In keeping with the rich history of Women Writing the West, The DOWNING Journalism Award is presented in honor of the late Sybil Downing, a noted journalist and author in Boulder, Colorado, who was also a founding member of Women Writing the West.
LEARN MORE…
Rewarding Journalism Excellence
The DOWNING Journalism Award, recognizes journalism and articles first published in the year prior to the entry period. The inaugural year of 2018 brought substantial submissions, and WWW looks forward to honoring future recipients of this significant award.
2025 Finalists | 2026 Judge | Guidelines | Rubric | Past DOWNING Award Winners
The DOWNING Journalism Award entry is now closed.
The 2025 DOWNING Journalism Award Winner and Finalists
The final placings were announced on Friday, October 17 during the Virtual Conference
Winner
Jane Little Botkin
Finalist
Lynn Downey
Finalist
Carolyn Grattan Eichin
Finalist
Susan J. Tweit
2026 DOWNING Journalism Award Judge
Matt Bernstein
Matt Bernstein teaches at Los Angeles City College and Harris Newmark High School. He serves at the editor of the Wild West History Association Journal, and has published several books: George Hearst: Silver King of Gilded Age; Hanging Charley Flinn; and Team of Giants: The Making of the Spanish-American War. When not teaching, writing, or researching, he can often be found hiking deserts and mountains.
In keeping with the rich history of Women Writing the West, The DOWNING Journalism Award is presented in honor of the late Sybil Downing, a noted journalist and author in Boulder, Colorado, who was also a founding member of Women Writing the West.
Sybil Smith Downing graduated as valedictorian of her high school class in 1947. She and her husband, Mancort Downing, moved to Boulder in 1967 where she became active in community affairs, including her local school board. Downing took advantage of “mini classes” at the University of Colorado and received her bachelor’s degree in 1976.
Sybil Downing was the great-granddaughter of U.S. Sen. Thomas Patterson, a one-time owner of the Rocky Mountain News. Consequently, she became a prolific writer for the Rocky Mountain News, focusing her articles about women. She also reviewed books for that paper and later for The Denver Post.
For several years Sybil Downing chaired the Colorado Center for the Book and was dedicated to improving literacy, a cause she was devoted to until her death on November 20, 2011.
When Women Writing the West was formed in 1994, Sybil Downing served as its first president. It is therefore fitting that this new journalism award be named in her honor to further the legacy of Women Writing the West.
We believe that through a working relationship with the various editors of the media WWW will be able to gain added exposure, a new venue in networking, and partnerships that will benefit all. For example, the print media will be able to tout their winning article while WWW gains a new audience and prestigious coverage.
Guidelines for The DOWNING Journalism Award
Magazine or Journal Article
– Entries must be a western-themed nonfiction article or essay
published in a commercial or literary North American publication. Accepting both online and print publications. Submissions must include a hard copy of the publication showing the masthead (cover or first page) with URL and three hard copies of the article.
* Entries must be received January 1 – March 31, 2026
* Entry fee is $25.00.
* Eligible entry topics include farming and ranching, gardening, environmental, geology. animal husbandry, family issues, local and history topics as well as Native American issues and education.
* Entries are open to all, and not limited to WWW members.
* Professional media editors from newspapers, magazines, history journals, etc., not affiliated with WWW, will select the Winner and two Finalists.
* Publication date must be 2025.
* Article must be at least 1,000 words and no more than 3,000 words.
* Winner receives a trophy, Finalists receive a certificate. Publishers also receive a certificate.
Entry form and payment will be available online during the entry period. Entry must contain one complete copy of media publication from newspaper or magazine that contains article, as well as three tear sheets or photocopies of said article (must include publication date) to be mailed to:
The DOWNING JOURNALISM AWARD Submission
C/O Linda Wommack
4284 W. Monmouth Ave.
Littleton, CO 80123
View The DOWNING Journalism Award Rubrics Here
For more information, contact The DOWNING Journalism Award Chair, Linda Wommack CONTACT or phone 303-798-4470
The Winner and Finalists for The 2024 DOWNING Journalism Award
WINNER
Chris Enss
“The Attorney Teacher: Sarah Herring Sorin” Publisher – The Tombstone Epitaph
FINALIST
Kenyon Bennett
“Rowdy Cowboys, Outlaws, and a Blood Feud” Publisher – True West Magazine
FINALIST
Kathleen O’Neal Gear and Michael Gear for “Gene-Edited Bison: A Barnyard Revolution? Or a Looming Disaster” Publisher – Bison Review Magazine
The Winner and Finalists for The 2023 DOWNING Journalism Award.
WINNER
Deanna Dickinson McCall for “Rolling With the Punches” published in The Range.
FINALIST
Kathryn Wilder for “Ode to the Rain” published by The Gulch.
FINALIST
Micki Fuhrman for “Pioneering Women Who Filmed the West” published in Western Writers of America Roundup Magazine.
The DOWNING Journalism Award 2022
Winner:
Kayann Short
Finalists:
Corrine Joy Brown
Carolyn Dufurrena
The DOWNING Journalism Award for 2021
Winner:
“Wild Women of the West: Jenny Murphy” by Chris Enss
Finalists:
“Living Space” by Susan Tweit.
“Ripple Effect: Will the West Figure Out How to Share Water?” by Sofia Jeremias
The DOWNING Journalism Award for 2020.
The 2020 DOWNING Journalism Award winner is
Roni McFadden for “The Case of the Confounding Cough“
EQUUS
Second Place:
Gayle Gresham for “Heart of the Pueblo Chile”
Colorado Country Life
Third Place:
Jan Cleere for “Sharlot Hall Told the Region’s Stories as Writer, Historian”
Arizona Daily Star
The DOWNING Journalism Award Winner and Finalists for 2019
WINNER: Julia Bricklin for “Georgia Ann Hill Robinson” published in California History periodical
FINALIST: Jan Cleere for “Hopi Girl” published in the Arizona Daily Star newspaper
FINALIST: Amy Hale Auker for “Work Song” published in The Center for Basque Studies periodical