Wrongful death, sexual assault and suicide policies article wins 2024 MRE Jounalism Contest

Rose Thayer from Stars and Stripes awarded print media prize by Military Reporters & Editors


WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 — During its annual conference for journalists who cover the military, Military Reporters & Editors presented awards to the winners of the 2024 MRE Journalism Contest. Rose Thayer’s entry published by Stars and Stripes was singled out by judges as exceptional work in enterprise reporting.

Rose Thayer Biography

Rose Thayer awarded print media prize in 2024 MRE Journalism Contest

Rose Thayer has been a regional reporter for Stars and Stripes for the past six years, responsible for covering news involving the U.S. military in Texas, Louisiana and states in the Midwest. She has also specialized in sexual assault and criminal justice issues. Before joining Stars and Stripes she served as military editor of the Killeen Daily Herald and later as a freelance writer, contributing to a number of publications including the Austin American-Statesman and the Austin Chronicle. She is a graduate of the University of Texas-Austin and lives in Austin with her husband and son.

Award Summary

Article “They ‘broke her’: Family files wrongful death claim against Air Force, alleging academy failed to follow sex assault, suicide policies”

Prize Category: Best Enterprise Writing | Non-Deadline, Division 2, Print Media — The Enterprise award is designated for a single piece or series of pieces, containing numerous voices and sources of information/data that provide a deeper dive into a subject than a typical news story published by news organizations delivering news to a local or regional community.

Read the winning submission

Nov. 8, 2023 | Stars and Stripes

They ‘broke her’: Family files wrongful death claim against Air Force,
alleging academy failed to follow sex assault, suicide policies

https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2023-11-08/air-force-academy-sex-assault-suicide-11973994.html