The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication has won the 3M Truth in Science Award at the Online News Association’s (ONA) 2024 Online Journalism Awards.
The Online Journalism Awards 2024 will recognize the best digital journalism in numerous categories, including visual storytelling, collaborations, AI innovation, social media engagement and climate reporting.
Student reporters from the Howard Center received the award in the small/medium newsroom category for “Lithium Liabilities,” an investigation that examined the impact of lithium mining on America’s water supply. The award comes with a cash prize of $3,500.
“Lithium Liabilities” gained national attention after its release in January, when the project was broadcast on the PBS NewsHour and featured in USA Today.
“We are immensely proud of the work of the Howard Center’s faculty and students,” said Cronkite Dean Battinto L. Batts Jr. “This honor from the Online News Association reflects the media industry’s recognition that the Howard Center is a model of impact and collaboration.”
The Howard Centers at ASU and the University of Maryland were also named finalists for Excellence in Collaboration and Partnerships and Excellence in Visual Digital Storytelling in the Large Newsroom category for “Lethal Restraint: An Investigation Documenting Police Use of Force.” The investigation was a joint project of the Howard Centers, FRONTLINE (PBS), and the Associated Press. Students submitted thousands of public information requests to law enforcement agencies in all 50 states and analyzed the consequences of deadly police arrests.
The Howard Centers at Arizona State University and the University of Maryland were established in 2018 with grants from the Scripps Howard Fund to promote deeply researched watchdog journalism and train the next generation of investigative reporters. The centers honor the legacy of Roy W. Howard, former chairman of the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain and pioneering news reporter.
