Winners and Honorees
2025 ALL-OHIO EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARDS
Presented by the Press Club of Cleveland
June 6, 2025
WRITING
ANALYSIS
1st place
“How Springfield rumor spread from right-wing social media to the presidential debate”
Dan Horn and Victoria Moorwood
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Judges’ comments: A precise and necessary timeline and analysis of how one social media post about a neighborhood rumor went viral the world over and became a flashpoint in the U.S. Presidential race.
2nd place
“US Media and Factcheckers Fail to Note Israel’s Refutation of ‘Beheaded Babies’ Stories”
David Knox
Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (www.fair.org)
Judges’ comments: A careful analysis that fact checks the fact checkers.
3rd place
“EUDR: A ‘gargantuan’ task”
Sam Cottrill
Rubber News
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Overall category judges’ comments: This was a hard category to judge! The stories were engaging and interesting, each in its own way.
1st place
“Vintage Vivacity”
Katy Smith
Columbus Monthly
2nd place
“Downtown Cincinnati library reopens after $43.4M renovation”
Sydney Franklin
The Cincinnati Enquirer
3rd place
“Courtroom restoration reveals museum-quality artwork and a few well-kept secrets”
Alan Miller
TheReportingProject.org
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
1st place
“Canton Symphony fights for survival”
Ed Balint
The Repository
Judges’ comments: The writing is engaging right from the start. There’s also some serious reporting in this story. It’s rare arts and entertainment stories read like real news. This piece rises to the occasion.
2nd place
“Christopher Fiorello is walking 3,800 miles to get ‘Closer to Home’ “
Emily Votaw
WOUB Public Media
Judges’ comments: The writing in this piece is everything. A wonderful narrative style!
3rd place
“The Day the Music Died”
Dan Williamson
Columbus Monthly
Judges’ comments: Some good reporting.
BREAKING NEWS
1st place
“Mass shooting coverage”
Anthony Thompson Thompson, Bryce Buyakie
Akron Beacon Journal
Judges’ comments: Great to have breaking news/coverage like this center on a family or the victim of a family.
2nd place
“Florence mass shooting”
Aaron Valdez, Killian Baarlaer and Bebe Hodges
The Cincinnati Enquirer
3rd place
“Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson, Chief of Staff Jim Burge charged with felony intimidation”
Owen MacMillan
The Chronicle-Telegram
BUSINESS & FINANCIAL
Overall category judges’ comments: Great articles overall. Was especially impressed by the insights in the NHL article and the research work on the CEO article.
1st place
“Why does your burger cost $20?”
Dan Eaton
Columbus Business First
Judges’ comments: Highly relatable topic that immediately engages the reader. The breakdown of menu item costs was particularly interesting.
2nd place
“Stale, Male and Pale’ No More”
Steve Watkins
Cincinnati Business Courier
Judges’ comments: Strongly researched article with compelling data and insightful analysis.
3rd place
“Workers fret as Kroger-Albertsons merger battle rages”
Alexander Coolidge
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Judges’ comments: A successful blend of context and a strong focus on individuals.
COLUMN OR BLOG: GENERAL NEWS
1st place
“Sunlite pool”
Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer
2nd place
“The courage to face a bad man”
Rini Jeffers
The Chronicle-Telegram
3rd place
“Newly naturalized citizen faces unexpected hurdles voting for the first time”
Allisson Toro-Lagos
Akron Beacon Journal
COLUMN OR BLOG: SPORTS
Overall category judges’ comments: This was a class field, full of professional writing that made the judging a joy, and a chore, all at once. Someone had to win, and the entries, by and large, gave it a good run.
1st place
“Detroit Lions are living the NFL playoff dream Cleveland Browns are still chasing “
Nate Ulrich
Akron Beacon Journal
Judges’ comments: The writer turned an around-town observation into a unique and playful scene-setter, driving home the irony of two fan bases that could long commiserate with each other suddenly being at odds in the isolated interaction. The column established that history through a combination of pre-Super Bowl era success and the futility that followed. Then it drove home the Cleveland-area connections on the Detroit Lions to arrive at the conclusion of why the fan bases should still be on the same side, at least for the playoffs. A clean, educational and whimsical read.
