Quick deployment, thoughtful reporting dominate Colorado shooting coverage

By Jesse Bedayn, Thomas Peipert, Sam Metz, Haven Daley, Brittany Peterson, Mike Balsamo, Colleen Slevin, Matt Brown, Bernard Condon and David Zalubowski

Jesse Bedayn, AP/Report for America Corps member, Denver; multi-platform journalist Thomas Peipert, Denver; Salt Lake City newsperson Sam Metz; San Francisco-based videographer Haven Daley, Denver-based videographer Brittany Peterson, Washington reporter Mike Balsamo; Denver reporter Colleen Slevin; Montana-based reporter Matt Brown, New York-based investigative reporter Bernard Condon and Denver photographer David Zalubowski were among the staffers who responded quickly and thoughtfully as soon as word of a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Colorado Spring broke in the wee Sunday morning hours, resulting in all-formats response and top-notch coverage that lasted for days to come.

Bedayn began the reporting and the team’s combined efforts kicked off a steady stream of community reaction, investigative updates and sensitive profiles, including Bedayn’s poignant story on the first known victim that moved the night of the shooting.