National
Associated Press Media Editors, First Amendment Award, 2015, for an investigation of how wrongful death settlements in medical malpractice cases were concealed from public view.
Society of American Business Editors and Writers, 2013, finalist for explanatory reporting for a seven-part series on the Affordable Care Act.
National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Pass Awards in 2005 and 2006, for coverage of civil commitment of sex offenders and sexual abuse of children via the Internet.
Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award, 2002, for excellence in reporting on drug and alcohol issues, for a three-part series on OxyContin abuse in Southwest Virginia.
Inland Press Association, 2015, third place for investigative reporting.
Association of Health Care Journalists, 2013, third place for health policy coverage.
Regional
Southern Journalism Awards, 2000, second place for coverage of abuses in Virginia’s super-maximum security prisons.
Statewide
Virginia Press Association, Outstanding Journalist of the Year, 2018
Virginia Press Association, nine first place awards, and more than a dozen second and third place awards, in a competition that includes the state’s four largest papers and The Washington Post. Winning entries include in-depth and investigative reporting, special projects, spot news, general news writing, government writing, environmental writing, public safety writing and news writing portfolio.
Virginia Coalition for Open Government, Freedom of Information Award, 2009, for FOIA-based reporting of how a city councilman double-billed taxpayers for meals and travel expenses, leading to his resignation and criminal conviction.
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Excellence in Journalism Award, two first place awards, 2000 and 2008, for reporting on domestic violence and for a story about a heath care system’s heavy-handed practice of collecting unpaid medical bills.
Virginia Bar Association Journalism Awards, three first place awards, 1996, 1997 and 2005.
Virginia Property Rights Coalition, John Marshall Award, 2012, for reporting on questionable uses of eminent domain.
In-house
The Landmark Awards, 10 first-place awards from 1990 through 2012, for excellence in news writing and reporting.
The Walter Rugaber Prize, 2007, awarded annually to a staff member who shows “intense curiosity, a depth of understanding, and an enterprising drive to discover unique and significant stories.”