PROFILE WRITING
Honors news or feature stories that explore the character and background of an individual or a group of closely linked individuals

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WINNER
The Atavist
Seyward Darby, Editor in Chief
“Coming to America,” by Rhana Natour, July

How to chronicle the journey of a 14-year-old Palestinian girl—who has lost both her legs to amputation after surviving a bombing in Gaza—to Chicago for prosthetics? Stunning in its candor and restraint—especially challenging given the third-rail nature of the underlying subject—“Coming to America” exhibits the sure skills of the writer. Rhana Natour narrates Layan Albaz’s wartime experiences with precision and control while deftly providing context, including the mundane balm of Albaz’s American family.

FINALISTS

1843 Magazine
Jonathan Beckman, Editor
Edited by Matthew Sherrill
“How a Trucker Became a Deadly People Smuggler,” by Emily Gogolak, March 15 at economist.com/1843

Mother Jones
Clara Jeffery, Editor in Chief
Edited by Jeremy Schulman
“Lessons From a Mass Shooter's Mother,” by Mark Follman, May 16 at motherjones.com

ProPublica with Montana Free Press
Stephen Engelberg, Editor in Chief, ProPublica
John S. Adams, Executive Director and Editor in Chief, Montana Free Press
Edited by Kit Rachlis, ProPublica
“Eat What You Kill,” by J. David McSwane, December 7

Rolling Stone
Sean Woods, Executive Editor
Edited by Joe Hudak
“Devil With a Cause,” by David Peisner, June

Washington Post Opinions
David Shipley, Opinions Editor
“The Canary,” by Michael Lewis, September 5

WIRED
Katie Drummond, Global Editorial Director
Edited by Caitlin Kelly
“Priscila, Queen of the Rideshare Mafia,” by Lauren Smiley, July 10 at wired.com