Maine Public Health Association honors The Maine Monitor for coronavirus reporting

October 25, 2020

MPHA’s Public Journalism Award recognizes a journalist or team of journalists who have made “a significant contribution to public health in Maine.”

Dan Dinsmore holding a public health journalism award trophy from the Maine Public Health Association.

Dan Dinsmore, the executive director of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting and editor of The Maine Monitor, accepted the Maine Public Health Association’s Public Health Journalism Award. Photo by the Maine Public Health Association.

The Maine Monitor was awarded the Maine Public Health Association’s Public Health Journalism Award during a virtual ceremony Oct. 15.

The Monitor was nominated by Jen Gunderman, the Maine Area Health Education Center network director and assistant clinical professor at the University of New England. Gunderman said she nominated the Monitor for its extensive work covering the impact of COVID-19 in Maine.

MPHA’s Public Health Journalism Award recognizes a journalist or team of journalists who have made “a significant contribution to public health in Maine.”

Since the pandemic hit in mid-March, The Maine Monitor (formerly Pine Tree Watch) has produced dozens of original stories, videos and data projects focused on the coronavirus and public health in Maine.

Those who have contributed significantly to the Monitor’s reporting on COVID-19 in Maine include staff writers Samantha Hogan, Rose Lundy and Katie Brown; editors Meg Robbins and Dan Dinsmore; and contributors Barbara Walsh, Wendy Almeida, Marina Schauffler, Susan Cover, Bailey Beltramo, Darren Fishell, Hal Madsen, Roger McCord, Eric Bailey, Fred Field, Julie Pike, Greg Levinsky, Benzo Harris and Gordon Weil; and 2020 Monitor intern Kate Lusignan.

In July, The Maine Monitor added its first full-time public health reporter in partnership with national journalism nonprofit, Report for America.

The award was presented during the Maine Public Health Association annual awards conference.

Other awards included:

Presidents’ Award: Carol Kelly of Pivot Point, Inc.
Public Health Program of Excellence Award: Wabanaki Public Health for its Colored Paper Project
Ruth S. Shaper Memorial Award: Rebecca Hoffmann Frances of Maine Behavioral Healthcare
Phebe Conrey King Access to Healthcare Award: Kate Ende of Consumers for Affordable Health Care
Pamela M.B. Studwell Tobacco Policy Award: Amber Desrosiers
Public Health Policy Champion Award: Nathan Poore from the Town of Falmouth
Public Health Business Champion Award: Hannaford Supermarkets
Public Health Rising Star Award: Hawa Shir from the City of Portland’s public health department
Unsung Hero Award: Jesse Harvey

The Maine Monitor

The Maine Monitor is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting that holds Maine state government and institutions accountable. Our team of investigative journalists use data- and document-based reporting to produce stories that have an impact.