Real Change staff members won four awards in the 2009 regional contest of the Society of Professional Journalists, which covers daily and non-daily newspapers, alternative weeklies, radio and television broadcasters and online media. The awards were announced at the May 22 annual banquet of the Society of Professional Journalists' regional contest. Real Change competed against non-daily papers from Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.
Staff reporter Cydney Gillis won first-place awards in three categories: in Arts Reporting and Criticism for "Pike Place Market artists losing designated lofts" (April 8-14); in Social Issues Reporting for "Affordable Rentals takes $250 from homeless couple" (Aug. 5-11); and in Education Reporting for "Parents call changes at Seattle's Indian Heritage School a whitewash," (Sept. 30