SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Press Club has named Michelle Breidenbach of Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard as the recipient of its 2026 Bill Carey Journalist of the Year Award, honoring a year of impactful investigative reporting and a career dedicated to public service journalism.
Named for legendary Syracuse broadcaster Bill Carey, the award recognizes a journalist whose work demonstrates exceptional reporting, integrity and commitment to informing the public.
Breidenbach is a reporter on the public affairs team at Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. Her recent work has focused on immigration enforcement in Central New York, the rebuilding of Interstate 81 and issues surrounding public housing near the Syracuse highway project.
In his nomination letter, Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard’s Senior Director of Content John Lammers praised Breidenbach’s reporting on immigration enforcement in Central New York as “a model of impactful local watchdog reporting.”
According to the nomination, Breidenbach began her reporting with little information and few sources, ultimately producing a sweeping body of work detailing the realities of federal immigration enforcement in the region. Her reporting documented allegations of racial profiling, warrantless searches, family separations and opaque detention practices.
“Michelle didn’t let go of the story all year,” Lammers wrote, noting that her reporting prompted action from both the New York Civil Liberties Union and the New York state attorney general’s office.
Her stories highlighted the experiences of immigrants and families navigating a complex and often secretive system, including people detained during routine appointments, families divided by deportation proceedings and workers whose stories revealed broader economic and social impacts across central New York.
The nomination also praised Breidenbach’s persistence in pursuing public records and accountability, including directly petitioning federal court to obtain key documents.
In addition to her reporting, colleagues cited her leadership and mentorship within the newsroom. Lammers noted that Breidenbach regularly organizes training sessions for journalists, mentors younger reporters and works closely with college journalism students.
The Syracuse Press Club will honor Breidenbach at its annual Professional Recognition Awards ceremony May 2, recognizing both her reporting in 2025 and her longstanding contributions to journalism in central New York.