Bisnow Wins 7 NAREE Journalism Awards For 2024 Coverage

Bisnow won seven awards at the National Association of Real Estate Editors Journalism Competition in New Orleans on Wednesday, taking home multiple NAREE honors for the eighth year in a row.

NAREE awarded Bisnow with two gold awards, one silver, two bronzes and two honorable mentions.

“It’s an honor to see Bisnow’s journalism recognized once again at NAREE,” Bisnow Editor-in-Chief Mark F. Bonner said. “From the U.S. to the UK and beyond, our newsroom continues to deliver award-winning work that reflects the highest standards of the craft. And to return to my hometown of New Orleans this week and celebrate these achievements with the team makes the moment all the more meaningful. I’m deeply proud of our team’s relentless drive, integrity and impact.”

Deputy Managing Editor Ethan Rothstein, Houston Reporter Maddy McCarty and Atlanta Reporter Jarred Schenke won the top award in the Best Online Commercial Real Estate Story category for their investigation into the neglected tenants of fractional real estate investing startup Landa.

In the same category, Bisnow Washington, D.C., Reporter Emily Wishingrad and Deputy East Coast Editor Jon Banister took home the bronze award for their work on plunging office values in D.C. due to remote work and companies downsizing or flocking toward newer buildings. National Reporter Matt Wasielewski also earned an honorable mention in the category.

The second gold award went to Central U.S. Editor Katharine Carlon, Dallas-Fort Worth Reporter Billy Wadsack and McCarty for Best Real Estate E-Newsletter for their work on The Texas Tea, which launched last year and is Bisnow's first gold in the category.

UK Editor Mike Phillips and Dublin and London Reporter Mark Faithfull took second place in the Best International Real Estate Story category for their exploration of the businesses behind green building certifications and their ineffectiveness at driving down emissions.

“I am thrilled that the Bisnow newsroom is yet again being recognized for its sharp analysis and critical insight into the commercial real estate industry,” Bisnow CEO Gregg Mayer said. “Our reporters continue to go deep on the stories that matter to our readers, providing the CRE industry with an unmatched resource for must-read stories and publications that drive their business forward. I couldn't be prouder of their work.”

Bisnow received the following awards and recognitions:

Best Online Commercial Real Estate Story:

GOLD WINNER: Ethan Rothstein, Maddy McCarty and Jarred Schenke, A VC-Backed Startup Turned Houses Into Stocks. Its Bets Are Failing, Leaving Its Tenants And Investors In Limbo

Judges’ Comments: Rothstein, McCarty and Schenke were ahead of the curve on this exceptional story about fractional real estate company Landa, a startup that sold investors small shares in properties and claimed it was “democratizing” home ownership. Later, many of those investors couldn’t access their money or get answers from Landa. The reporters visited properties and talked to tenants, who said the homes offered cheap rent but weren’t maintained. Schenke’s photos helped document the abandoned and neglected properties. Meticulously reported and well-written, the story proved prescient, as a judge later ordered Landa to divest more than 100 properties that were mismanaged and in default.

BRONZE WINNER: Emily Wishingrad and Jon Banister, ‘Shocking’ Plunge In Office Values Reveals Depth Of D.C.’s Looming Economic Crisis

HONORABLE MENTION: Matt Wasielewski, The Average Appraiser Is Aging Out Of The Workforce. A Crippling Labor Shortage Looms

Best Real Estate E-Newsletter Editor: 

GOLD WINNER: Katharine Carlon, Maddy McCarty and Billy Wadsack, The Texas Tea 

Judges’ Comments: This conversational newsletter is like sitting down across from a friend or neighbor to discuss and dissect the latest neighborhood gossip. It tackles the biggest headline news of the area with nuanced commentary and shares the best of Bisnow with appetite-whetting, quick-hitting blurbs full of context that make readers want to click on the link and get the whole story. The calendar at the end of the newsletter is a nice touch that nods to the sense of community this newsletter is cultivating.

Best International Real Estate Story:

SILVER WINNER: Mike Phillips and Mark Faithful, The Green Building Certification System Is Worth Billions — But It Isn’t Helping

Judges’ Comments: Mark Faithfull and Mike Phillips explore the business behind green building certification as it experiences a “golden age.” Their reporting shows how the certification system, meant to award and encourage buildings and companies to aim for sustainability, is failing at helping the real estate industry cut carbon. A bloated system and varying standards for what constitutes a net-zero building have not helped the process. But Faithfull and Phillips don’t stop there — they identify ways to improve the system and make it more effective, shining a light on a possible path forward. 

Best Breaking News:

BRONZE WINNER: Maddy McCarty, $384M In Houston Multifamily Properties Set For Auction Block Tuesday As Distress Mounts

Best Economic Analysis:

HONORABLE MENTION: Matt Wasielewski, Facing Billions In Budget Shortfalls, Cities Scramble For Solutions