Cordova Times reporters took home three Alaska Press Club 2023 awards during last weekend’s conference — the first prizes after the paper’s ownership turnover nearly two years ago.
Elin Johnson — The Cordova Times editor — won First Place in the small print category for Best Reporting on Government or Politics for her coverage on Anchor Auto/Marine’s battery recycling issue, a story she found while scouring a November Cordova City Council agenda and taking note of written public testimony about the problem. The establishment had been recycling lead-acid batteries for more than 30 years, until this winter Anchor Auto/Marine leadership said they had had enough of the city routing the community to dump batteries they were unable to dispose of.
Johnson said she was honored with her First Place win.
“I credit this tiny but mighty team of journalists, and support from my editor, as well as the support from the community. It’s a privilege to have press freedom, and it’s a privilege to report on the Prince William Sound region,” she said. “I think these awards go to show that the community trusts The Cordova Times, and we are honored to get to tell these stories. Award-winning news can happen any time and in any community.”
Johnson said she wants to continue reporting on this beat locally.
“I love getting to talk to folks all over the community — Cordova businesses are doing some pretty interesting things that we will continue to cover,” she said.
Kinsey Brown, a local freelancer, took home the other two prizes in the small print category: Second Place for Best Reporting on Government or Politics and Third Place for Best Reporting on Health. She won in the government and politics category for reporting on the community’s backlash toward a new USPS package pickup policy, and in the health category for her feature on Tribal Family Services using mind-body connection mental health programming for clients.
She said she was thrilled to be recognized by the press club.
“The best part about working for a small and independent paper is getting the chance to share the stories that matter to Cordova,” Brown said. “I’m thankful for all the folks who took the time to sit down for interviews and for support from the editorial staff who helped bring it all to life each week.”
These are the first Alaska Press Club awards The Cordova Times has taken home since Rachel Kallander, now the owner and publisher, took over the newspaper from the Native Village of Eyak (NVE) in 2022. NVE had owned the publication since 2016, and the paper has been in print since 1914.
The Cordova Times had won numerous Alaska Press Club awards previous to the current ownership, including for Best Weekly Newspaper.
