In reporting two recent stories about abandoned uranium mines north of Church Rock, N.M., I heard residents say several times that they want federal officials to take action, not just more talk about cleaning up radioactive waste left practically in their backyards for 40 or more years. I also heard how exhausting it is for the people who live next to this waste to repeatedly tell their stories to people like me, people concerned, even outraged about the situation, but who don’t live there–journalists, government officials, and activists from elsewhere–who have the luxury to come and go. “…sometimes, you get so frustrated talking about these things,” said Edith Hood, a resident who lives in the Red Water Pond Road community near the mines, in remarks to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at their public meeting in Gallup last Friday. “…we, Indian country, we are like the people that live in the third world, in the United States,” Hood said. “Nobody listens to us.
From our blog
A free press is not the enemy of the people
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The role of the press has been contentious from the very early days of our democracy. The men who authored the foundational documents of the United States enshrined a free press in the first amendment to the Constitution. For just as long, it’s been a time-honored tradition for elected officials to lambast media reports as false, wrong-headed, not accurate…and in recent years, “fake.”
More than likely, the press has also been called the “enemy of the people” before the current era. But it’s doubtful there has been such a wholesale onslaught on the public’s confidence in the press as that conducted by the current occupant of the White House. Do we sometimes get it wrong?
NMID wins big in regional journalism contest
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New Mexico In Depth notched two wins competing against the largest newspapers, radio and TV stations in the four-state region of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. The awards, part of the annual Society of Professional Journalists’ Top of the Rockies contest, were announced last week at the Denver Press Club.
NMID’s Deputy Director Marjorie Childress won first place in the political enterprise reporting category for newspapers whose circulation tops 75,000 and large-market radio and TV stations. Her September 2017 story Realtors and developers give big money to ABQ mayoral candidates took the prize. Using data analysis, Childress examined campaign finance data and then did additional reporting to conclude the real estate and land development sector had given roughly $1 of every $4 raised in the Albuquerque mayoral race as election day neared.
Fathom
Sandra Fish wins FOG Dixon Award
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We’re so proud of the work our friend and former colleague Sandra Fish did for New Mexico In Depth, including the Openness Project, a special website at opennessproject.com that made it easier for New Mexico voters to follow the money in elections. She was honored for that work by another great organization that works for government transparency here, the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.
Homepage Featured
NMID wins top honors in regional journalism contest, including 1st place multi-media award
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New Mexico In Depth took top honors at a regional journalism contest over the weekend, including a 1st place multi-media journalism award for its examination of New Mexico’s broken bail system. The Society for Professional Journalists’ Top of the Rockies contest covers New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
We also won a 1st place award for general website excellence and three 3rd place awards for investigative/enterprise reporting and environmental general reporting. 1st Place in Multi-Media Journalism
Teaming up with Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting last fall, New Mexico In Depth told the story of one man’s journey through New Mexico’s bail system. Tom Chudzinski, a former architect, spent more than 30 days in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center because he didn’t have enough money to afford bail.
2016 election
Media bias?
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In one of the most contested presidential election in recent times, the national media has been under fire too.
Journalism
NMID wins several top journalism awards
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New Mexico In Depth won three 1st place and one 2nd place finish at last night’s Society of Professional Journalists’ (SPJ) annual Top of the Rockies’ contest.
Journalism
A look back at 2015 and journalism from NMID
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2015 was a brow-raiser for us here at NMID. And we’re not easily impressed.
Journalism
NMID wins first-place honors in awards contest
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New Mexico In Depth collected several awards over the weekend, including three first-place finishes, at the 2015 Top of the Rockies contest.
Journalism
NMID wins journalistic awards
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New Mexico In Depth won 1st place in overall excellence for an organization at the 2015 New Mexico Press Women Communications Awards Contest. The overall honor came after NMID collected awards in several categories, including 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and honorable mention in Enterprise Reporting.
Journalism
This news gives us a skip in our step
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Last week the IRS informed New Mexico In Depth that it is now exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3). That means we can take tax-deductible donations directly.