Journalism awards are often handed out after a reporter exposes corruption, uncovers wrongdoing, or shines light on a story others missed.
This year, one of the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists’ (MNSPJ) highest honors was awarded to a reporter facing federal felony charges.
The MNSPJ named Georgia Fort the recipient of the 2026 Peter S. Popovich Award, which “recognizes a person or organization that exemplifies the fight to uphold First Amendment rights.”
The award comes as Fort remains under federal indictment in connection to the Jan. 18 invasion of a worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul.
According to court filings, congregants — including children — fled the sanctuary in terror after the group Fort was with stormed in. One woman reportedly suffered a broken arm while attempting to leave.
The Cities Church invasion occurred just a handful of months after Twin Cities parishioners were terrorized by a shooting during a worship service at Annunciation Catholic Church that left two children dead.
In announcing the award, MNSPJ specifically cited Fort’s ongoing legal battle, stating that she has “courageously and tirelessly” advocated for press freedom while facing federal charges “for her coverage of an anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul church.”
The case at center of debate
Alpha News has extensively covered the Cities Church invasion.
Several individuals were indicted earlier this year after storming the church during a service and targeting one of its pastors, who also served as an official for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Federal prosecutors allege the event was not a spontaneous demonstration but a coordinated action in which participants entered the church during services, chanted slogans, confronted church leadership and disrupted religious worship.
Court filings describe congregants scrambling to leave the sanctuary as agitators entered. Prosecutors say families fled with children and that one church member was injured while attempting to exit.
Fort maintains she attended the event solely as a journalist and was documenting a matter of public interest. She has argued that the prosecution threatens press freedom and criminalizes legitimate news-gathering activity.
Federal prosecutors dispute that characterization, alleging Fort was a participant rather than an observer.
The indictment alleges Fort and former CNN journalist Don Lemon met with leaders of the disruption “for a pre-op briefing” at a “shopping center,” which included “instruction on how the operation would be conducted once they arrived at the Church.”
“Once at the Church, all of the defendants entered the Church to conduct a takeover-style attack,” the complaint alleges.
Fort has pleaded not guilty in the ongoing federal case and remains free while awaiting trial.
The MNSPJ recognition is not the only recent award Fort has received.
The International Women’s Media Foundation also selected Fort as a recipient of its 2026 Courage in Journalism Award, placing her alongside journalists from countries such as Iran and Myanmar who have faced censorship, imprisonment and political persecution.
Questions for SPJ
Alpha News contacted the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists asking whether the organization reviewed the federal indictment and court filings before selecting Fort for the award and whether allegations that families and children fled the service in terror were considered during the selection process.
Alpha News also asked whether MNSPJ believes Fort’s actions on Jan. 18 were solely journalistic in nature and whether the organization would revisit the award if evidence presented in her case contradicts that conclusion.
MNSPJ did not directly respond to those inquiries. Instead, the organization referred Alpha News to a January statement condemning her arrest and a June announcement recognizing her with the award.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
