The New York Times and Reuters are the winners in the Deadline Club business journalism award categories.
Business Feature
The New York Times “How Cheerleading Became So Acrobatic, Dangerous and Popular” David Gauvey Herbert
“Cheer Inc.” exposes the influence and evolution of a monopolistic juggernaut, Varsity Spirit, a company which has dominated the multibillion dollar world of cheerleading for several decades. The story takes readers on a heartbreaking journey behind the scenes of an industry plagued by head and back injuries; sexual harassment; and abuse of children. The story chronicles the biggest drivers of growth of the cheer business, from private equity to the raw ambition of Varsity’s founder, Jeff Webb. Based on thousands of pages of unsealed court documents and information from industry insiders, the story has important implications for parents, regulators, and any child with a cheerleading dream.
Business Investigative Reporting
Reuters “Fentanyl Express” Reuters Team
Reuters’ creative and innovative approach to explaining how fentanyl gets into the United States and how hard it is to prevent it stood out. Reporting even at personal risk, journalists traveled to dangerous regions, met with drug dealers, contended with spyware planted on their cell phones, and delicately navigated legalities to demonstrate how easy it is to procure fentanyl’s ingredients. What these stories make clear is that Canada and Mexico are not the source of fentanyl in the U.S.
See all of the winners here.