2nd place
“We still have the Cavs and Guardians”
Jim Ingraham
The Chronicle-Telegram
Judges’ comments: A voice that seemingly spoke for every sports fan that endures the “on-the-field” product taking a backseat to “box office” moves and entertainment value. You can get a strong sense of the spirits of a city being lifted by the success of other teams in town. This column had teeth early, then cited dominance on the scoreboard, general demeanor, and multiple contributors in different facets of a game to make an argument for what winning organizations look like.
3rd place
“Remember Richfield Coliseum? It’s just a memory today”
Andy Baskin
Cleveland Jewish News
Judges’ comments: A trip down memory lane. There could be more pieces produced about core community gathering places gone by. Worth the read for those who like to reflect on the people they meet, the places they go, and the part they play in shaping the present and the future.
COLUMN OR BLOG: BUSINESS
1st place
“Why ‘inclusion’ no longer appears in JobsOhio’s annual report”
Carrie Ghose
Columbus Business First
Judges’ comments: Interesting, well written story. It was not at all what I expected, and it was super easy to read. Nice work.
2nd place
“Test drive of a lifetime”
Erin Pustay Beaven
Rubber News
3rd place
“From The CEO: Your endless meeting cycle may be stifling your innovation”
Fred Koury
Smart Business
COLUMN OR BLOG: LIFESTYLE/FEATURE
1st place
“My wife deserves the world”
Don Detore
Tire Business Newspaper
2nd place
“A swearing toddler is all fun and games until it’s your own”
Theresa Bennett
Akron Beacon Journal
3rd place
“The 50 best concerts I ever saw in Northeast Ohio”
Mark J. Price
Akron Beacon Journal
CRIME & JUSTICE
Overall category judges’ comments: Very difficult decision … lots of outstanding entries. Would give Honorable mention to “White Power Outrage” for its willingness to take a hard look at a vein of hate that’s hard to face.
1st place
“Cleveland Police Stop and Search Black Drivers at Higher Rates Despite DOJ Oversight”
Mark Puente and Sarah Buduson
The Marshall Project-Cleveland
Judges’ comments: The sheer volume of data analyzed to tell us something important wins the day … and the contest.
2nd place
“Missing in Plain Sight: The Inequity Behind Cincinnati’s ‘North Fairmount Jane Doe’ “
Madeline Fening
Cincinnati CityBeat
Judges’ comments: Outstanding for its interesting angle and sensitivity to the wider reality that this crime points up.
3rd place
“My Best Friend’s Murder”
Margaret Newkirk
Columbus Monthly
Judges’ comments: Breathtaking storytelling.
DATA JOURNALISM
1st place
“Cleveland Police Stop and Search Black Drivers at Higher Rates Despite DOJ Oversight”
Mark Puente and Sarah Buduson
The Marshall Project-Cleveland
Judges’ comments: Excellent use of researched stats to identify problems. Quality research turned into an excellent story. Loved the graphics, well done.
2nd place
“Fleeing troubled public schools? Ohio voucher data shows many families already enrolled in private schools”
Laura Hancock
Cleveland.com
3rd place
“Teen crime stats trend down, but police and prosecutors say it’s worse”
Cameron Knight, Kevin Grasha and Dan Horn
The Cincinnati Enquirer
EDITORIAL
1st place
“A tale of two DeWines”
Brad Dicken
The Chronicle-Telegram
Judges’ comments: Insightful look at gerrymandering and the governor’s role in it.
2nd place
“Enough with the catty behavior”
Cheryl Powell
Akron Beacon Journal
3rd place
“The Drive For Stadium Leverage”
Scott Suttell
Crain’s Cleveland Business
EDUCATION
1st place
“Aurora math teacher hailed for work with gifted students”
Jeff Saunders
Record Courier
Judges’ comments: Teachers who love to teach and use unconventional ways to do so are very inspiring. I believe stories like this give people hope, that there is more to education than just regurgitating base-level information. Particularly focusing on gifted students is also important. While focusing on other students should also be a priority, gifted students sometimes suffer from the assumption that they don’t need encouragement or engagement as much as others, because they themselves are so bright. However, just as with any other student, encouragement shows them that they are on the right path and can further fuel their interest in expanding their gifts rather than letting them stagnate.
