Al Nakkula Award for Police Reporting
The award, sponsored by the Journalism department at the College of Media, Communication and Information and the Denver Press Club, honors the late Al Nakkula, a 46-year veteran of the Rocky Mountain News whose tenacity made him a legendary police reporter.ÌýNakkula passed away in 1990.
The award is for work produced by a reporter or reporting team in print and/or online platforms in the United States in 2024. EntriesÌýshould take the form of a story or series about one topic and/or event.ÌýSorry, this award is not for broadcast work.Ìý
The first-place prize is $2,000. The winner will also be invited to speak to classes at the University of Colorado Boulder's College of Media, Communication and Information.
Learn more about the 2024Ìýwinner:Ìý‘A really gutsy piece of journalism’ on police response to the death of a woman in BDSM
Ìý
| Year | Name(s) | Story | News Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Brett Murphy | ProPublica | |
| 2022 | Meribah Knight (Nashville Public Radio) and Ken Armstrong (ProPublica) | ProPublica (in partnership with Nashville Public Radio) | |
| 2021 | Eric Umansky with Adriana Gallardo, Lena Groeger, Joshua Kaplan, Topher Sanders, Joaquin Sapien, Mollie Simon, Moiz Syed, Lucas Waldron and Derek Willis | ProPublica (with contributing reporting from The City) | |
| 2020 | Kyle Hopkins | Anchorage Daily News | |
| 2019 | Gary Harki | The Virginian-Pilot | |
| 2018 | Topher Sanders and Ben Conarck | ProPublica, Florida Times Union | |
| 2017 | Jennifer Bjorhus and Kelly Smith and the investigative team | Minneapolis Star Tribune | |
| 2016 | Ken Armstrong, T. Christian Miller | The Marshall Project, ProPublica | |
| 2015 | Brad Heath | USA TODAY | |
| 2014 | Reporter Megan O’Matz and Database Editor John Maines | South Florida Sun Sentinel | |
| 2013 | Ryan Gabrielson | Center for Investigative Reporting’s California Watch | |
| 2012 | Gina Barton | The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel | |
| 2011 | Cris Barrish | Ìý | The News Journal |
| 2010 | Mark Puente | Ìý | The Plain Dealer |
| 2009 | Karyn Spencer | Ìý | Omaha World-Herald |
| 2008 | Jonathan Schuppe | Ìý | The Newark Star-Ledger |
| 2007 | Robert Rogers | Ìý | The Sun |
| 2006 | John Diedrich | Ìý | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Related Stories |
| 2005 | Amber Hunt Martin | Ìý | Detroit Free Press |
| 2004 | Del Quentin Wilber | Ìý | Baltimore Sun |
| 2003 | Stacy Finz | Ìý | San Francisco Chronicle |
| 2002 | Stephanie Warsmith | Ìý | Akron Beacon Journal |
| 2001 | Brigid O’Malley | Ìý | Naples Daily News |
| 2000 | Tom Searls | Ìý | Charleston Gazette |
| 1999 | Sean Gardiner | Ìý | The Florida Times-Union. |
| 1998 | Mark Truby | Ìý | The Huntington Herald-Dispatch |
| 1997 | Andy Furillo | Ìý | The Sacramento Bee |
| 1996 | Pamela Hill | Ìý | Northwest Arkansas Times |
| 1995 | Melvin Claxton | Ìý | Virgin Islands Daily News |
| 1994 | William Hermann | Ìý | The Arizona Republic |
| 1993 | J.D. Mullane | Ìý | Bucks County Courier Times |
| 1992 | Scott Bowles | Ìý | The Detroit News |
| 1991 | Diana K. Sugg | Ìý | The Sacramento Bee |