Delaware Online/The News Journal wins 23 MDDC awards: Stories, videos and photos

Delaware Online/The News Journal won 23 awards from the 2023 MDDC Press Association Awards, including in categories like Courage in Journalism and Best of Show.

The MDDC Awards, which recognizes news publications from Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, announced winners on May 2. For each category, a first- and second-place winner is chosen based on circulation divisions. A part of the largest-circulation division, Delaware Online/The News Journal competes against newspapers like the Baltimore Sun.

Out of 23 awards in total, wins included five Best of Show awards and the Courage in Journalism Award.

Here is the list of winners, with links to the stories that took home the prizes.

Courage in Journalism Award

• Kelly Powers, honored for her coverage of unrest at Delaware State University

Best of Show

• Environmental Reporting: Kelly Powers, "City on Fire"
• Free Speech/First Amendment Reporting: Xerxes Wilson, “What happened when a Delaware Prisoner tried to boycott the internet behind bars"
• Continuing Video Coverage: Damian Giletto, “Delawareans discuss how inflation is affecting their lives”
• Spot News Video: Damian Giletto, Thomas Costello,  “Cleanup begins in Greenwood following tornado”
• Sports Feature Photo: Benjamin Chambers, “2023 DIAA Individual Wrestling State Championship”

First Place

• Page 1 Design: Take Uda, "Restoring Delaware's Oysters"
• Free Speech/First Amendment Reporting: Xerxes Wilson, “What happened when a Delaware Prisoner tried to boycott the internet behind bars"
• Environmental Reporting: Kelly Powers, "City on Fire"
• Sports Feature Story: Matthew Korfhage,  “Angry Birds: Are Eagles fans as rowdy as they say?”
• Sports Column: Brandon Holveck, “That was brutal: Tuesday night reflections on Broad Street after Phillies lose Game 7"
• Sports Feature Photo: Benjamin Chambers, “2023 DIAA Individual Wrestling State Championship”
• Spot News Video: Damian Giletto, Thomas Costello,  “Cleanup begins in Greenwood following tornado”
• Continuing Video Coverage: Damian Giletto, “Delawareans discuss how inflation is affecting their lives”
• Courage in Journalism: Kelly Powers, “Delaware State University Campus Unrest, Free Speech and Transparency”

Second Place

• General News Story: Matthew Korfhage, “America’s Flagship under threat of eviction in Philly"
• Investigative Reporting: Hannah Edelman, “Delaware’s untold role in the opioid crisis”
• State Government: Meredith Newman, “Long-term care in Delaware”
• Free Speech/First Amendment Reporting: Kelly Powers, "Covering the voices of Delaware State Students”
• Education Reporting: Krys’tal Griffin, "LGBTQ students fight for inclusion: 'We don't need to keep experiencing these 'hardships'"
• Feature Story: Matthew Korfhage, "The best birria and carnitas tacos near Philly are in Delaware. Here's where ... and why"
• Sports Feature: Brandon Holveck, "How this blind runner made it to Delaware high school's cross-country championship meet"
• Sports Action Photo: Benjamin Chambers, "300 lifeguards compete in Mid-Atlantic regional lifesaving championships"
• Features Video: Damian Giletto, "Plans for American Ninja Warrior-themed playground in Wilmington area"