The Trace is a finalist for a National Magazine Award for General Excellence in the Special Interest category. The Trace joins The Hollywood Reporter, Atlanta, Audubon, and National Parks on the judges’ shortlist.
The honor, announced February 6 by the American Society of Magazine Editors, recognizes the powerful journalism we published in 2019. Mike Spies’s explosive reporting on malfeasance by National Rifle Association insiders was the first to unspool a scandal that has sparked investigations by the attorneys general of New York and the District of Columbia. “Easy Targets,” a multimedia reconstruction of a deadly gun trafficking scheme by Brian Freskos, inspired the introduction of federal legislation. Elizabeth Van Brocklin’s clear-eyed look at racial inequities in gun violence prevention was followed by unprecedented Congressional hearings, federal policy proposals, and infusions of resources by leaders in the cities hardest hit by shootings.
Last year, our most resonant work again spanned mediums and storyforms. Ann Givens’s feature on the coroners still grappling with the Las Vegas mass shooting was a classic longform narrative. “Since Parkland,” led by managing editor Akoto Ofori-Atta, consisted of a custom project site collecting 100-word victim profiles written by 200+ teen journalists. To bring new understanding to how frequent active shooter drills are affecting American children, we co-produced an audio feature with Slate.
“In a way, every article The Trace publishes comes back to a single story: Too many people in our country are getting shot,” says James Burnett, The Trace’s editorial director. “We’ve been lucky to partner with magazines who’ve helped us make our work break through. And we’re constantly inspired by the standard for rigorous, unforgettable journalism that all magazines provide.”
The Trace is also celebrating special projects editor Miles Kohrman, who won an ASME Next Award, which recognizes extraordinary print and digital journalists under 30.
Since Kohrman joined The Trace in 2015, he has edited major investigations, including “Missing Pieces,” our award-winning series on stolen firearms in America. He conceived of The Trace’s first blockbuster story: an interactive map of all gun deaths and injuries in America, which with its sequel has reached millions of readers. He runs The Trace’s membership program, serves as the newsroom’s art director, and spearheads an important initiative to improve coverage of mass shootings across the industry.
“Like only the very best editors, Miles is comfortable doing a bit of everything,” says Tali Woodward, The Trace’s deputy editor. “His commitment to hard-hitting accountability journalism is as deep as his interest in visual presentation.”
Kohrman will accept his award on March 12 at the Ellie Awards in Brooklyn, New York, where all 2020 winners will be announced.
About the Trace
The Trace is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism organization, and the only media outlet dedicated to full-time and in-depth reporting on America’s gun violence crisis. Since our launch in June 2015, we have partnered with more than 120 national and local media organizations, including BuzzFeed, USA Today, McClatchy, The New Yorker, Politico Magazine, WNYC, Tampa Bay Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Slate, Chicago Sun-Times, Foreign Policy, and Teen Vogue. Our stories increase the public’s knowledge and understanding of the issue and spur action by policymakers, researchers, and law enforcement.
The Trace is always eager to hear from journalists interested in partnering with our nonprofit newsroom. Got an idea for a project? Please drop a note to Managing Editor Akoto Ofori-Atta at [email protected].
