NORTH KINGSTOWN – The Rhode Island Press Association handed out 151 awards at its annual celebration on Friday, June 26, including three to The Local Insider’s Ethan Shorey.
The association representing news outlets across Rhode Island also inducted four outstanding journalists into its Hall of Fame for lifetime contributions to local journalism: Sheila Mullowney, James Hummel, Alan Rosenberg, and Bruce Butterfield.
Members also completed a second and customary vote to re-elect Shorey as president of the association he started leading in 2021. RIPA’s membership voted to re-elect him earlier this spring.
Will Richmond, of The Journal and Newport Daily News, was re-elected secretary, and Sarah Francis (retired) was re-elected treasurer.
The Globe’s Carlos Muñoz, vice president of the association and emcee for Friday’s ceremony, is stepping down as he takes on new ambitions. He will be replaced by Lauren Clem, senior editor at Rhode Island Monthly, who was elected as new vice president.
Shorey thanked Muñoz for his willingness to do anything. Everyone knows the person who says they’ll help but never shows up and then criticizes, he said, but it’s the quiet leader like Muñoz who comes through again and again and does the hard work needed without being asked.
As for Clem, he said, she is the epitome of a professional journalist, is full of integrity and empathy, and is the perfect person to help lead this growing organization. Clem was the deputy editor at The Breeze when Shorey was editor there.
Since Shorey was elected president in 2021, he and the executive board have turned RIPA around financially. The coming year will include conversations about how available money might be used to help member organizations.
He also previously revived RIPA’s High School Journalism Day in a virtual format, which has become an annual favorite event among the state’s high schools.
The dinner and awards celebration at the Quonset O Club drew more than 125 attendees, a total not seen since before the pandemic. There were also 659 submissions, up substantially from last year’s previous high of 619 submissions. Those numbers continue to rise in large part due to digital outlets joining the organization. The total includes only first, second, and third place, as honorable mentions were removed years ago.
Shorey, recent founder of The Local Insider digital news outlet and former editor of The Breeze, noted the increasing strength of RIPA as it supports news outlets in doing their important work. This awards celebration, in many categories, is more competitive than the New England competition due to the dozens of entries from veteran journalists, he told the crowd.
“Everyone should be very proud of their wins,” he said in a statement. “These are well-earned honors, and show the true power of the press in Rhode Island to tell this state’s story and hold those in power accountable.”
Friday’s awards were for work done during the 2025 year when Shorey was with The Breeze. He took first place for in the local tourism category for his story on Ten 31 Productions going back to its roots, second place in the economy category for his story on Chapel Pharmacy being devastated by reimbursement changes, and third place for his headline writing.
Three writing awards also went to former Breeze reporter Sofia Barr, including third place in the uniquely Rhode Island category, third in the neighborhood coverage category, and second for her profile/personality submission.
The Breeze’s Lise Barnett won first place for best newspaper front page, Laura Colantonio won third for best newspaper front page, Larry Sasso took second for news/features columnist, Ken Moran won third for food photo, Erik Scalavino took third for sports photo, and Jess Degrange and the Breeze staff took first for best use of social media, and the staff also won third for special section.
