Texas Association of Managing Editors and the Headliners Foundation of Texas – 2022
- Business Reporting – “‘One of the scariest things’: Thousands of residents have recovered from COVID-19. These are some of their stories.“
Judges wrote: “The very best journalism involves reporting something someone doesn’t want to see in the local newspaper. Apparently, there were not a lot of people who wanted to comment for Kali Venable’s followup story on a gas-well blowout, but she did a bang-up job detailing the damage and the response. It’s a dangerous industry – and yes, accidents happen. But too often, the oil and gas industry dumps methane into the atmosphere with hardly a fuss. Thanks for holding these companies accountable.”
Texas Association of Managing Editors and the Headliners Foundation of Texas – 2021
- Team effort, 2nd Place – “‘One of the scariest things’: Thousands of residents have recovered from COVID-19. These are some of their stories.“
- Feature Series, 2nd Place – Vignettes from the pandemic that archived the financial, mental and physical toll of COVID-19 on everyday people
- Freedom of Information, 3nd Place – Several stories tracking COVID-19 in local nursing homes
- Team effort, 3rd Place shared with Ciara McCarthy – “More than a number: Honoring the hundreds of community members we lost to COVID-19“
- Star Investigative Report of the Year, Honorable Mention – “Infection control was already a problem in local nursing homes. Then a pandemic hit.”
- Star Investigative Report of the Year, Honorable Mention – “Nearly 200 COVID-19 cases, 8 deaths tied to Victoria nursing homes”
- Feature Series, Honorable mention shared with Ciara McCarthy – “More than a number: Honoring the hundreds of community members we lost to COVID-19″
Texas Press Association Better Newspaper Contest – 2019 – 2020
- News writing, 1st Place – “This is Killing Us“
- Feature writing, 2nd Place – “The dawn of a new industry: Oyster farming in Texas“
Judges wrote, “Clearly a cut above the others, especially when looking at all the extras in the online versions. In depth without going overboard. Stories were long but generally compelling.”
Texas Association of Managing Editors and the Headliners Foundation of Texas – 2019
- Freedom of Information, 2nd Place – “Red Flags” and “This is Killing Us“
“These stories — one of a disgraced school teacher’s checkered past; the other of a jail inmate’s needless death — were told through the persistent pursuit of records that public agencies either didn’t bother to obtain themselves or which they actively sought to withhold. Reporter Kali Venable got them anyway and pieced together illuminating stories that held these agencies to account. Great work.” – Emily Le Coz, USA TODAY Network managing editor of regional investigations
- Star Investigative Report of the Year, Honorable Mention – “Red Flags“
- Star Investigative Report of the Year, Honorable Mention – “This is Killing Us“
- Specialty Reporting, Honorable Mention – Public safety beat coverage
Kali Venable | Journalist 