Side Effects Reporters Named Indiana Journalists Of The Year

Side Effects Public Media was honored this month for its coverage of mental health, the opioid crisis and other public health issues throughout 2018.

Four Side Effects reporters were named Journalists of the Year by the Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Lauren Bavis, Emily Forman, Araceli Gómez-Aldana and Jake Harper were announced as winners at a Friday ceremony in Indianapolis.

This is the first time a group of journalists has been honored with the award rather than a single reporter.

The judges said of the team’s work,

“The stories were compelling and easy to follow, interesting, surprising, informative and sometimes sparked outrage and made me want to know more or even get involved. They presented facts backed up by lots of research data statistics and ‘translated’ them into a well-presented story summarizing their findings so we don't have to trudge through the mud of dusty data ourselves and take the time to figure out what it all means. They humanize the medical and technical issues by using actual first-person quotes and quotes from an official or expert.”

Six WFYI projects were honored during the Indiana SPJ awards ceremony as well:

• “EVA: A-7063” - 1st Place - Documentary or Special for Television (Indianapolis market) -- Ted Green, Mika Brown, Peter Saetre, Vincent Manganello and Andy Young
   
• "The High Cost of Insulin" - 2nd Place - Medical/Science Reporting for Television (any Indiana station). -- Side Effects Public Media and WFYI (Kyle Travers, Bram-Sable-Smith, Chris Elberfeld, Vincent Manganello and Andy Young)
   
• Curious Mix - 2nd Place - Radio Documentary/Special for "The Speech That Kept the City Calm; Hoosier Jazz Icons: An Ode To Cinnamon Toast." -- Jill Ditmire
   
• No Limits - 1st Place - Radio Public Affairs for "Indianapolis' LGBT History." -- John Krull and Jill Sheridan. (No Limits also won 2nd Place in the same category)
   
• Drew Daudelin - 1st Place - Radio Feature Story for "The Dreams and Aspirations Behind a Youth-Led Bike Shop In Indianapolis"
   
• Eric Weddle - 1st Place - Outstanding Contributions in Reporting Events of Public Importance (for continuing education coverage)

The Indiana Associated Press Broadcasters Association held its annual awards event Satuday. WFYI and Side Effects Public Media combined to win eight IAPBA awards:

• Lauren Bavis - 1st Place - Best Enterprise Story for "Why Firefighters Say the Law That Should Protect Them After a Cancer Diagnosis Isn’t Working"
   
• Lauren Bavis - 2nd Place - Best Feature for "How an Indiana Theater Made a Holiday Favorite Autism Friendly"
   
• Taylor Bennett - 1st Place & 2nd Place - Best Short-Form Newscast
   
• Drew Daudelin - 1st Place - Best Feature for "The Dreams and Aspirations Behind a Youth-Led Bike Shop in Indianapolis"
   
• Drew Daudelin - 1st Place -  Best Use of Radio Sound for "The Dreams and Aspirations Behind a Youth-Led Bike Shop in Indianapolis"
   
• Eric Weddle - 1st Place - Best General News for "Can Gary Schools be Saved by a State Takeover?"
   
• Doug Jaggers - 2nd Place - Best Website For Radio

And, earlier this month, Side Effects won a regional Edward R, Murrow award for the multimedia presentation of The Workaround. The award from the Radio Television Digital News Association went to Christine Herman, Jake Harper, Bram Sable-Smith, Esther Honig, Emily Forman and Sarah Fentem.