HONORS & AWARDS
2024
Logan Science Journalism Fellow, University of Chicago Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA.
Council on Foreign Relations, Local Journalism Fellow, New York NY.
2021
Edward R. Murrow Award, National Radio Television Digital News Association, for “The Virus’s Tale,” Boston Globe short documentary and hard news digital coverage/narrative investigation of the spread of COVID-19.
Society for Features Journalism, multiple national awards: for Narrative Storytelling (separate awards for "The Virus's Tale" and "The Hijacking of Flight 1320"); for General Feature ("The Virus's Tale"); and for Best Special Section ("Dispatches from the Edge" of the Pandemic).
Knight Journalism Program at MIT’s Victor K. McElheny Award for Science Journalism (finalist), for Boston Globe narrative investigation “The Virus’s Tale.”
2020
The Best American Essays, notable essays selection (book editors, Robert Atwan and Andre Aciman), for “The Madness of College Sports.”
2019
Sigma Delta Chi Award for Investigative Reporting in Magazine Journalism, Society of Professional Journalists, for “The Madness of College Sports.”
Paris Accords of Science Communication, National Press Foundation fellowship.
2017
Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service in Magazine Journalism, Society of Professional Journalists, for “Trump’s Wall and Prescott Hall: The Anti-immigrant Playbook.”
Journalism/Book Award, Boston Society of Civil Engineers, for Trapped Under the Sea.
Weidenbaum Center Award for Evidence-Based Journalism, Washington University in St. Louis, for “Hopes, Dreams, Debt: The College Loan Crisis.”
2016
Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service in Magazine Journalism, Society of Professional Journalists, for “Hopes, Dreams, Debt: The College Loan Crisis.”
Sigma Delta Chi Award for Magazine Writing, Society of Professional Journalists, for “The Reckoning: The Roots of ISIS.”
2015
Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service in Magazine Journalism, Society of Professional Journalists, for “Why Food Allergy Fakers Need to Stop.”
2014
Amazon Top 100 Books of the Year (Combined Fiction and Nonfiction List); Amazon’s Top 20 Nonfiction Books of the Year; Amazon’s Top 20 History Books of the Year; Amazon Canada’s Top Nonfiction Books of the Year, for Trapped Under the Sea.
Apple/iTunes Best Book of the Month selection, for Trapped Under the Sea.
Publishers Weekly Top Ten (Science) pick, for Trapped Under the Sea.
Booklist “Editor’s Choice” best-of-the-year selection, for Trapped Under the Sea.
The Best American Essays, notable essays selection (book editors, John Jeremiah Sullivan and Robert Atwan), for “Restart: The Future of the Boston Marathon after the Bombings.”
2013
Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service in Magazine Journalism, Society of Professional Journalists, for “Greetings from Gun Valley.”
National Headliner Award for Magazine Feature Writing (writing on a variety of subjects), Press Club of Atlantic City.
2012
Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service in Magazine Journalism, Society of Professional Journalists, for “Boston vs. New York: The End Game.”
Iowa High School Book Award (finalist), for The Assist.
2011
Rosie Book Award (Indiana High School Book Award, named after Kurt Vonnegut character; finalist), for The Assist.
The Best American Sports Writing, notable selection (book editor, Jane Leavy), for “What We Lose When Everyone Wins.”
2010
National Magazine Award / “Ellie” for Reporting (finalist), American Society of Magazine Editors, for “Trapped” and “The Way Out.”
Emmy Award Nominee for Historic/Cultural Feature documentary/video segment (co-producer), National Academy of Arts and Sciences (New England), for “Trapped Under the Sea.”
Non-deadline Writing Award (finalist), American Society of Newspaper Editors, for “Trapped” and “The Way Out.”
Laventhol Prize for Online Storytelling (team award), American Society of Newspaper Editors, for “Ted Kennedy.”
Journalism Award, Boston Society of Civil Engineers, for “Trapped” and “The Way Out.”
News or Feature Multimedia Package (team award), National Press Photographers Association, for “Ted Kennedy.”
Documentary Video Award (co-producer; finalist), National Press Photographers Association, for “Trapped Under the Sea.”
The Best American Nonrequired Reading, notable selection (book editor, Dave Eggers), for “Trapped.”
2009
Sigma Delta Chi Award for Feature Reporting, Society of Professional Journalists, for “Trapped” and “The Way Out.”
National Headliner Award for Magazine Feature Writing (writing on a variety of subjects), Press Club of Atlantic City.
Media Award for Coverage of Family Issues, Council on Contemporary Families, for “Spying on the Text Generation.”
2008
Best Books of the Year, Washington Post, for The Assist.
Favorite Books of the Year, Rocky Mountain News, for The Assist.
New Voices selection, Barnes & Noble, for The Assist.
National Headliner Award for Magazine Feature Writing (writing on a variety of subjects), Press Club of Atlantic City.
Narrative Feature Writing Award (finalist), American Society of Sunday and Features Editors.
2007
National Headliner Award for Magazine Feature Writing (writing on a variety of subjects), Press Club of Atlantic City.
The Best American Political Writing, for “The Lessons of the Father: George & Mitt Romney.”
The Best American Crime Reporting, for “The Inside Job.”
2006
The Best American Science Writing, for “What Makes People Gay?”
National Headliner Award for Magazine Feature Writing (variety; finalist), Press Club of Atlantic City.
2005
The Best American Crime Writing, for “The Self-destruction of an M.D.”
National Headliner Award for Magazine Feature Writing (variety; finalist), Press Club of Atlantic City.
2003
Livingston Awards for Young Journalists (finalist), University of Michigan, for “The Costly Case of the Purple Pill.”
Earlier
As a newsroom leader and project editor, received top honors from Investigative Reporters and Editors, the National Newspaper Association, and a number of regional press associations (including the New England Newspaper Association’s Publick Occurrences Award, named after the nation’s first newspaper).