2nd place
“How President Laura Bloomberg is steering Cleveland State toward more than survival”
Amy Morona
Signal Cleveland
3rd place
“Newark middle school principal placed on leave after reports of bullying, failure to report harassment”
Sarah Sollinger
TheReportingProject.org
ENVIRONMENT
Overall category judges’ comments: Very strong entries in this category! High honorable mention to Jill Sell’s interesting story on “Hawks in the Backyard” (Beacon Journal) and to Katy Smith’s nicely written and comprehensive profile “Nancy of the Forest”.
1st place
“Pollinator Gardens or Perfect Lawns?”
Joel Oliphint
Columbus Monthly
Judges’ comments: Fascinating look at an alternative to manicured lawns — and the opposition it can spawn.
2nd place
“A Watershed Moment for the Licking River”
Cedric Rose
Cincinnati Magazine
Judges’ comments: Thorough, well-written and beautifully presented story about efforts to save the Licking River — factual yet with a nice personal touch
3rd place
“10 years after algae bloom crisis, Lake Erie recovery has been mixed”
Dan Shingler
Crain’s Cleveland Business
Judges’ comments: Thoughtful, thoroughly reported look at the ongoing struggle to present algae blooms.
ESSAY
1st place
“Winner, winner election night dinner. It’s pizza in a landslide”
Josh Boose
ideastream
Judges’ comments: Food and election night are often the subject of stories and essays, but usually in separate sections of a news publication. This essay cleverly combined both to offer a behind-the-scenes
look in a humble and informative way about what it’s like to be in a newsroom on a chaotic night. Cheers to editors who feed their employees!
2nd place
“Trump taking his cues from P.T. Barnum”
Cliff Anthony
Cleveland.com
Judges’ comments: I’d heard about a few of Trump’s retail ventures, but was surprised to learn about those of other presidents, and hadn’t considered the P.T. Barnum connection. This short essay used both facts and ribbing to show that a seemingly trivial presidential pursuit actually says a lot about the election process and the person running for president.
3rd place
“The killing of an historical Summit County pine tree gives us incentive to plant more trees”
Jill Sell
Akron Beacon Journal
Judges’ comments: All in one, this essay was a gentle, loving tribute to Ocasek, to a particular pine tree, to trees in general, and to anyone who cares for trees.
FOOD/RESTAURANT
1st place
“Why are there so many chicken restaurants?”
Bev Shaffer
The Repository
Judges’ comments: This piece answers the question asked throughout the nation regarding restaurants. The best part is it’s in-depth and takes what might be humorous and adds the light touch to a very comprehensive “guide” that virtually leaves no chicken bone unturned. Great job!
2nd place
“Smoking hot: Proof Barbecue’s resilient journey to Ohio City”
Rebecca Cahill
FreshWater Cleveland
3rd place
“Melt Bar and Grilled, a former restaurant powerhouse, now fights to survive”
Jeremy Nobile
Crain’s Cleveland Business
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
1st place
“As jobs go, so goes Ohio”
David Knox and Carissa Woytach
The Chronicle-Telegram
Judges’ comments: Excellent work on a report that has nationwide significance. Well written and researched and readers can fully understand the issues. Well done!
2nd place
“President Biden visits East Palestine more than 1 year after toxic Ohio train derailment”
Ryan Haidet and Dave DeNatale
WKYC
3rd place
“Newark City Council approves ordinance targeting homeless people in 7-1 vote for ‘camping ban’ “
Noah Fishman
TheReportingProject.org
HEADLINE
1st place
“Cloverleaf’s silver lining is a touch of Gray”
Vince Guerrieri
Medina County Gazette
Judges’ comments:The best headline taps into those mindworms that just won’t quit us … while actually delivering an interesting new story. This one definitely achieves this.
