This past week, Undark swept up the 2019 Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award in the Small Newsroom category. The winning entry—a multimedia series called “Breathtaking,” which uses prose, photography, 360-degree video, animation, and real-time data analysis to document the impact of particulate air pollution in seven countries worldwide—has also won the 2018 George Polk Award for Environmental Journalism and the 2019 National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation’s Digital Media Award. With the Al Neuharth award, Undark landed another accolade and $4,000 in prize money.

Supported by the Gannett Foundation, the Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award honors “stories that uncover major news based on the reporters’ own investigations that advance and serve the public interest.” The competition heavily values creative use of medium, including use of mobile and social platforms as well as user interface and interactive elements.

Tackling the environmental, public health, political, and economic issues wrapped up in airborne pollution issues, “Breathtaking” leveraged reporters across five continents to showcase an on-the-ground view of both the magnitude of the problem and how it impacts daily lives. The package was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and STAT News and features work by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Larry C. Price. Congratulations to the entire Undark team for their win.