Story on Robert Shields Diary Wins Society of Professional Journalists’ Awards

Robert Shields of Dayton, Washington, kept a diary for nearly 30 years, writing 37.5 million words about all aspects of his life. Shields and his wife, Grace, established an endowment in 1999 to process, index, and house his diary in WSU Libraries’ Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections. Photo by Bob Hubner, WSU Photo Services.

Washington State Magazine associate editor Adriana Janovich earned several honors in the 2025 Region X Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Awards program for her April 2025 story on the Robert Shields’ diary, held in Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections.

Titled “The Constant Diarist,” Janovich’s article won first place in the magazine feature category, as well as second-place awards in the personal profile category and the magazine arts and culture reporting category. The SPJ awards were announced on June 1.

SPJ is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and upholding high ethical standards. Founded in 1909, SPJ champions journalists by recognizing outstanding achievement, protecting press freedom, promoting ethics, and preparing new generations of professionals.

Shields, a Dayton, Washington, resident, businessman, minister, and teacher, kept what is considered the world’s longest diary—37.5 million words—about his daily life in minute detail.

He and his wife, Grace, donated the diary, collected in 96 boxes, and other papers to the WSU Libraries in 1999, with the stipulation that his work would be closed until both Shields and Grace passed away. Cataloging the diary and papers began in 2024, after the April death of Grace.

For another story on Shields, his diary, and his family, please refer to the libraries’ September 2024 article.