Nevada’s Best Journalists Honored at Fallon Awards Dinner
By Rachel Dahl
The Nevada Press Foundation celebrated the state’s best journalism Saturday, Sept. 20, in Fallon, drawing reporters, editors, photographers, and publishers from across Nevada for the annual Awards of Excellence dinner. The event, generously sponsored by Southwest Gas, recognized outstanding work in reporting, design, photography, and advertising from newspapers, magazines, and online outlets.
“This event showcases the talent and dedication of Nevada journalists and the vital role they play in our communities,” said Brian Allfrey, executive director of the Nevada Press Association and Nevada Press Foundation.
Statewide honors
Among the top honors, Sweepstakes Award winners included:
- The Nevada Independent – Community Service, Freedom of the Press, General Online Excellence, Journalist of Merit, Podcast of the Year.
- The Record-Courier – Community Service, Advertising General Excellence, General Excellence – Print.
- edible Reno Tahoe – Advertising General Excellence, General Excellence – Print, General Online Excellence.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal – General Excellence – Print, Outstanding Journalist, Outstanding Visual Journalist, Video of the Year.
- Las Vegas Sun – Outstanding Journalist, Editorial Cartoon of the Year.
- Reno Gazette-Journal – Story of the Year, Photo of the Year.
- This Is Reno – Editorial of the Year.
- Desert Companion – Community Service.
- Lahontan Valley News – Outstanding Graphic Designer.
- Lincoln County Record – General Online Excellence – Rural.
- Nevada Ag News – General Online Excellence – College.
The Nevada Press Foundation also announced the 2025 inductees into the Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame, four exceptional journalists whose work has helped define and elevate Nevada journalism.
This year’s honorees are:
Jon Ralston – Founder and CEO of The Nevada Independent, whose decades of fearless political reporting and commentary have shaped Nevada’s media landscape.
Steve Sebelius – Longtime political columnist and current KTNV reporter known for his accuracy, insight, and mentorship.
Nancy Streets – Industry leader and advocate for community journalism and advertising innovation, with over 40 years of service.
Norman Cardoza – Pulitzer Prize-winning editorialist whose courageous reporting helped expose corruption and strengthened journalistic integrity in Nevada.
Fallon Media Co. outlets and contributors, including The Fallon Post and RANGE magazine were well represented, bringing home a range of first-place and finalist awards across editorial and advertising categories.
Together, these awards highlight the breadth of Fallon Media’s coverage — from investigative reporting and community service to feature writing and advertising design.
Hosting the ceremony in Fallon gave journalist from across the state the chance to see the spotlight on rural Nevada. Attendees included journalists from Las Vegas to Elko, filling the Fallon Convention Center with energy and applause as winners were announced.
The full list of winners is available at nevadapress.com.
Nevada Press Association Awards
Fallon Post — Advertising
1st Place — 06. Special Event
Writer/Photographer: Staff
Entry: The Fallon Post’s 2024 Cantaloupe Festival & Country Fair Special Insert
Fallon Post — Editorial
3rd Place — 12. Community Service
Writer/Photographer: Leanna Lehman
Entry: Churchill County Opioid Misuse Assessment - Three Part Series
1st Place — 17. Email Newsletter
Writer/Photographer: Rachel Dahl
Entry: Captain's Log - Hope, Comets, and the Home Means Nevada
1st Place — 19. Entertainment Spot News Story
Writer/Photographer: Leanna Lehman
Entry: https://www.thefallonpost.org/article/6358,battle-born-broncs-2024-tough-broncs-and-tougher-cowboys
1st Place — 20. Environmental Reporting
Writer/Photographer: Nancy Chapman
Entry: Promega Feed: Advancing Natural Nutrition for Livestock
2nd Place — 21. Explanatory Journalism
Writer/Photographer: Christy Lattin
Entry: Office of Indigenous Relations Bridges Past and Future
1st Place — 23. Food/Dining Writing
Writer/Photographer: Kelli Kelley
Entry: What's Cookin' in Kelli's Kitchen - BBQ Chicken, the Squashpocalypse, and Cantaloupe Season
1st Place — 25. Headline Writing
Writer/Photographer: Rachel Dahl
Entry: Blending News and Voice, Fallon Post Headlines - Gamechangers, Pinenut Capers, and Big Dumb Rocks
3rd Place — 25. Headline Writing
Writer/Photographer: Leanna Lehman
Entry: Headlines from The Fallon Post - Starlings, Pigs, and Cowboy Wisdom
1st Place — 27. Investigative Story
Writer/Photographer: Leanna Lehman
Entry: Sara Filiatraut Murder - Finding Sara - Technology Trail Through the Nevada Desert
3rd Place — 28. Local Column
Writer/Photographer: Michon Mackedon
Entry: Postcards, Fallon
1st Place — 32. Government Watchdog / Accountability Reporting
Writer/Photographer: Robert Perea
Entry: Fernley Water Use Woes - TCID Court Battle, Series
1st Place — 35. Special Project
Writer/Photographer: Staff
Entry: The Fallon Post 2024 Keepsake Graduation Edition
2nd Place — 36. Special Section (Editorial)
Writer/Photographer: Staff
Entry: "The Fallon Post 2024 Keepsake Graduation Edition"
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