The Roundup | Nine awards for Aspen Journalism — and Al Letson live tomorrow

Aspen Journalism was thrilled to learn about nine new awards recognizing our in-depth and investigative journalism from the Colorado Press Association’s 2025 Better News Media Contest, with honors unveiled at the annual CPA convention late last month. Credit goes to so many across our organization as well as numerous others from collaborating newsrooms who had a hand in the reporting, editing, production and distribution of this work. I’ll take the win as vindication of all the effort we put into the stories we publish — whether they develop over the course of more than six months, as did “The Aspen 80” project documenting local billionaire-owned properties; or for breaking news initiatives like Kaya Williams’ coverage of the sale of St. Benedict’s Monastery. Heather Sackett’s sustained coverage of negotiations over future water use guidelines for the Colorado River basin was also honored, as was the Social Justice Desk’s reporting on increasing immigration arrests since 2025. Two multi-part series from Paul Andersen examining the history of public lands and Albert Schweitzer’s local legacy were also recognized. And Laurine Lassalle added to her extensive collection of data visualization awards  Read more and see all the winning stories in our post about the awards here.

Another milestone worth recognizing: Late last month, Eleanor Bennett, who leads our social justice reporting collaboration with Aspen Public Radio, produced a feature for National Public Radio about Glenwood Springs’ decision to pursue litigation against the landlord of an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement office space and detainee holding facility — a topic on which she’s been reporting extensively for months. Bennett’s piece broadcast to a national audience was a compelling breakdown of the issue that stirred deep concern about how our immigrant neighbors are being treated and prompted Glenwood Springs officials to take action in ways that might have seemed farfetched just a few years ago.

New reporting in this edition of The Roundup includes Bennett’s story on how zoning regulations and local business participation are becoming increasingly important tools for sustaining affordable housing. We’re also sharing two stories from Sackett and the Water Desk on the stark realities of dwindling water storage at Colorado’s largest reservoir, as well as sharpening concern that plans to reduce water use through cuts to agriculture could disproportionately harm two zones on the Western Slope where saved water would be most conveniently tracked.

LIVE! With Al Letson, host of Reveal

Friday, September 11, Hotel Jerome

And finally, we are just one day out from our biggest event of the year. Tomorrow — Friday, September 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hotel Jerome Grand Ballroom —  join us for a special event with Al Letson, host of Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting. If you are not familiar with the show, the host or the organization, they are exemplary in our field. Reveal came around at the dawn of the podcast boom and helped push the long-form-audio investigative-reporting format to prominence. The team makes groundbreaking features, racking up Pulitzer-finalist nods and Peabody awards (see a recent standout, 40 Acres and a Lie, to get the idea) — plus, the story behind the program, and what it says about the future of independent, investigative journalism, is one I think will connect with our community. And Al is one of the most captivating figures in media with a career devoted to exploring how stories can be told differently — and how journalism can connect with people in new, deeper ways. Al and I will be discussing the power of investigative reporting, good storytelling and the role independent news organizations play in informing and strengthening communities and democracy. The event is free when you RSVP here. 

As always, thank you for reading and supporting Aspen Journalism as we work to create a stronger, more informed and empowered community.

– Curtis Wackerle
Editor and Executive Director
Aspen Journalism

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Gunnison River anglers, boaters and outfitters are challenging a federal plan to reduce Blue Mesa Reservoir releases to as low as 200 cubic feet per second through February. They say lower flows are raising water temperatures, threatening the fishery and forcing fishing closures and business cancellations. Trout Unlimited is urging federal managers to increase river flows, examine downstream water use and improve coordination, monitoring and communication among water users. Continue reading…

Western Slope water managers are concerned Colorado’s new conservation program could disproportionately draw water from rural agricultural communities, particularly the Grand, Uncompahgre and Upper Gunnison valleys. The Colorado River Water Conservation District says current legal tools may favor those regions and create economic impacts. It wants lawmakers to establish the program’s framework through legislation and stakeholder input in 2027, while state officials continue developing the near-term voluntary conservation effort. Continue reading…

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