The Frontier took top honors at the Society of Professional Journalists Oklahoma Pro Chapter’s 2025 awards. Winners competed against more than 400 entries across all categories and were judged by partners in Tennessee and New Jersey.
Frontier Executive Editor Dylan Goforth won first place in the Outstanding Sports Report and Outstanding Online Story categories for the story Sold out: The rise and fall of America’s most ambitious sports media company.
“This story examined both the precarious state of sports journalism and betrayal for a former colleague,” the judges said. “Very well-written with multiple interviews and details of how a doomed venture was executed.”
Goforth also won third place for Outstanding Spot news for his story The death of nonbinary teen shines a national spotlight on Oklahoma’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
Managing Editor Brianna Bailey won first place in the Outstanding Investigative Report category for her story Medical Marijuana Is Legal, But Oklahoma Is Charging Women for Using It While Pregnant.
“The reporter did a very nifty job of eviscerating a routine practice of charging women with child neglect if they legally used marijuana during pregnancy. An extensive search of the records revealed that the practice was not uncommon in Oklahoma and identified several such cases,” the judges said. “Thoughtful analysis and expert reaction showed flaws in the practices of police, prosecutors and social workers involved in the cases. The story was humanized with a compelling example, and data showed how the poor were especially affected. The story got immediate results, prompting change in practice in a jurisdiction that had been particularly aggressive in threatening to put new moms in prison for life for legally smoking pot. Well done.”
Bailey and Sierra Pfeifer of KOSU Radio also won third place in the investigative category for radio for their story Convicted of murder as a teenager, Wayne Thompson hopes for a second chance at freedom.
Staff Writer Kayla Branch won second place for Outstanding General News for her story Some Oklahoma parents turn kids over to the state after struggling to get mental health care for them.
Staff Writer Ashlynd Huffman won third place for Outstanding General News for the story Oklahoma cops can still use training banned in other states after allegations it promotes violence and illegal tactics.
The Frontier also won second place for Outstanding Website.
