Current and former fellows take first place in NM Press Women’s awards

The Local News Fellowships Program is proud to celebrate the current and former fellows who won first-place in the New Mexico Press Women’s 2026 Communication Awards. Abigail Salas, Kylie Garcia, and Leah Romero each placed first in their respective categories. Salas won first place in a Radio and Television category for her Community creates 'Art Carts' to help unhoused people piece. 

Garcia, won first place in a food writing category, for her story, How a new wave of TikTok foodies is feeding Albuquerque’s restaurant scene. 

Romero won first place for her personality profile, Traveling the Latin World through Nacha Mendez’s Music

All three winners now move on to the National Federation of Press Women competition. 

Abigail Salas is a current fellow, working for KRWG in Las Cruces. 

Kylie Garcia was a fellow from 2024-2025 and worked for the Santa Fe New Mexican. She is currently a staff writer with the Albuquerque Journal. 

Leah Romero was a fellow working for the Las Cruces Sun-News from 2020-2021. She is currently an independent journalist who covers southern New Mexico.