SFJ

Check it out! We've launched a beautiful new website + a Slack space where our members can share ideas, celebrate each other, announce job postings and find community. Read all about it here! featuresjournalism.org/blog/2024/4/26…

FOOD CRITICISM, DIV 3 A standout single story that delivers insight and opinions on the food industry. 🥇 1st Place: @lamour 🥈 2nd Place: @BJeanClement 🥉 3rd Place: MacKenzie Chung Fegan, @SFChronicleFood 🏅 Honorable Mention: @AndiBerlin @Erica_Marcus @mariesworlds

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE! Our next free #webinar is July 15 with @mallarytenore, assistant professor at University of Texas at Austin and longtime journalist. Come learn about blending personal narrative and reporting for stories or books. #Journalism featuresjournalism.org/blog/2025/6/19…

Well, that’s a wrap on our 2025 SFJ Excellence-in-Features Awards! Thank you to all the incredible journo storytellers who entered, and to our dedicated judges. You inspire us. ✨ Until next year—keep telling those compelling stories. 📰✍️

COMBINED DIVISIONS: SOCIAL MEDIA PORTFOLIO 🥇 1st Place: @BaltimoreBanner 🥈 2nd Place: @njdotcom 🥉 3rd Place: @Suntimes 🏅 Honorable Mentions: @Oregonian & @journalsentinel

COMBINED DIVISIONS: NARRATIVE VIDEO A short (≤5 min) lifestyle or culture video using narrative tools. 🥇 1st Place: @lauren_rap & @byNyahM 🥈 2nd Place: @vickieaconnor 🥉 3rd Place: @hadleybgreen 🏅 Honorable Mention: @pat_nabong @slesposito & Zubaer Khan, @Suntimes

COMBINED DIVISIONS: PODCAST – NARRATIVE 🎙️🎧 🥇 1st Place: @BostonGlobe 🥈 2nd Place: @SilviaElenaFF @EmmaTalkoff @monica_campbell 🥉 3rd Place: @MarenMachles Padmini Parthasarathy & @schwellenbach 🏅 Honorable Mention: @CaraRAnthony @zkdyer @taylormcook7

SPECIAL PRODUCT – DIGITAL OR PRINT, DIV 3 Best non-regular feature; one-time or special edition. 🥇 1st Place: @Newsday 🥈 2nd Place: @BostonGlobe 🥉 3rd Place: @realAdamClark & @KatieKausch 🏅 Honorable Mention: Staff, @seattletimes

UTILITY FEATURE PORTFOLIO, DIV 3 Three stories that break down everyday life with clarity and consumer focus. 🥇 1st Place: @andsachs_sachs & @NatBCo 🥈 2nd Place: @CarolineDKee 🥉 3rd Place: @richardsima 🏅 Honorable Mention: @Tiffany87081221, @azcentral

ARTS & CULTURE CRITICISM PORTFOLIO, DIV 3 A trio of A&E stories by the same writer — no editorials. 🥇 1st Place: Chris Richards, @washingtonpost 🥈 2nd Place: @PhilipKennicott 🥉 3rd Place: Gemma Wilson, @seattletimes 🏅 Honorable Mention: Sebastian Smee, @washingtonpost

GENERAL COMMENTARY PORTFOLIO, DIV 3 Three columns or essays by the same writer on any human interest or specialty topic – no editorials. 🥇 1st Place: Yvonne Abraham, @BostonGlobe 🥈 2nd Place: @laura_yuen 🥉 3rd Place: @jaymichaelson 🏅 Honorable Mention: @GustavoArellano

FOOD WRITING PORTFOLIO, DIV 3 Three stories, columns or reviews by the same writer on any food topic. 🥇 1st Place: @ekadvany 🥈 2nd Place: @emilyaheil, @washingtonpost 🥉 3rd Place: @hannaraskin 🏅 Honorable Mention: MacKenzie Chung Fegan, @sfchronicle

FEATURE BEAT WRITING PORTFOLIO, DIV 3 Three stories by the same writer on one feature topic, such as A&E, fashion, food, health, religion, technology or travel. 🥇 1st Place: @NatBCo 🥈 2nd Place: @geoffedgers 🥉 3rd Place: @keribla 🏅 Honorable Mention: @jonbream

FEATURE WRITING PORTFOLIO, DIV 3 Three stories by the same writer from any combination of feature beats 🥇 1st Place:@brendankiley 🥈 2nd Place: Helena Andrews-Dyer, @washingtonpost 🥉 3rd Place: @wordsbykristin 🏅 Honorable Mention: @globepatty

FEATURES SERIES OR PROJECT, DIV 3 Feature treatment of any lifestyle, A&E or news topic that has multiple parts. 🥇 1st Place: @besables @peggyllowe 🥈 2nd Place: Staff, @BW 🥉 3rd Place: John Williams, @nbkrug & @sophiah_n, @washingtonpost

SPORTS FEATURE, DIV 3 Feature treatment of any sports topic. 🥇 1st Place: Sally Jenkins, @washingtonpost 🥈 2nd Place: @JasonWolf 🥉 3rd Place: @StevePoliti 🏅 Honorable Mention: David Gambacorta, @phillysport

INCLUSION & REPRESENTATION IN FEATURES, DIV 3 Storytelling that centers historically under-covered communities. 🥇 1st Place: @Elly33 🥈 2nd Place: Staff, @KFFHealthNews 🥉 3rd Place: @reialirui 🏅 Honorable Mention: Celeste Hamilton Dennis & Florence Middleton, @KQED

FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVE ESSAY, DIV 3 An essay or first-person story that demonstrates a sense of proportion and perspective. 🥇 1st Place: @LynzyBilling 🥈 2nd Place: Michael Andor Brodeur, @washingtonpost 🥉 3rd Place: @debvankin 🏅 Honorable Mention: @literarydj

NARRATIVE STORYTELLING, DIV 3 Honoring a single story told with literary flair—featuring vivid characters, dialogue, scene-building, and a strong narrative arc. 🥇 1st Place: @DanZak 🥈 2nd Place: @skestenbaum 🥉 3rd Place: Staff, @BW 🏅 Honorable Mention: @wordbobby

FOOD FEATURE, DIV 3 A story focusing on food, excluding reviews or commentary. 🥇 1st Place: @timcarman 🥈 2nd Place: @eglassmanhughes 🥉 3rd Place: @hannaraskin 🏅 Honorable Mention: @SharynJackson