2nd place
“Dining reservations: Restaurants in the city center are not back to pre-pandemic levels, though some see more opportunity than others”
Andy Brownfield, Tom Demeropolis, Nikki Kingery and Liz Engel
Cincinnati Business Courier
Judges’ comments: Great play “reservations” … we’ve had a few.
3rd place
“One for the books: Mercantile Library’s $5 million renovation doubles size of downtown’s literary hub”
Nikki Kingery, Tom Demeropolis, Andy Brownfield and Liz Engel
Cincinnati Business Courier
Judges’ comments: Blowing new meaning into a cliche .. fantastic!
HEALTH & MEDICAL
1st place
“Loneliness is a silent epidemic”
Ally Marotti
Crain’s Cleveland Business
Judges’ comments: Really thoughtful, well laid out and smart. Articulated both the problem and potential solutions. And the tone of the story felt perfect. Excellent work.
2nd place
“Raphael Pollock: Fighting Cancer on Two Fronts”
Joel Oliphint
Columbus Monthly
3rd place
“Insurer billed $14,000 for an insulin pump even with exemption”
Elizabeth B. Kim
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HISTORY
1st place
“The not-so-pretty tale of how Cincinnati became Porkopolis”
Jeff Suess
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Judges’ comments: Great story told with humor, wit and just the right amount of seriousness.
2nd place
“Ohio’s vice presidential history”
Anthony Shoemaker
The Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch, Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository
Judges’ comments: Fascinating
3rd place
“Donald Trump, Jacksonian press, and today”
Richard Perloff
The Plain Dealer
Judges’ comments: Original idea and great writing
HUMOR
1st place
“Christmas Ale is here! Great Lakes Brewing Co. holds First Pour party”
Marc Bona
Cleveland.com
Judges’ comments: The entries were indeed entertaining! Kudos to Marc Bona for thinking outside the box and crafting a festive limerick.
2nd place
“Unwritten novels, unscheduled trips: Retirement’s not following the plan”
Cliff Anthony
Cleveland.com
IN-DEPTH REPORT OR SERIES
Overall category judges’ comments: Excellent category with a lot of really good work.
1st place
“Art Saves”
Kabir Bhatia, Dave DeOreo, Jean-Marie Papoi and Carrie Wise
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Excellent series about how art saves. Great stuff. Well-crafted stories with incredible layouts which featured the art. High quality, smart, insightful, meaningful work.
2nd place
“A brighter future for carbon black”
Andrew Schunk
Rubber News
3rd place
“Dying Ohio”
Mark Williams, Dean Narciso, Zach Tuggle and Jordan Laird
The Columbus Dispatch
LIFESTYLE FEATURE
1st place
“Shifting Currents”
Annie Nickoloff
Cleveland Magazine
Judges’ comments: Excellent story about a niche “family”. Lots of detail but still left me wanting more on any of these individuals.
2nd place
“Holy Ravioli!”
Mary McCarty
Cincinnati Magazine
3rd place
“Stairway to Heaven”
Steven Rosen
Cincinnati Magazine
NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY NEWS
1st place
“The Little Train Town That Could”
Laurie Pike
Cincinnati Magazine
Judges’ comments: This piece captures the essence of local community news. Well written with great art and beautiful layout. Excellent!
2nd place
“More than 50 trucks, trailers travel to North Carolina with hay bales”
Sara Crawford
Medina County Gazette
3rd place
“From dinner table to community lifeline: The Steak Club Foundation’s mission to end food insecurity”
Karin Connelly Rice
FreshWater Cleveland
NEWSLETTER
1st place
“The Daily Frequency”
Staff
Ideastream
2nd place
“The Reporting Project newsletter”
Julia Lerner
TheReportingProject.org
3rd place
“Smart Business Dealmakers Newsletter”
Adam Burroughs and Michael Marzec
Smart Business
OBITUARY
1st place
“Browns celebrate Jim Donovan’s life, honor iconic broadcaster accordingly in win”
Nate Ulrich
Akron Beacon Journal
Judges’ comments: This is a well-written and well-researched piece that serves a tremendous tribute to a beloved broadcaster.
