AP collaboration with Pittsburgh’s Public Source produces standout series on deadly steel mill explosion

By Jessie Wardarski, Josh Kelety, Michael Casey, Marc Levy and Yuri Kageyama; Quinn Glabicki and Lajja Mistry of Pittsburgh’s Public Source

A collaboration combining deep local reporting from Pittsburgh’s Public Source with the global reach of The Associated Press produced a standout series that immersed audiences in a Pennsylvania community grappling with the aftermath of a deadly explosion at a U.S. Steel mill.

Quinn Glabicki and Lajja Mistry of Pittsburgh’s Public Source, along with AP video journalist Jessie Wardarski, reported on the ground in Clairton, Pennsylvania. Glabicki and Wardarski’s visual journalism stood out for its depth and impact.

AP reporter Josh Kelety spent hours researching and interviewing experts, attorneys and advocates. Data journalist MK Wildeman contributed extensive data reporting. Yuri Kageyama, Michael Casey and Marc Levy added reporting from as far away as Japan, where the steel mill’s new owner, Nippon Steel, is based.

Pittsburgh editors Halle Stockton and Richard Lord worked with Ted Anthony and Caleb Jones to shape the text and produce an engaging digital presentation, with Kim Johnson serving as project manager.

Judges praised the strong collaboration, which also examined a pattern of accidents at the plant over time, and the deft way the package wove together emotional interviews, drone video, social media and other elements.