Mountain West News Bureau Achieves Notable Editorial Recognition
The Mountain West News Bureau, a collaborative newsroom comprised of public radio stations, has garnered over a dozen prestigious editorial awards this year. These accolades reflect excellence in coverage across various critical issues, including the homeowners insurance crisis, the community impact of data centers, and the evolving landscape of immigration policy, among others.
Collaboration Across the Region Yields Results
This bureau represents a significant partnership involving affiliate and partner bureaus from several states, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Notably, reporters and editors were honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, alongside recognitions from various professional organizations such as the Public Media Journalists Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
National Award of Excellence Highlights Investigative Reporting
The Society of Professional Journalists awarded the Mountain West News Service a National Award of Excellence for its in-depth investigative work on the insurance crisis affecting the West. This essential reporting was led by Rachel Cohen from KUNC in northern Colorado and Murphy Woodhouse from Boise State Public Radio.
Recognition for Diverse Journalistic Contributions
In addition to the national recognition, Cohen earned a second-place award from the Public Media Journalists Association for his feature on the revival of music programs at a Colorado middle school. He also received another second-place award for his exploration of hailstorm research in the Western mountains, illustrating the growing cost of such climate events.
Exploring the Environmental and Economic Impact of AI Data Centers
The Radio Television Digital News Association awarded local stations a Murrow Award for Best Radio News Series in a Mass Market category for their “Wired, Wired West” series. This compelling investigation delves into the rise of large-scale AI data centers in the region and their environmental and economic ramifications, showcasing the efforts of a diverse team of reporters and editors.
Acknowledgment of Diversity in Reporting
Yvette Fernandez, a reporter with Nevada Public Radio in Las Vegas, earned the regional Murrow Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This award recognizes her impactful reporting on how immigration enforcement has influenced the Spanish-language music industry. As a result of these achievements, both her and Cohen’s stories will move forward for consideration in the national Edward R. Murrow Award competition, with results to be revealed in August.
Additional Awards Highlight Diverse Talents within the Bureau
The “Wired, Wired West” series also achieved recognition in the Society of Professional Journalists’ “Top of the Rockies” competition, placing third in the business corporate reporting category. Moreover, Merzbach’s podcast, “The Modern West: The Pretty Good House,” secured a third-place win in the podcast category. Woodhouse was celebrated for his work in climate photography and videography related to the Cultural Burning and Bushfire Crisis competition.
A Bright Future for Mountain West News Bureau
Cohen also earned a Certificate of Merit from the Colorado Broadcasting Corporation for his news coverage on the government shutdown in Rocky Mountain National Park. Woodhouse’s recognition as second-best broadcast reporter from the Idaho Press Club further highlights the bureau’s commitment to impactful journalism. Finally, Fernandez received a finalist nomination from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists for her radio report addressing the increase in local law enforcement agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The results of this contest will be announced later this month, contributing to the bureau’s impressive total of 14 awards thus far in 2025.
