David Betancourt and Michael Cavna received a national award for comics coverage.

David Betancourt and Michael Cavna picked up a national award today for comics coverage. Our portfolio included Cavna's essay on Rep. John Lewis's legacy as a graphic novelist; Cavna's profile of Steenz and Bianca Xunise as part of a pioneering new generation; and Betancourt's profile of former Marvel editor turned viral Central Park birdwatcher Christian Cooper.

2021 SOCIETY FOR FEATURES JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE-IN-FEATURES AWARDS – Society for Features Journalism

https://featuresjournalism.org/2021/09/21/2021-society-for-features-journalism-excellence-in-features-awards/

DIVISION 3 | Circulation 200,000 and up

DIVERSITY IN DIGITAL FEATURES
The coverage of any A&E, features or lifestyle topic that highlights the diversity within a publication's audience.

Third place: Michael Cavna and David Betancourt, The Washington Post, "Creative Trailblazers in a Year of Reckoning"
Judge's comments: These essays do an excellent job of highlighting the creativity and passion behind Black creators in comics – especially during a year that saw the losses of both Rep. John Lewis and actor Chadwick Boseman. Comics and graphic novels may be growing in popularity and as legitimate storytelling media, but these essays make it clear they would not have gotten to that point without the input, dogged determination and vision of Black creative types who were trailblazers in that aspect of pop culture.

Honorable mention: Staff, The Hechinger Report, The Washington Post and NBC News, "Gifted Education's Race Problem"