In 2022, Ronald Hansen won the Scripps Howard Award for Distinguished Service to the First Amendment. The Arizona Republic’s “Democracy in Doubt” investigation showed Arizona’s so-called ballot “audit” was partisan, incompetent and reckless. The series ultimately detailed evidence of an attempted coup instigated from the highest levels of government.
Scripps Howard Award Judges’ comments: “This work is a display of the true watchdog function that the media is supposed to play. The Arizona Republic was the eyes and ears of the nation, not just Arizonans. This is what democracy looks like.”
Ron was also a 2003 Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. “Hiding in Plain View” revealed dangerous defects and spurred changes in a criminal justice system that allowed lawbreakers to get away with everything from petty theft to murder.
Other awards include:
2004 Finalist Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award — First Amendment Edward Willis Scripps Award for coverage of why the Justice Department’s prosecution of an alleged Detroit terrorism cell fell apart.
2003 Clark Mollenhoff Award for Excellence in Investigative Reporting for “Hiding in Plain View,” Presented by the Institute on Political Journalism.
2003 American Legion Fourth Estate Award for the in-depth series “Fixing Wayne County’s Justice System.”
