Stanford University | School of Humanities and Sciences
The Knight-Risser Prize
for Western Environmental Journalism
Sponsored by the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships and
The Bill Lane Center for the American West, Stanford University
The Bill Lane Center for the American West, Stanford University
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Winners of the Knight-Risser Prize
The Knight-Risser prize places a premium on stories that expose undiscovered or covered-up problems, explain complex solutions in ways that can be put to use, and help readers understand the broader significance of the issues, beyond the immediate details of the stories at hand.
A look at the stories honored during the prize’s first six years bear this out — two projects on water-use issues, an examination of the impact of uranium mining on the Navajo Nation, the specifics of global warming along the Gulf Coast, and two more projects dealing with timber harvesting and over-harvesting. And the one winning entry that addressed a broader issue, global climate change, carefully detailed the impact on a specific area of the West.
2011 Winner: "Dry Times"
Patrick Doyle and Natasha Gardner, 5280 Magazine
Explanatory reporting on Denver's water challenges through engaging text and imaginative graphics. It was selected for its clear and compelling presentation of a many-layered story of geography, history, land use and policy.
Patrick Doyle and Natasha Gardner, 5280 Magazine
Explanatory reporting on Denver's water challenges through engaging text and imaginative graphics. It was selected for its clear and compelling presentation of a many-layered story of geography, history, land use and policy.
2010 Winner: "Chain Saw Scouting"
Lewis Kamb, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
A three-part series revealing how Boy Scout councils across America–whose mandate is to preserve and protect the environment–have logged or sold forestland.
Lewis Kamb, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
A three-part series revealing how Boy Scout councils across America–whose mandate is to preserve and protect the environment–have logged or sold forestland.
2009 Winner: "Logging and Landslides: What Went Wrong?"
Hal Bernton, Justin Mayo and Steve Ringman, The Seattle Times
A two-part series demonstrating how heavy logging caused a significant proportion of landslides in southwestern Washington.
Hal Bernton, Justin Mayo and Steve Ringman, The Seattle Times
A two-part series demonstrating how heavy logging caused a significant proportion of landslides in southwestern Washington.
2008 Winner: "Climate Change Hits Home"
Anton Caputo, San Antonio Express-News
A five-part series describing how global warming is affecting the Gulf Coast and South Texas.
Anton Caputo, San Antonio Express-News
A five-part series describing how global warming is affecting the Gulf Coast and South Texas.
2007 Winner: "Blighted Homeland"
Judy Pasternak, The Los Angeles Times
A four-part series documenting the poisonous legacy of military uranium mining on Navajo lands.
Judy Pasternak, The Los Angeles Times
A four-part series documenting the poisonous legacy of military uranium mining on Navajo lands.
2006 Winner: "Squeezing Water from a Stone"
Matt Jenkins, High Country News
An article describing Las Vegas' efforts to acquire more water to feed its exploding growth.
Matt Jenkins, High Country News
An article describing Las Vegas' efforts to acquire more water to feed its exploding growth.
2005 Winner: "The Last Drop"
Todd Hartman, Jerd Smith and Ken Papaleo, The Rocky Mountain News
A five-part series outlining the threat to Rocky Mountain rivers posed by urban development on Colorado's Front Range.
Todd Hartman, Jerd Smith and Ken Papaleo, The Rocky Mountain News
A five-part series outlining the threat to Rocky Mountain rivers posed by urban development on Colorado's Front Range.
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE KNIGHT-RISSER PRIZE
Chain Saw Scouting
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Logging and Landslides:
What Went Wrong?
The Seattle Times
What Went Wrong?
The Seattle Times
Climate Change Hits Home
San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio Express-News
Blighted Homeland
The Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times
For more information: knightrisserprize@lists.stanford.edu