper that truly strives to connect with their community.”
The news team thanks the people of Petersburg and beyond for listening and trusting KFSK to share your stories.
“We’re so grateful we get to do the kind of work that matters to our community, and I just think it’s really special that we can all learn from each other along the way,” Rose said. “Local journalism, to me, is a community service — I mean, it’s literally in our name, [KFSK] Community Radio. And I just think if our reporting helps even just one person, you know, that’s really the point of what we’re here for.”
Alaska Press Club, in partnership with the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism Fund, reimbursed travel expenses this year for Heckart and Rose to attend the conference in person, where they spent three days training alongside journalists from across the state.
Keep an eye out for KFSK’s spring drive this May to support continued, award-winning local journalism like this.
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