2021 CPA Member Award Recipients
The prestigious 2021 Member Awards were unveiled during the highly anticipated 2022 Colorado Press Association Annual Convention held in September. The event provided the perfect platform to honor and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of the recipients. We are delighted to present you with a comprehensive list of these exceptional individuals, along with the names of their nominators and a brief overview of each award. It was an inspiring moment as each nominee received their well-deserved recognition from their respective nominator, followed by speeches that eloquently conveyed the reasons behind their selection for this esteemed honor.
First Amendment Award Recipient: Megan Tackett, Editor, Aspen Daily News
Nominator: Spencer McKnight, Owner, Aspen Daily News
About the Award: This award recognizes the best example of protecting or advancing freedom of information principles, and/or overcoming significant resistance to the application of the First Amendment. This includes, but is not limited to fighting the threat of censorship in America, overcoming uneasiness with regard to press credibility, government secrecy at all levels, and instilling in the public an appreciation of its need as well as its right to know.
Awareness of First Amendment issues isn’t limited to efforts by the press; it is strengthened by the actions of people in local communities, in public or private organizations, in local or state government
News Leader Award Recipient: Susan Greene
Nominator: Niki Turner, Co-Owner/Editor, Rio Blanco Herald Times
About the Award: This award recognizes public service work that reflects compassion, courage, humanity and a deep concern for a community. Recipients will be awarded for outstanding vision, dedication, and commitment. This can be awarded to individuals or a team of reporters, editors, news directors, columnists, editorial writers, photographers, videographers and graphic artists.
Innovation Award Recipient: Raleigh Burleigh, Editor, Sopris sun
Nominator: Todd Chamberlin, Executive Director, Sopris Sun
About the Award: This award will be given to a member news organization or individual that has significantly improved its business model in one or multiple areas to reflect changes in audience, revenue streams, content dissemination and other applicable areas of change within the industry.
The winning news organization will demonstrate the ability to create, foster and promote innovation, sideways thinking, cultural transformation, originality, measurable impact, a spirit of experimentation and the willingness to risk failure to achieve greatness.
Rising Star Award Recipient: Tynin Fries, Reporter, The Denver Post
Nominator: Lee Ann Colacioppo, Executive Editor, The Denver Post
About the Award: The Rising Star Award is intended to recognize, celebrate and encourage the next generation of leadership in our industry and in the State of Colorado. Candidates will be recognized for their commitment to the news organization, passion for the industry and contribution to the future success of the industry. This award should recognize an individual who is curious, innovative, progressive and stands out as a future leader.