2nd place
“Dan Coughlin”
Mike McIntyre
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: I appreciate the personal touch in this thoroughly researched obituary that tells the heartfelt story of a man who clearly meant the world to a Catholic High School and his community.
3rd place
“Gerry Faust”
Scott Springer
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Judges’ comments: Plenty of detail supports why this coach was worthy of such a robust obituary.
PROFILE
1st place
“Bernie Kosar’s Fourth Quarter”
Dillon Stewart
Cleveland Magazine
Judges’ comments: This story of the fallen football star evens the playing field for the average reader. An honest profile that doesn’t hold back on the good and the bad. Very interesting and well done!
2nd place
“Ron Puglisi: The pizza king of Ashland County”
Dillon Carr
Ashland Source
3rd place
“Imohkai Okolo profile”
Bryce Buyakie
Akron Beacon Journal
RACE & DIVERSITY REPORTING
1st place
“Cleveland Police Stop and Search Black Drivers at Higher Rates Despite DOJ Oversight”
Mark Puente and Sarah Buduson
The Marshall Project-Cleveland
Judges’ comments: Important work done well.
2nd place
“Bridging the nature gap: Empowering urban youth with outdoor experiences”
Grant Segall
FreshWater Cleveland
3rd place
“Grieving Gaza”
Elizabeth B. Kim
The Cincinnati Enquirer
REAL ESTATE
Overall category judges’ comments: Reporters did a good job of going beyond reporting on a transaction or two. They got sources to provide context for a market in transition.
1st place
“The New Downtown”
Chris Wetterich and Staff
Cincinnati Business Courier
Judges’ comments: Great, comprehensive update on what’s happening to downtown real estate. Well written and great graphics.
2nd place
“Is the office doomed?”
Bonnie Meibers
Columbus Business First
Judges’ comments: Nicely written look at downtown office challenges.
3rd place
“Rite Aid closures leave behind empty retail spaces with murky futures”
Alexandra Golden
Crain’s Cleveland Business
Judges’ comments: Good response to a shifting situation. Sources helped explain that different locations face different fates.
REVIEW/CRITICISM
1st place
“Jason Isbell lingers on isolation in sold-out Ohio University show”
Andy Downing
Matter News
Judges’ comments: From a powerful lede to examples of lyrics and stories, this review provided an intriguing look at a singer-songwriter who truly connected to the audience. It effectively captures the essence of his introspective and isolating themes.
2nd place
“Cristian Măcelaru inspires in first CSO concert as music director-designate”
Janelle Gelfand
Cincinnati Business Courier
Judges’ comments: Excellent combination of historical perspectives and performance notes helped bring context to the musical presentation critique.
3rd place
“Billie Eilish concert”
David Wysong
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Judges’ comments: The fanboy review provided a vivid account of her performance and the high production value of the event, but didn’t offer any criticism. The 5 Takeaways helped provide focus, but the article could have used some editing. Odd to put the opener as the first takeaway.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Overall category judges’ comments: Really great submissions by all!
1st place
“Schools use this app to prevent suicide but does it work?”
Elizabeth B. Kim
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Judges’ comments: Very interesting read and timely topic with the cross section of AI and mental health.
2nd place
“Kent State professor David Costello part of global climate change research”
Jeff Saunders
Record Courier
Judges’ comments: I like the inclusion of explaining why this research is applicable.
3rd place
“Tires: An industry in 4.0 flux”
Andrew Schunk
Rubber News
Judges’ comments: I didn’t think I’d want to read about tires, but this story made me interested!
SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN – ALL PLATFORMS
Overall category judges’ comments: Well done Akron Beacon Journal for producing a strong variety of social content before and after the eclipse. Playful, informative and fun.
1st place
“Total Solar Eclipse”
Tawney Beans
Akron Beacon Journal
2nd place
“NEO Ice Cream Trail”
Tawney Beans
Akron Beacon Journal
SPORTS FEATURE
Overall category judges’ comments: There were great submissions all around. It was difficult to pick the top three. The stories I was drawn to were the ones with a twist, and a non-traditional ending.
1st place
The Repository
Tim Botos
“The battle of the beatens”
Judges’ comments: Well done story about two teams that are underdogs. I was hooked from the beginning.
