Seven Days, Vermont’s free, independent newsweekly, won six first-place awards at the annual Association of Alternative Newsmedia conference last week at the Medill School of Journalism in downtown Chicago

The AAN Awards recognize work that is "well-written, incisively reported and effectively challenges established orthodoxies."AAN member publications vary in size and circulation, and are based in cities across the continent; the awards contest gives these publications the opportunity to compete against their peers.

1st Place Awards

Melissa Pasanen
From the judges: “Writing that reflects the local food scene beyond its dining rooms.”

LGBT Coverage
Chelsea Edgar, "Vermont Has Endangered Transgender Prisoners. Change Is Coming — but Is It Enough?"
From the judges: “Strong reporting on a topic that gets too little attention.”

Multimedia
Eva Sollberger, "A new Era for the House of LeMay"
From the judges: “This was excellent storytelling; it actually reminded me of something I’d see on CBS Sunday Morning.”
Photography
James Buck, "We’re Nobodies’: Residents Describe Life at Burlington’s Notorious Homeless Encampment"
From the judges: “Powerful photojournalism that tells an important story, humanely, with dignity for photo subjects.”
Cartoon
Tim Newcomb
From the Judges:“One entry nudges boundaries for liberal audience. Not always preaching to choir. Nice move.”

2nd Place Awards

Nonprofit Collaboration
Derek Brouwer, Liam Elder-Connors, "Roaches and Broken Locks: Mark and Rick Bove’s Growing Empire of Affordable Rentals Vexes Code Enforcers"
From the judges: “Evidence of how newsrooms can be competitive and still work together on the big stuff that matters to the people they serve.”

Beat Reporting
Colin Flanders
From the judges: “Strong writing and great breadth of health issues covered”

Health Care Reporting
Colin Flanders, Chelsea Edgar, "The Doctor Won’t See You Now: Patients Wait Months for Treatment at Vermont’s Biggest Hospital"
From the judges: “This is important reporting on how the system is broken even under normal circumstances. Seven Days brings out excellent reporting to help make change.”

News Story - Long Form
Chelsea Edgar, "Vermont Publishing House Chelsea Green Is Peddling Coronavirus Misinformation"
From the judges: “In less capable hands, the article would have been filled with cheap shots. But the author knows that deep reporting is the best way to pursue truth.”

Illustration
Sean Metcalf
From the judges: “An illustration in this context should provide additional meaning to the story. Does it…? The answer here is emphatically YES.”

Arts Feature
Dan Bolles, "The Producer | Joshua Sherman spearheads an arts-led revitalization in Norman Rockwell’s Arlington"
From the judges: “Compelling human interest story that connects current development with its place in history.”

3rd Place Awards

Arts Criticism
Margot Harrison
From the judges: “A book reviewer to follow.”