AURORA | The Aurora Sentinel will be honored Thursday as a national “Media and Democracy Hero” by the Media and Democracy Project during the organization’s annual year-in-review gathering, recognizing the Sentinel for its commitment to factual, independent reporting and public-interest journalism.
The Sentinel is among a select group of journalists and news organizations recognized by the nonprofit for “outstanding journalism and advocacy for press freedom and democracy,” according to the Media and Democracy Project announcement.
In naming the Sentinel its December honoree, the organization praised the 118-year-old newspaper as “an outstanding local news outlet serving Aurora, Colorado,” citing its role in providing accessible, independent, fact-driven reporting and opinions for the community.
The Sentinel was lauded in December for its wide range of coverage, recently examining claims by local police and elected officials about the impact of “get tough” shoplifting laws on crime rates, and especially a Nov. 21 Sentinel Editorial outlining unconstitutional acts by President Donald Trump and calling for his impeachment.
“The groundbreaking piece by their Editorial Board is exemplary, and a perfect reminder of the vital role that independent journalists play in defending our democracy and the public’s right to know,” the organization said in its citation.
The Media and Democracy Project described the Sentinel editorial as a rare stance among independent outlets nationwide. The group also highlighted the non-profit paper’s decision to keep its reporting free of paywalls so readers can access coverage online and in print.
“Their work is not paywalled, and remains accessible to its online and print readers,” the citation said, adding that the publication represents “the vital role that independent journalists play in defending our democracy.”
Editor and Publisher Dave Perry, described by the organization as “civic-minded,” was also recognized for his leadership and commitment to community-focused journalism.
“There is no substitute for credible, accurate journalism,” Perry said in an interview with Media And Democracy officials in December. “Without it, we lose our uniquely American freedoms and control of all levels of government. Without the public’s support of the media, however, journalism cannot survive. Social media commentary and government spokespersons are not journalism.”
The Sentinel shares the annual recognition with a wide range of journalists and media, including ABC News White House correspondent Mary Bruce, who was cited for pressing questions on human rights and standing up to political pressure during coverage of the administration.
Also honored this year are the Associated Press’s Daisy Veerasingham and Julie Pace after they refused to alter their style guide to rename the Gulf of Mexico despite intense political pressure.
In addition, Propublica, 404media, Wired, and Techdirt were honored for “remarkable investigative work and have also taken measures to ensure that investigative reporting remains accessible to the public, work that is often hidden behind paywalls.”
Honored as well are the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Will Bunch and Karen Attiah. Attiah reported that the Bezos-owned Washington Post had removed her from her role as opinion columnist there after her sharing of social media posts that provided broader context of Charlie Kirk’s murder, including a racist comment made by Kirk himself. Bunch authored a hard-hitting opinion piece for the Philadelphia Inquirer in October, urging the Democratic Party to take critical action to defend the nation from the GOP’s dismantling of democracy under Trump.
The award will be presented during the Media and Democracy Project’s national virtual meeting, “2025 Extravaganza: A Year in Review,” scheduled for 6 p.m. Denver time Thursday. The virtual event is open to the public after registration.
Founded to promote media reform and democratic values, the organization recognizes journalists and publications monthly and encourages the public to support independent news outlets through subscriptions, donations and public engagement.