Rhode Island Monthly Wins 24 Rhode Island Press Association Awards
Rhode Island Monthly editors, art directors, photographers and contributors were recognized and celebrated for their 2024 works at the annual awards banquet.
On Friday, May 9, the Rhode Island Press Association presented more than 150 awards across forty-five journalism categories. Nearly 100 staff members from a number of local outlets, including Rhode Island Monthly, Providence Media, the Providence Journal, the Boston Globe, the Valley Breeze and more gathered that night at the Quonset O’ Club in North Kingstown to collect their respective accolades and celebrate. The banquet also recognized three new Journalism Hall of Fame inductees — Kris Craig, a Providence Journal award-winning photographer; Marta Martinez, a self-made journalist and founder of Nuestras Raíces: The Latino Oral History Project of Rhode Island; and Mark Patinkin, a storied Providence Journal columnist and reporter — and presented a $1,000 scholarship to Eliza White, a Mt. Hope High School senior and soon-to-be URI journalism major.
We are thrilled to share that the Rhode Island Monthly edit and design team (plus a number of our contributors) was recognized with twenty-four awards, including eleven first-place titles. This year, RIPA President Ethan Shorey highlighted how a win means more than ever due to the highly competitive nature of the categories (for reference, the association received 463 entries this year, up from last year’s 414). Take a look below for the full list of awards.
DISTINCTION
Distinguished Journalist
Third Place: Lauren Clem, Senior Editor at Rhode Island Monthly
Photographer of the Year
Second Place: Chad Weeden
Community Outreach Award
First Place: The 2024 Bannister Awards, Lauren Clem
DESIGN
Special Section
First Place: Best of Rhode Island 2024, Rhode Island Monthly edit Staff; Design by Doreen Chisnell; Photography by Angel Tucker
Third Place: Guide to Pride, Edited by Kaitlyn Murray and Dana Laverty with contributions by Abbie Chipps, Lauren Clem and Jamie Coelho; Design by Doreen Chisnell; Photography by Chad Weeden and Wolf Matthewson
Best Cover
First Place: March 2024: Treading Water, featuring Rhode Island’s Independent Man statue, Art by Jonathan Bartlett; Design by Doreen Chisnell
Second Place: June 2024: Pride Guide, Photo by Chad Weeden; Design by Doreen Chisnell
Best Feature Front Page
First Place: The Long Way Home, Illustration by Brendan Totten; Design by Doreen Chisnell
Second Place: The Chief, the Sergeant and Their Nephew, Illustration by Dana Smith; Design by Doreen Chisnell
Third Place: Rhode Island Treasures, Photography by Chad Weeden; Design by Doreen Chisnell
PHOTOGRAPHY
Feature Photo
Third Place: LaDiva Jonz, Drag Queen, Chad Weeden
Photo Series / Picture Story
Third Place: Faces of Pride, Photographed by Chad Weeden; Edited by Edelinda Baptista, Dana Laverty, Kaitlyn Murray and Tabitha Pereira
Food Photo
Second Place: B.A.T. (Bacon, arugula and tomato) sandwich on a buttermilk biscuit, Angel Tucker
Weather and Climate Photo
Third Place: Flooding photo, Wolf Matthewson

Pontiac Mills in Warwick as seen from across the flooded Pawtuxet River in December 2023. Photo by Wolf Matthewson
WRITING
News Story — In Depth
First Place: The Long Way Home, Lauren Clem
Education Story
First Place: Higher Education, Annie Sherman
Reporting on the Environment
First Place: Treading Water, Lauren Clem
Science / Health Care Story
Second Place: Primary Care in Crisis, Ellen Liberman
Feature Story — Short
First Place: The Grandpa Grand Tour, Paul Kandarian
Arts / Entertainment Story
First Place: Kim and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Lauren Clem
Food / Dining Story
First Place: Viva Fall River! By Jamie Coelho with assistance by Lauren Clem and Dana Laverty
Second Place: The Heart of a Kitchen, Michael Ruhlman
Best Email Newsletter
First Place: The Dish: The Latest on the Local Food and Drink Scene, Jamie Coelho
News / Editorial Columnist
Second Place: Reporter Column: Ellen Liberman, Ellen Liberman