2nd place
“Wicket Fun”
John Stowel
Cincinnati Magazine
Judges’ comments: Interesting story about a group of people finding community through a sport!
3rd place
“How Pete Rose sees paradox of MLB gambling ties, his lifetime ban”
Gordon Wittenmyer
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Judges’ comments: I like this application of looking into sports betting, it was a very interesting angle to something I’ve seen a lot of stories about.
SPORTS NEWS
1st place
“Stuff of legends: Never-quit Grizzlies capture another epic battle”
Albert Grindle
Medina County Gazette
Judges’ comments: This is writing that makes the reader feel the moment. Game recaps can be dry, but this one takes storytelling to a new level. “Stuff of legends,” indeed.
2nd place
“Browns are moving to Brook Park”
Scott Petrak
The Chronicle-Telegram
Judges’ comments: Balanced reporting walks the reader through a controversial decision to move the Brown’s home outside the city limits. Well done.
TRADE REPORT
Overall category judges’ comments: This category was very difficult to judge. Every submission was outstanding, and choosing between them was a challenge. Every writer should be very proud of their work.
1st place
“Tire industry growing strong in South Carolina”
Erin Pustay Beaven
Rubber News
2nd place
“A world away, Global Rubber Industries eyes North American success”
Don Detore
Tire Business Newspaper
3rd place
“Gus Herlong: Humanitarian of the Year”
Kathy McCarron
Tire Business Newspaper
TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION
1st place
“Does Red Mean Go or Stop?”
David Holthaus
Cincinnati Magazine
Judges’ comments: In-depth look at Cincinnati’s bike-sharing program and the problems it shares with some counterparts across the country. It was interesting to learn how the success of e-bike programs doesn’t actually guarantee their continued success, and why.
2nd place
“Shipping problems make waves”
Kathy McCarron
Tire Business Newspaper
WEATHER
1st place
“Blind spot in weather radar system may leave some central Ohio areas vulnerable”
Emma Baum
TheReportingProject.org
Judges’ comments: An important story that reminds us why investing in weather technology and the NWS is so critical. This is the type of piece that not only serves as an important warning to people who live in this zone, but it could also drive change that improves the chances of detecting the next tornado.
VIDEO
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
1st place
“Ernest Warther Museum woodcarvings are a Tuscarawas County treasure”
Dave DeOreo and Jean-Marie Papoi
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Really interesting feature that proves the value of the small museums that surround us and the amazing people who inspired them.
BREAKING NEWS
1st place
“Dairy Farm Fire”
Dave Nethers and David Bradford
WJW Fox 8
Judges’ comments: Good story about a community coming together.
BUSINESS & FINANCIAL
1st place
“A failure of government: As food-stamp theft soars in Lorain, experts say urgent help is needed”
Michelle Jarboe
WEWS-TV 5
Judges’ comments: Solid reporting. Hit the story from all angles and included what it’ll take to fix the problem. Good stuff.
2nd place
“2024 Greater Cleveland Year in Review”
Michael Collier
Greater Cleveland Partnership
CONTINUING COVERAGE
1st place
“A City in Turmoil”
Scott Noll
WEWS-TV 5
2nd place
“The Murder of Officer Derbin”
Peggy Gallek, Ed Gallek and Darsi Ayres
WJW Fox 8
3rd place
“Cleveland Street Takeovers”
Tara Morgan
WEWS-TV 5
CRIME & JUSTICE
1st place
“The Park Hills Survivor: How a single fingerprint and a victim’s vivid memory solved a 40-year-old cold case”
Jessica Schmidt and Tom Dewees
WXIX
2nd place
“Real Time Crime”
Tara Morgan
WEWS-TV 5
DOCUMENTARY
1st place
“Ten Cent Beer Night”
Andy Fishman, Marc Singer and Chris Gibilisco
WJW Fox 8
Judges’ comments: A poignant and enjoyable work that captures the “back in the day’ feelings. A sweet walk for all viewers. Well done!
