WFYI journalists earned six awards from the Indiana Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for their multiplatform work in 2025, including first-place honors in best podcast and radio in-depth reporting.
Abriana Herron won first place in the best podcast category for WFYI News Now, a weekday show that catches listeners up on Central Indiana news in 10 minutes or less. The podcast draws on stories from WFYI reporters and those across and public media stations around the state. Herron, host of the podcast, concluded her role with the show in late November.
Dylan Peers McCoy and Lee V. Gaines took first place in the radio in-depth reporting category for their series on the recent surge in school suspensions. Their reporting found that Indiana schools suspended more students in the years after the pandemic than at any point in the prior decade — with students with disabilities removed at twice the rate of those without. The reporting found state leaders had not prioritized the spike and how suspension data was largely absent from Indiana's school accountability dashboard.
Farrah Anderson earned second place in the investigative reporting category for "Trapped inside the 'scariest place' — a psychiatric hospital in Indiana," a report into for-profit hospital chain NeuroPsychiatric Hospitals. Anderson found that the chain used emergency detention laws to hold vulnerable patients for extended periods, sometimes in understaffed conditions, while Indiana regulators largely allowed the chain to continue its operations. Following publication, the investigation was cited as an inspiration for proposed legislation to create an ombudsman to oversee Indiana’s psychiatric hospitals
Entries were judged by out-of-state journalists selected by SPJ.
Awards
Best podcast, first place, Abriana Herron for WFYI News Now.
Radio in-depth reporting, first place, Dylan Peers McCoy and Lee V. Gaines for the rise of student suspensions in Indiana schools.
Investigative reporting, second place, Farrah Anderson for “Trapped inside the 'scariest place' — a psychiatric hospital in Indiana.”
Education reporting, second place, Dylan Peers McCoy for reporting on the shifting landscape of Indiana’s K-12 schools
Radio continuing coverage, second place, Farrah Anderson, Zak Cassel, Dylan Peers McCoy and Benjamin Thorp for the political fight over mid-decade congressional redistricting, including “Republicans' proposed congressional map would split Marion County into four districts” and “Black political power under threat in Indianapolis as GOP moves to split up voters.”
Coverage of race and diversity Issues in Indianapolis broadcast market, second place Lee V. Gaines and Zach Bundy for “Young LGBTQ+ Hoosiers reflect on the 2024 election.”
