NY Fights Wins Journalism Awards For Coverage

NY Fights West Coast editor Gayle Lynn Falkenthal received four awards for her work on this platform from the Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Chapter, for 2023.

The winning hardware was awarded to writer Gayle Falkenthal on behalf of NY Fights. Photo: Gayle Falkenthal

The 2023 SPJ San Diego Area Journalism Competition recognizes outstanding work by San Diego-area student and professional journalists published or broadcast during the 2023 calendar year. Hundreds of print, online, radio, and television journalists enter their best work in multiple categories across all platforms.

Giving Boxing Mainstream Exposure Through Awards

“Journalists love a good competition, it’s true,” observed Falkenthal. “For me, it’s an opportunity to test my skills and assess my work against the best journalists in the San Diego region, working for platforms nationwide.

“A second motivation is to give more exposure to the compelling stories of athletic accomplishments and the vivid personalities involved in boxing. Boxing no longer enjoys the kind of mainstream audience exposure it once did.

“If I can demonstrate through recognition for this work that boxing still holds an important place in sports and our culture worldwide, it’s well worth fighting for and well worth putting up my work against the best of my colleagues,” said Falkenthal.

Falkenthal’s entries compete with full-time professional journalists employed by daily newspapers and general-interest publications, full-time television and online reporters, and videographers.

Falkenthal’s winning entries for NY Fights

First Place, Daily Reporting and Writing for Sports Story, Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Chapter.

First Place: Daily Reporting and Writing — Sports Story: “Munguia survives close call over Derevyanchenko in FOTY candidate”

The judges’ comments: “Vivid and detailed description of the action. Long story about the matches and a fast turn-around. This judge does not even enjoy this sport, but this piece was far and away the best example of sports journalism in this category. Well done and congratulations.”

“When I’m ringside, I strive to convey the atmosphere and first-person observations a fan won’t see from watching at home,” said Falkenthal. “I take care to honor the human emotions of the fighters who put their lives on the line for our entertainment.

“And I’m also dealing with a quick deadline for a fight card recap. There is no room for writer’s block!”

Second Place: Video – Sports Story: “Canelo puts on power punching display in media workout”

Third Place: Daily Reporting and Writing, Feature Story (Light Subject): “Boxing’s 8 Best Ringwalks”

A look at boxing’s best ringwalks won in the Daily Reporting and Writing, Feature Story category against all subjects.

Third Place: Digital – Multimedia Presentation: “Canelo v. Ryder: The sun always shines on Saúl Alvarez”

The judge’s comments: “Very good coverage and use of multiple videos and art.”

A winner in the Daily Reporting and Writing, Multimedia category against all subjects.

“I admit, it gives me pleasure to beat the “big boys” who have the luxury of covering their beat full-time, being acknowledged as the best San Diego-based sportswriter across all sports,” said Falkenthal.

“I’m also especially pleased to win an award in a general news category for a feature story, which was a review of boxing’s most memorable ringwalks across the years.”