EDUCATION
1st place
“School Bus Driver Shortage”
Dave Nethers and David Bradford
WJW Fox 8
Judges’ comments: Insightful report that covers all angles of an issue few outside of education consider. Great work!
GENERAL NEWS
1st place
“Prone Restraint”
Tara Morgan
WEWS-TV 5
Judges’ comments: Compelling story and solid reporting. Well done!
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
1st place
“Millions Owed, None Paid”
Scott Noll and Rob Klein
WJW Fox 8
Judges’ comments: Thorough reporting…well produced piece that makes it easy for the viewer to follow.
2nd place
“Safety Director Resigns”
Peggy Gallek and Ed Gallek
WJW Fox 8
Judges’ comments: I love any story that attempts to hold government accountable, and the reporters here certainly did that. From a producing stand point, I found the piece choppy and at times difficult to follow.
3rd place
“Early campaign foreshadows Bernie Moreno’s upset of Sherrod Brown”
Darrel Rowland
WSYX-TV
HEALTH & MEDICAL
1st place
“Battling Deadly Brain Damage”
Duane Pohlman, Holden Robinson and News Staff
WKRC-TV
Judges’ comments: Compelling piece told through a human lens.
2nd place
“First Responder: PTSD”
Jessica Dill and Chris Reece
WJW Fox 8
3rd place
“Community pharmacies are closing across Ohio due to drug middleman”
Darrel Rowland
WSYX-TV
HISTORY
1st place
“Ten Cent Beer Night”
Andy Fishman, Marc Singer and Chris Gibilisco
WJW Fox 8
Judges’ comments: A fantastic retelling of a marketing blunder.
2nd place
“A century later, Lorain remembers resiliency after 1924 tornado”
Jean-Marie Papoi
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: A fine way to capture history that’s fading from collective memory.
3rd place
“Just providence: There’s a plan to save two historic mansions on Cleveland’s East Side”
Michelle Jarboe
WEWS-TV 5
Judges’ comments: It’s a story we see again and again in our rustbelt cities. An excellent story about efforts to save a piece of history.
HUMAN INTEREST
1st place
“The Save”
Duane Pohlman, Holden Robinson, Kevin Barnett and Austin Tanner
WKRC-TV
Judges’ comments: A heart-warming story that was well produced on every front – strong writing, engaging storytelling, smart videography and editing, compelling reporter delivery. Bravo!
2nd place
“Sheltering Hope”
Eleanor Hayes, Janelle Bass Hawthorne, TV20 Staff and Patrick Fenner
TV20
Judges’ comments: Thorough reporting and excellent production value.
3rd place
“Demon House: Revisited”
Suzanne Stratford and David Bradford
WJW Fox 8
Judges’ comments: Great pacing and editing help keep the viewer engaged.
IN-DEPTH REPORT OR SERIES
1st place
“Fallout”
Duane Pohlman, Holden Robinson and Tim Geraghty
WKRC-TV
2nd place
“The Murder of Julian Wood”
Peggy Gallek, Ed Gallek and Darcie Loreno
WJW Fox 8
NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY NEWS
1st place
“Cleveland nonprofit aims to save moms and babies. Neighbors say, ‘not in my backyard.’ “
Michelle Jarboe, Anthony Garcia and Karen Van Vleck
WEWS-TV 5
Judges’ comments: A well-balanced and well told story that tackles a NIMBY issue in an engaging way. Fantastic production value. Bravo to the videographer/editor.
NEWS FEATURE
1st place
“That’s it for Euclid Beach’: Former mobile home park residents settle into new lives”
Michelle Jarboe and Dennis Spronck
WEWS-TV 5
Judges’ comments: This was a wonderful integration of music, historic photos, emotional soundbites and reporting to follow up on a challenging situation. Creative writing and standup transitions bring the story together in an impactful way.
