On April 12, The Whitman Wire was granted a regional Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award for their investigative article, “Whitman Under State Investigation for Alleged Title IX, Campus Safety Violations,” published this October by Bex Heimbrock, Nazaaha Penick and Natalie Comerford. The article won in the category of small, in-depth reporting. This award’s region encompasses schools in six states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The article was judged by professionals with at least three years of experience in journalism. 

As a first-place winner, The Wire will advance to the National Society of Professional Journalists award competition. The Wire has the chance to win under the in-depth reporting, small school division. Unless the judges decide that entries do not meet the overall standard of excellence, one winner and up to two finalists will be announced in this category. The Wire’s article will be judged for accuracy and completeness, enterprise and ingenuity, adherence to high journalistic standards, significance and effectiveness, extenuating circumstances, clarity, insight and respect for the audience, creative use of the medium’s unique capabilities, adherence to the SPJ Code of Ethics, and available resources. While the location has not been announced yet, the competition will likely be held in New York City or Washington, D.C.