[Miami, April 29, 2026] – The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and Prison Journalism Project (PJP) proudly announce the winners of the third annual Stillwater Awards, honoring the journalistic excellence of incarcerated writers whose reporting illuminates life behind bars.

The winners were unveiled at a virtual ceremony honoring outstanding work across 10 categories, including Best Reported Essay, Best Feature and Prison Journalist of the Year. The event featured remarks from the winners and a celebration alongside their loved ones. 

“The Stillwater Awards are a recognition of the courage and talent of incarcerated writers who report on the realities of life behind bars,” SPJ-PJP Stillwater Awards Executive Director Michael Anguille said. “It is a privilege to recognize the achievements of these groundbreaking journalists.”

This year’s awards were the most competitive yet with over 300 entries. 

Named after the first prison to publish a newspaper – the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater – the awards mark a joint effort between SPJ and PJP, a national, non-profit organization that trains and publishes the work of incarcerated writers. 

“The Stillwater Awards honor some of the most courageous and meaningful journalism being produced today,” SPJ president Chris R. Vaccaro said. “This recognition reflects SPJ’s mission to promote ethical, impactful journalism and to ensure that all voices, especially those too often unheard, have the opportunity to inform and engage the public.”

For the Prison Journalism Project, the awards are also part of building a stronger, more inclusive field of journalism.

“We see the Stillwater Awards as part of growing the field of prison journalism,” said Yukari Kane, co-founder and CEO of Prison Journalism Project. “Recognizing this work helps establish standards, expand participation in journalism, and strengthen how the prison system is covered.”

Award submissions were evaluated by an independent panel of educators and professional journalists, who met weekly to review entries and select the top three finalists in each category. All finalists received certificates and individualized feedback from the panel in recognition of their work. First-place winners were also awarded SPJ memberships to support their continued growth in the field.

2026 STILLWATER AWARD WINNERS 

Prison Journalist of the Year 

• First: Phillip Vance Smith II (N.C.)
• Second: Steve Brooks (Calif.)
• Third: Phillip Luna (Ore.)

Best Collaboration 

• First: Olivia Heffernan and Steve Brooks (Calif.) for “Market for Life,” published by The Baffler 
• Second: Summer Knight and Kwaneta Harris (Tex.) for “‘Mama’s in the Hole’: How Solitary Confinement Tries to Break Family Bonds,” published by Ms. Magazine 
• Third: Nick Hacheney and Tomas Keen (Wash.) for “Broken Buildings, Broken People,” published by The Appeal

Best New Prison Publication

• First: The Franklin Standard (Franklin Correctional Center, N.C.)
• Second: Tales from the Lagoon (Wakulla Correctional Institution, Fla.)
• Third: 23and1 (Washington State Penitentiary, Wash.)

Best Reported Essay 

• First: Phillip Luna (Ore.) for “The Night I Ate Wagyu Steak in Prison,” published by Prison Journalism Project 
• Second: Derek S. Carter (S.C.) for “Fighting in War Still Didn’t Prepare Me for Prison’s Mental Health Crisis,” published by Prison Journalism Project
• Third: Kelsey Dodson (Okla.) for “Stained underwear, male guards and no privacy: what it’s like to have your period in prison” published by The Guardian and Prison Journalism Project

Prison Newspaper of the Year 

• First: Mabel Bassett Balance (Mabel Bassett Correctional Center, Okla.)
• Second: CCWF Paper Trail (Central California Women’s Facility, Calif.)
• Third: Warrior Standard (Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, Okla.)

Prison Magazine of the Year 

• First: Daughters (State Correctional Institution Muncy, Pa.)
• Second: Northwestern Insider (Northwestern Prison Education Program, Ill.)
• Third: 1664 (Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, Ore.)

Best Feature 

• First: Robert Lee Williams (N.Y.) for “A Lethal Upbringing,” published by Inquest 
• Second: Steve Brooks (Calif.) for “Fixing restitution laws: Has paying one’s debt to society gone too far?” published by Fast Company 
• Third: Catherine LaFleur (Fla.) for “Prison breastfeeding program in Florida helps build bonds between incarcerated mothers and their infants,” published by Prism Reports 

Best News 

• First: Aaron Edward Olson (Wash.) for “How Washington State Discriminates Against Incarcerated Immigrants,” published by The Nation 
• Second: Steve Brooks (Calif.) for “As California aims to modernize San Quentin, many of its residents may be forced to leave,” published by Local News Matters
• Third: Michael Callahan (Calif.) for “Faulty drug tests impact thousands of residents,” published by San Quentin News 

Best Illustration 

• First: Jason Gorham (Ill.) for “The Toll of Survivor’s Guilt”
• Second: Chandler Kardaras (Okla.) for “We Rise By Lifting Others”
• Third: Kelsey Dodson and Geneva Phillips (Okla.) for “Selves on Shelves”

Best Op-Ed 

• First: Rejon Taylor (Ind.) for “After Biden’s Clemency, Trump Has Condemned Us to a Life Worse Than Death,” published by Solitary Watch 
• Second: Kwaneta Harris (Tex.) for “Beyond the Rainbow: Remembering Our Most Forgotten,” published by Solitary Watch
• Third: Patrick Irving (Idaho) for “Who Should Care for the Elderly in Prison?” published by Prison Journalism Project 

ABOUT SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS

SPJ champions journalists by recognizing outstanding achievement, fighting to protect press freedom, promoting high ethical standards and educating new generations of emerging professionals. For more information visit: https://www.spj.org/. 

ABOUT PRISON JOURNALISM PROJECT

Prison Journalism Project is a national, nonprofit journalism organization that trains and publishes incarcerated writers so they can shift the narrative on mass incarceration through journalism while building literacy, professional skills, and confidence for life after prison. Sign up for PJP’s newsletter, The Inside Story, at: prisonjournalismproject.org/newsletter/.

Press Contact:
Michael Anguille
Executive Director, SPJ-PJP Stillwater Awards
561-667-7346
stillwater.awards@gmail.com