The Marshall Project was awarded two 2022 Sigma Delta Chi Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists.
The Marshall Project’s weekly “Closing Argument” newsletter, which explains a major issue in criminal justice, providing context and links to other coverage, received the award for Public Service in Newsletter Journalism. Five editions of “Closing Argument” from 2022 were submitted for consideration for this category. The award is given to a newsletter that provides “outstanding public services through extensive coverage of an issue facing the community it serves.” Staff writer Jamiles Lartey is the primary writer of the newsletter, which occasionally features guest writers from the rest of the staff.
The radio version of staff writer Christie Thompson and NPR reporter Joseph Shapiro’s “How the Newest Federal Prison Became One of the Deadliest,” received the award for Radio Investigative Reporting (All Markets or Network Syndication). The investigation detailed the abuses at the Special Management Unit at the U.S. penitentiary in Thomson, Illinois. The audio version aired on NPR’s All Things Considered in May 2022. The award for Radio Investigative Reporting is given to a reporter or reporting team for investigative coverage of a single event or issue.
“We are thrilled to see “Closing Argument,” along with one of our most impactful investigations, receive Sigma Delta Chi Awards,” said Susan Chira, editor-in-chief of The Marshall Project. “We take pride in our mission to provide fact-based reporting and analysis that also takes into account the voices and perspective of those affected by the system, and we are honored to have our work recognized among so many excellent news organizations.”
The Sigma Delta Chi Awards date to 1932, when the Society of Professional Journalists first honored six individuals for their contributions to journalism. This year's winners were chosen from entries in categories spanning print, radio, television and online. The awards recognize outstanding work produced in 2022.
Winners were announced during a virtual presentation on Saturday, June 17.
