Al NakkulaThe 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 2023. 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 Â鶹ӰԺ'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


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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