Buoyed by a half dozen awards for reporter Seth Boster, The Gazette earned top honors this month in Division I of the Society for Features Journalism’s 2026 Excellence-in-Features Contest.

This marks the third time in the past six years that the features staff has finished first and the eighth time in the past nine years that it has been recognized among the top three in the contest that encompasses media companies in the U.S. and Canada.

The Los Angeles Times (12 awards) led all news organizations in Division 3 while the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (10 awards) took the top prize in Division 2.

Founded in 1947, the Society for Features Journalism is dedicated to promoting and celebrating the craft of features journalism. The contest recognized the finest work published in 2025.

Boster won first place in the Sports Feature category for his profile of National Baseball Hall of Fame member Rich “Goose” Gossage.

“Expertly told tale about Colorado Springs native Goose Gossage, whose Major League Baseball career was marked by his brilliance as well as his outspokenness,” the judge commented. “Writer Seth Boster brings to life major moments in Gossage’s life — both before he became a household name and after he became a star.”

Boster earned second place in the Food Feature and Food Writing Portfolio categories; third place in the Inclusion & Representation in Features category; and honorable mention in the General Feature (1,000-2,499 words) and Feature Beat Specialty Writing categories.

Dining critic Robin Intemann won first place in the Food Criticism category for her review of Crave Real Burgers in Castle Rock.

“Reviewer Robin Intemann takes us inside a Colorado burger joint, where the unusual becomes the usual,” the judge remarked. “She also offers her take on many of the offerings, and she makes us chuckle along the way.”

Reporter Stephanie Earls received honorable mention in the First-Person Narrative Essay category while The Gazette’s quarterly lifestyle magazine, Colorado Living, earned the same honor for best Special Product.

Magazine contributors Amanda Faison and Jennifer Brookland took second place, respectively, in the Food Criticism and First-Person Narrative Essay categories.

Also in Category 1, investigative reporter Jenny Deam of The Denver Gazette took second place in the Narrative Storytelling category.