The ballroom of The Clyde Hotel buzzed with conversation and applause Saturday night as journalists from across the state gathered for the New Mexico Press Association awards, where the Tri-City Record was recognized for excellence in reporting, photography and design.
The Tri-City Record brought home several major honors, including the coveted Sunshine Award, a sweep of the Weekly Class II Sports Writing division and a sweep in Weekly Class II Feature Photography.
Reporter Debra Mayeux shared first place with Bailey Duran of The Journal in Cortez for their coverage of DWI case involving former Montezuma County District Attorney Christian Hatfield.
The judge praised their reporting as “Dogged journalism here, even in the face of backlash. Well done and needed accountability.”
Mayeux earned second place in the Weekly Class II News Writing for her investigative coverage of “Farmington teen with autism reportedly kept in chicken coop.”
The judge wrote, “Dealing with an issue that would be hard not to lean hard into the biases of simply being a human, the journalist paints the horrible picture without swaying over to editorializing. Well done.”
“I am extremely proud and humbled to receive the annual Sunshine Award from the New Mexico Press Association,” Mayeux said. “A lot of time went into requesting and accessing public records to discover what happened with regards to the motor vehicle accident that involved former Montezuma County District Attorney Christian Hatfield.
“It was also nice to partner on this project with Bailey Duran from our sister publication, The Journal.
“I also was proud to receive a second-place news writing award for my coverage of the Chicken Coop child abuse case in Farmington,” Mayeux added.
Mayeux has been reporting the news in the Four Corners region since the early 1990s, when she served as news director at KENN Radio. She has also worked with KIUP/KRSJ in Durango, KOBF-TV, Majestic Media and the Daily Times, where she was both features editor and business editor.
The recipient of multiple awards for broadcast and print journalism, Mayeux specializes in investigative reporting and recently won the William S. Dixon Award from the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government for her work in fighting for public access to records.
In the sports categories, the Tri-City Record team swept the field. Sports Editor Steven Bortstein earned first place Weekly Class II Sports Writing for his story on a Farmington Mahjong club.
The judge described Bortstein’s first-place entry as “nothing like reading a good story and sharing exactly what it is they play. Well put together.”
For his second-place piece, on the coaching staff at Navajo Preparatory School, the judge wrote, “Very good history lesson for the program, the coach, and comments that give a pat on the back for all involved in the growing world of girls athletics.”
“Having an active voice in the community has always meant a lot to me,” Bortstein said. “To see that voice be recognized by the NMPA is a very prestigious honor. The stories, the games, the events we cover all have a deep impact with me as a reporter and I’m happy to see all of our work be rewarded.”
Bortstein has been covering sports for newspapers and radio across the country for nearly 40 years. As sports editor, he is responsible for monitoring as many as seven different high schools as well as professional sports across the state of New Mexico.
Photographer Curtis Ray Benally, also known for his Turkeyboy Photography business, swept the Weekly Class II Feature Photography category, earning first place for “Comet C/2023 A3 Over Tsébitaí Peak,” which captured a comet streaking above the Shiprock pinnacle, and second place for “Timothy Ontiveros Body Escort,” depicting the funeral procession for slain Bloomfield Police Officer Timothy Ontiveros.
The judge described his first-place photo as “beautiful composition and execution.”
“I am thankful for the New Mexico Press Awards’ recognition of my photographic work,” Benally said. “I am also thankful for the opportunity to photograph for Tri-City Record, but not least, I am thankful for my wife Kathleen, son Daniel and daughter Rose for their love, patience and support.”
Benally is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and serves as a photographer for the Tri-City Record, focusing on sports and news coverage. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Weber State University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. Benally resides in Farmington.
Education reporter Alx Lee earned second place in second place in Weekly Class II Education Writing for “SJC music director resigns.”
Judges commended the entry for its strong opening, clear focus and thoughtful handling of a complex story.
Lee covers education for the Tri-City Record, where she has spent the past two years covering classrooms, communities and the Navajo Nation. A Fort Lewis College journalism graduate, Lee is passionate about local storytelling that drives meaningful change and makes local impact statewide.
“There’s nothing better than being surrounded by the journalism community and having like-minded individuals passionate about storytelling,” Lee said. “Our work strives to highlight the communities we each come from while holding public figures accountable. That kind of journalism is needed, and that work was inspiring to see at the NMPA conference.”
The Tri-City Record design team of Dan Peshlakai and Nick Gonzales, took home honors for Best Front Page Design for the paper’s Feb. 23, 2025, edition.
“Glad to be a part of a winning team,” Peshlakai said.
Gonzales is a copy editor, page designer and occasional writer for the Tri-City Record and the Durango Herald. He has worked in journalism for more than a decade and in publishing even longer.
Throughout the day, attendees took part in professional development sessions, vendor exhibits and discussions on the evolving media landscape. The luncheon featured an update from the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, followed by guest speakers addressing press freedom and newsroom innovation.
The Santa Fe New Mexican won first place for General Excellence, leading all newspapers with 40 awards overall.
The event concluded with a networking reception and the awards banquet, where journalists from publications statewide were honored for their dedication to ethical reporting and the communities they serve.
“These awards show that the Tri-City Record staff members are doing important work for our community to keep the public informed,” Mayeux said. “I would like to thank editor Trent Stephens for believing in me, the staff, and our readers for keeping our paper going.”
The Tri-City Record is owned by Ballantine Communications Inc., which also owns The Durango Herald and The Journal in Cortez.
