The Daily Cardinal was named finalist for 23 Milwaukee Press Club awards Tuesday in multiple print, audio and online news categories.
Cardinal staffers swept all finalist nominations in three categories: best print investigative reporting, best photo essay and best audio sports story.
Finalists for print investigative reporting included Liam Beran’s report that University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman suggested Wisconsin’s public universities “shift away” from liberal arts programs at low-income campuses, as well as Sanjeev Anand’s report on accessible transit issues and Cormac LaLiberte’s report on data privacy concerns at UW-Madison.
In the photo essay category, Cardinal staffers received recognition for two photo essays during student protests against racial injustice following a racist video from a UW-Madison student that circulated social media in May 2023 (Drake White-Bergey, MK Denton). A photo feature on B-Side Records, a downtown Madison record shop, was also nominated (Cameron Schneider, Cora Spychalla).
Also in news writing, a Cardinal report on a deal between UW leaders and Republican state lawmakers by Anna Kleiber, Francesca Pica, Ava Menkes and Liam Beran was nominated for best online investigative reporting.
Three Cardinal sports writers were named finalists in two categories.
Matthew Neschis and Justin Alpert were named finalists for best print sports story for features on former Badgers basketball player Rashard Griffith and former Badgers softball pitcher Maddie Schwartz, respectively.
Additionally, Annika Bereny’s column on college football conference realignment was nominated for best print commentary.
In audio awards, Gavin Escott, Heewone Lim, Gabriella Hartlaub and Anna Kleiber were named finalists in the best news story category for their reporting on the Blk Pwr Coalition, a student group advocating for racial justice at UW-Madison. Rohan Chakravarthi was named a finalist in the best sports story category for an interview with former Badgers football player Justin Clark.
Two Cardinal podcasts received recognition: The Student Dive was named a finalist for best original podcast, and Cardinal Call was named a finalist for best use of multimedia.
The Cardinal was also named a finalist for best website design.
Cardinal staff writers also received recognition in feature story categories. Feature articles named finalists are:
- Short hard print features on union workers fighting to repeal Act 10 (Gavin Escott) and campus organizers during the 2023 Wisconsin 2023 Supreme Court election (Ava Menkes, Anna Kleiber).
- A long soft print feature on WSUM 91.7 FM, UW-Madison’s student radio station (Caitlyn Halfon).
- A short soft print feature on Slow Food UW, a food access and food sustainability group at UW-Madison (Cate Schiller).
- A long hard online feature about experiences of community and loneliness for Jewish students after the Oct. 7 attacks (Rachel Hale).
- A long soft online feature about a Madison-area organic farm (Ava Menkes).
- A short soft feature story about a Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. concert. Weir was a founding member of the Grateful Dead (Graham Brown).
In online editorial and commentary, Jeffrey Brown was named a finalist for his column about passing down knowledge and tradition in college.
First, second and third place award winners will be announced on May 3.
