Packet and Gazette reporter wins state’s top honor for ‘assertive journalism’
An Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette reporter was awarded the top prize for assertive journalism in South Carolina on Friday.
Projects reporter Kacen Bayless of Bluffton was announced as the winner of the Jay Bender Award for Assertive Journalism through the South Carolina Press Association.
In September 2020, Bayless wrote about a secret meeting of some of Beaufort County’s highest elected officials at Fraser’s Tavern in Sea Pines to discuss the planned U.S. 278 Hilton Head bridge project. Bayless found that the gathering constituted a committee meeting which should have been held publicly.
Judges said Bayless’ work “speaks to the culture of the county and its problems … and this is probably what’s going on everywhere. We applaud Bayless for his assertiveness, persistence, deep knowledge of the officials’ behavior and dogged pursuit of the truth.”
Bayless is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri with an emphasis in investigative reporting. He has covered growth and development and Beaufort County government for The Packet and Gazette since May 2019.
The press association’s annual awards are usually announced in March but were delayed because of COVID-19.
In addition to Bayless’ honor, The Island Packet staff won the press association’s President’s Cup for having an outstanding newspaper for the fourth time in five years.
In awards announced earlier this year, current and former Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette staff members earned 39 honors, including 10 first-place prizes for reporting that revealed poor conditions in Hilton Head public housing, held police and Beaufort County Council accountable, and detailed the growing pains felt as development changes the look of the Lowcountry.
The newspapers’ work was entered alongside other daily newspapers across South Carolina with circulations between 10,000 and 30,000.
