The Frontier took top honors at the 2022 Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists Awards. 

Competing against newsrooms across Oklahoma, The Frontier was named Best Website at an awards ceremony in Lawton on Saturday. 

Senior Staff Writer Clifton Adcock was named Best Reporter. Adcock was recognized for his investigative reporting and feature writing in 2021 on issues ranging from eviction to COVID-19.  Adcock also took first place in the Best Interactive Graphic or Resource category for his reporting for The Frontier’s McGirt v. Oklahoma project, designed by the Oklahoma City web development group Half Design.

Adcock is a native of Southeastern Oklahoma who has covered the state for the past two decades. He joined The Frontier in April 2017. Adcock holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. 

Frontier Staff Writer Kayla Branch was awarded first place in the Online Writing category for her reporting on how budget cuts have reduced social services in poor communities in Oklahoma. Branch also took second place in Online Writing for her reporting on a lack of mental health funding for counties.

Branch joined The Frontier in January 2021 and covers state government. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2019 and previously covered county government for The Oklahoman.