Since she joined radio station KUNC in Greeley more than four
years ago, Grace Hood's reports on fracking, agriculture, the
2012 wildfires and online education have been standouts. Some of
the content, like her story on hay thefts along the Front Range,
which was picked up nationally, is a departure from the East
Coast-centric National Public Radio staples. The judges in the
2012 Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize called her three-part series
"Investigating Colorado's Online K-12 Schools" an example of
"exemplary enterprise reporting that was particularly notable
for a small community station." She's developed a working
relationship with NPR editors that allows her to pitch stories
to the network, with the blessings of KUNC.  The best part of
her job is the range of stories, she says, from soft features to
breaking news to investigative reporting and big issues like
water and agriculture. "I love being out where no one is."
NPR's stated desire to focus less "inside the Beltway" works in
her favor.  The edit proc