IAFF 2024 Media Award Winners Announced

The annual contest recognizes both IAFF affiliates and journalists who have displayed exceptional communications and media coverage promoting public safety and the advancement of the fire service.

The 38 winners below were selected from over 100 nominations and best celebrate the work of the fire service, raise awareness of important labor issues, and highlight the role that the IAFF and its members play in keeping the public safe. Nominations include items published between Sept. 1, 2023, and Aug. 31, 2024.

Submissions for the 2025 Media Awards will be accepted in September 2025!

Affiliate Categories

Best Newsletter or Magazine (circulation less than 1,000)

1st: Fully Involved – The Official Newsletter of the Baltimore Fire Officers. Harry T. Conway, Baltimore Fire Officers Local 964.

2nd: Capturing It All. Lindsey Rogers CFD Master PIO, Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association Local 820.

Best Newsletter or Magazine (circulation more than 1,000)

1st: The California Professional Firefighter Magazine. California Professional Firefighters Local A0005.

2nd: Fire Watch Magazine. Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 3888.

3rd: CAL FIRE Local 2881 Fire Front – The Fight for the 66HR Workweek. CAL FIRE Local 2881.

Best Political Campaign Messaging

1st: IPFF Cancer Presumption Efforts. Des Moines Firefighters Local 4.

2nd: Orange County Supervisor Political Action Campaign. Orange County Professional Firefighters Association Local 3631 and Poloma Public Affairs.

3rd: “Leave my pension to the professionals.” Michael Glynn, Glenn Deshields, Erin Powers, Fort Worth Professional Fire Fighters Local 440.

Best MDA Outreach Project

1st: The WHY Behind Our MDA Boot Drive. Jen Kleier, Tara Cardoso, Sergio Ornelas, Professional Firefighters and Paramedics of Palm Beach County Local 2928.

2nd: Muscular Dystrophy Canada Promo. Kevin Krasnowski, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 3888.

3rd: Seattle Fire MDA means more than just filling the boot. Dallas Baker , Seattle Fire Fighters Union IAFF Local 27.

Best Public Safety Campaign

1st: 26th Annual Fire Safety Newspapers in Education. Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation.

2nd: Do you know what to do when you see flashlights in your rearview mirror? Lindsey Rogers Chattanooga Fire PIO, Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association Local 820.

3rd: Burn Awareness Week – Flammable Liquid Burns. BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association (BCPFFA) Local C0005.

Best Fire Service Photo (not previously published) Taken by an IAFF Member

1st: The Climb. Bradley Peters, Township of Langley Professional Firefighters Local 4550.

2nd: Washdown. Kenneth LaBelle, Providence Local 799.

3rd: 2023 Indiana Fallen Fire Fighter Remembrance Ceremony. Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana Communications Team.

Best Social Media Account

1st: CAL FIRE Local 2881 Instagram. CAL FIRE Local 2881.

2nd: Vancouver Fire Fighters Instagram. Lee Lax, Scott Rose and Rebecca McNeil, Vancouver Fire Fighters Local 18.

3rd: North Las Vegas Fire Department Social Media. PIO Jake Levesque. North Las Vegas Fire Fighters Local 1607.

Best Digital Media

1st: Stockton Fire Department Recruitment Video. Kevin Taylor, Stockton Professional Firefighters Local 456.

2nd: CPF Fire Wire Podcast – Political Action. California Professional Firefighters (CPF) Local A0005.

3rd: Delta Firefighters Healthy Snack Program. Warren Balzer, Josh Clarke, Jane Spitz, Delta Firefighters Local 1763.

Journalist Categories

Best News Story/Series (Print)

1st: Arizona firefighters face cancer risks from harmful chemicals. Here’s how they’re working to limit exposure. Clara Migoya, AZ Central.

2nd: Amid dozens of floodwater rescues Sunday, firefighters struggle to deal with the two who got away. Christine Dempsey, Connecticut Post.

Best News Story/Series (Broadcast)

1st: IPFF cancer coverage. Kayla James, KCCI 8.

2nd: Firefighters Awarded for Heroic Rescue. Samantha Croston and Westbrook Shortell, CNY Central.

3rd: The Unique Challenge of Fighting EV Fires. Chris Daniels, TK Johnson, Andrea Nejman, ABC 7.

Best Feature/Series (Print)

1st: Risking Our Lives. Livi Stanford, Republican American.
Part 1 | Part 2

Best Feature/Series (Broadcast)

1st: Better Every Shift Podcast. Lt. Aaron Zamzow and Janelle Foskett, Fire Rescue 1.

2nd: ‘They’re bombs’: Gas leaks present daily risk throughout DMV. Ted Oberg, Reporter; Rick Yarborough, Producer; Jeff Piper, Photographer; Steve Jones, Photographer, NBC.

3rd: Orange County female firefighter works to save lives in community. Ezzy Castro and Charles Holmes, Click Orlando.

Best Published Photograph (Print or Digital)

1st: On Duty – Port Credit Fire Station 104. Stephen Uhraney.

2nd: No Problem. Andrew P. Klein, Bulls Fire Fotos.

3rd: Broadway Road 2nd Alarm. Ryan Winner.

Best Column, Editorial, or Opinion Post (Print or Digital)

1st: Reproductive Health in the Fire Service. Maia Brown, Crackyl.

Best Investigative Reporting (Print or Digital)

1st: Worn Down: The Cancer Threat in Firefighting Gear. Lisa Fletcher, Andrea Nejman, The National News Desk.
Article 1 | Article 2

2nd: Death at Berth 18. Ted Sherman, NJ Advance Media.
Article 1 | Article 2 | Article 3