WyoFile won 34 awards for its 2025 reporting in the annual, four-state Top of Rockies journalism contest. 

The nonprofit news organization’s recognition includes 11 firsts, 12 seconds and 11 thirds — more total awards than any other participating newsroom — in the contest administered by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Colorado chapter. Contest judges honored six staff reporters, two editors, two freelance contributors and a columnist for work published on WyoFile.com. The contest judges also recognized a podcast collaboration with Wyoming Public Media, as well as an enterprise story reported with the Jackson Hole News&Guide and Jackson Hole Community Radio.

“I’m so proud of our journalists for this well-earned recognition. The numbers are incredibly flattering: 34 awards, the most among all regional news organizations,” WyoFile Chief Executive and Editor Matthew Copeland said. “The figure that I’m most proud of, though, is the thousands of WyoFile member-donors who made all that award-winning reporting possible.”

This year’s contest had nearly 2,100 entries — the largest field ever — from 100 news media outlets and 25 freelancers in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico. The entries were judged by journalists in Southern California.

“We are pleased to honor so many journalists and media outlets for their tireless journalistic efforts,” said Deb Hurley Brobst, SPJ Colorado Pro Chapter president and the contest’s coordinator. “We are seeing top-notch work from journalists throughout the region, no matter what the staff size.”

WyoFile took first place across a range of journalistic disciplines, including business enterprise reporting, education features, religion news, legal news, mental health news, and science and technology news and features. 

WyoFile’s photography, illustrations, infographics and newsletters were also recognized.

Reporter Katie Klingsporn won nine awards — more than any other individual journalist in the contest. She also swept the education feature writing category, taking first, second and third place.  

In awarding Mike Koshmrl first place for his beat reporting on wildlife, environment and natural resources, a judge wrote, “really enjoy the writing style.”

Angus M. Thuermer Jr.’s remembrance of former Wyoming reporter Jason Marsden took first place for obituary writing. A judge called the piece “well-told and -written,” adding that, “this obituary not only tells the facts of a life, it offers inspiration for the rest of us when things seem hard.” 

“This impressive slate of recognitions from Top of the Rockies highlights the relentless high-caliber quality WyoFile applies to reporting and storytelling, including both pieces by individual reporters as well as collaborative efforts with other Wyoming news outlets,” WyoFile Board President Emilene Ostlind said. “I hope every reader in Wyoming appreciates how much value WyoFile reporters are truly bringing to our lives in this state.”

Tennessee Jane Watson is WyoFile's deputy managing editor. She was a 2020 Nieman Abrams Fellow for Local Investigative Journalism and Wyoming Public Radio's education reporter. She lives in Laramie. Contact...

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  1. Reply

  2. Please forgive me for being late to the party! Congrats to all who make this publication what it is! For me it is Wyoming news no matter where I am!

    Reply
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  4. And it’s no wonder! You all do great coverage, in depth, of so many impactful stories. Congratulations and Thank you!!

    Reply

  5. Kudos to your 2025 work! You’re setting a high bar for 2026, and may the awards be a reflection of how your reporting continues to strengthen our democracy and education in Wyoming, hold power accountable, provide context to complex issues facing our state, and bring varied voices and opinions through your column writers. As my late journalism professor, Robert Combs Warner, liked to say: “Top-drawer!”

    Reply

  6. Wyofile does a great job. Many of their stories are in the tribune Eagle newspaper. Congratulations very much deserved.

    Reply
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  8. Great news and well deserved! You are filling a void, keep up the good work!
    Eugene A Brown, Durham, NC 27705
    Author, A River Runs Through Us: The 1960s Snake River Boatmen and The Men They Would Become, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
    to be published, June 2026

    Reply
  9. Reply