Bunting Award History

2022 - Crosscut

Crosscut was recognized for its ongoing series, Washington Recovery Watch, which relies heavily on government records to tell the public how agencies statewide are spending billions of federal funds for pandemic relief and infrastructure.

Journalists at Seattle-based Crosscut spent months tracing federal money pouring into Washington’s state agencies, local governments, tribal programs, nonprofits and businesses. The news nonprofit posted documents and databases online so readers could explore for themselves. Crosscut’s document library is located at WA-Recovery-Watch/Follow-the-funds.

Crosscut’s journalists brought into sharp focus enormous federal spending programs that otherwise would have been difficult for the public to comprehend because of their scale, fragmentation and long time frames. More information here.

2021 - The Seattle Times

The Washington Coalition for Open Government presented its 2021 Bunting Award to the staff of The Seattle Times for aggressively reporting on the city of Seattle’s mishandling of public records and for holding public officials to account – to the point of suing City Hall.

More information and links to the award-winning coverage here.

2020 - Chris Ingalls and the KING5 Investigators

The team was recognized for its effective use of public records access in the investigative reporting of the extent and duration of mold infections in operating rooms at Seattle Children’s Hospital. At least seven of the hospital’s young patients have died from mold infections since 2001.

More information and links to the award-winning coverage here.

2019 - Eli Sanders

For his investigation into online campaign ads in light of Washington state’s regulations and disclosure laws, Eli Sanders received the 2019 Bunting Award. One result of his reporting of dozens of stories in The Stranger was lawsuits against Facebook and Google by the state Attorney General, and a $425,000 settlement for the companies’ failure to follow Washington access laws – and their decision to stop selling political ads in the state because of its tough disclosure rules.

2018 - Rachel La Corte & Media Organizations Throughout the State

Rachel La Corte, Legislative Reporter for the Associated Press

Rachel La Corte, Associated Press correspondent in Olympia, has written numerous articles about legislative attempts to exclude itself from the Public Records Act, notably April 2017 stories about how the 1995 legislature passed a law that it contends exempts the body from the PRA. She also covered SB 6617, passed in less than 48 hours with little floor debate and no public hearings, which was subsequently vetoed by Gov. Jay Inslee.

 and Media organizations throughout the state

Sharing the 2018 Bunting Award for their part in urging the governor’s veto are media organizations throughout the state. Thirteen daily newspapers ran front-page editorials on Feb. 27 urging Gov. Inslee to veto SB 6617, and encouraging Washingtonians to also contact the governor’s office with their concern. Several television stations ran editorial commentary urging the same; and most of the state’s weekly newspapers, including at least two college papers, plus online news sites ran opinion pieces opposing SB 6617.

2017 - Susannah Frame

2016 - Sean Robinson

2015 - The Seattle Times