PUBLIC SERVICE/PUBLIC AFFAIRS
1st place
“It Feels Like a Slap in the Face”
Scott Noll and Rob Klein
WEWS-TV 5
2nd place
“The State of Ohio” – Nov. 1, 2024
Karen Kasler, Daniel Konik, Jo Ingles and Sarah Donaldson
Ohio Public Television
3rd place
“Ideas”
Mike McIntyre, Leigh Barr, J. Nungesser and Ygal Kaufman
ideastream
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
1st place
“Big Ideas. Bold Ventures: LAND Moto”
Michael Collier
Greater Cleveland Partnership
SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN – ALL PLATFORMS
1st place
“Ohio lawmakers ban “foreign” campaigns contribution – with no proof they exist”
Darrel Rowland
WSYX-TV
SPORTS COMMENTARY
1st place
“Ken Carmantary”
Ken Carman
WJW Fox 8
SPORTS FEATURE
1st place
“Zanesville’s Paige Calendine Inspires Other Gymnasts”
Steven Wasserman
WHIZ Media Group
Judges’ comments: Well written story with good pacing. Videography looks great, but interviews need work. Why use that ugly stick mic? Also, your interview subjects need to be lit.
2nd place
“Rust and Rubber”
Andrew Theophilus and Owen Baker
TheReportingProject.org
Judges’ comments: Visually interesting, but the story itself needs work. The pacing of the opening was slow…and didn’t clearly establish a focus. The pacing picks up, but the documentary needs a concise focus. At times, the story line felt disjointed. A little more direction would go a long way!
SPORTSCAST
1st place
“Ken Carman sportscast”
Ken Carman
WJW Fox 8
Judges’ comments: Great energy from the anchor, who oozes personality! The “Carmantary” — I loved it! I imagine his viewers love him too! The sportscast was well produced…fantastic pacing. I walked away with a solid understanding of that day’s sports headlines. Also, it’s great to see a station devoting so much time to sports. Helps when you have an anchor with that much talent and personality!
WEATHERCAST
1st place
“Weather Class”
Alexis Walters and Chris Reece
WJW Fox 8
Judges’ comments: Great and unique idea to have the class help out with the weathercast! Never seen that before. Some of the kids are naturals. Smart way to engage the youth.
AUDIO
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
1st place
“Cleveland is a bustling Metropolis in the new ‘Superman’ film”
Kabir Bhatia
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Nicely done.
BREAKING NEWS
1st place
“Northeast Ohio experiences solar eclipse”
Staff
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Excellent way to cover audibly what is essentially a visual event. Well done.
BUSINESS & FINANCIAL
Overall category judges’ comments: The craft beer sales story was well researched and very well done. All three other entries were well over the 15 minute time limit in the rules of this category.
1st place
“Craft beer sales are down. Ohio’s mid-size breweries are tapping into their strengths to stay afloat”
Anna Huntsman
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: This entry was well researched and very interesting. Good job!
CONTINUING COVERAGE
1st place
“Ohio faces energy crisis as it chases high-tech jobs”
Sarah Donaldson
Ohio Public Radio
Judges’ comments: In-depth, detailed coverage of an important, timely topic.
2nd place
“Warren hospital closure:”
Taylor Wizner
Ideastream
CRIME & JUSTICE
1st place
“Cleveland police captain promoted to acting commander after making anti-LGBTQ slurs”
Matt Richmond
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Compelling accountability reporting.
EDUCATION
1st place
“In Painesville, helping Latino students, one math problem at a time”
Conor Morris
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: An interesting and in-depth report that covers a topic that impacts the nation. Great work!
ENVIRONMENT
1st place
“Money from the Inflation Reduction Act aims to bolster forest farming in southeast Ohio”
Theo Peck-Suzuki
WOUB Public Media
Judges’ comments: Well told story about an important subject. Good stuff.
2nd place
“Black Birders Week fosters diverse Northeast Ohio birdwatching community and outdoor family bonding”
Zaria Johnson
Ideastream
GENERAL NEWS
1st place
“Snack or weapon? Cleveland City Council piqued by protestor’s persimmons”
Matt Richmond
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: I really enjoyed the framing of what could have been a dull council meeting follow.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
1st place
“U.S. Senate race feature on Sherrod Brown”
Josh Boose
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: An interesting way to look at such a longtime candidate. I especially appreciate the views of a staunch Dem; someone who voted for Brown but not for Harris; and someone who wouldn’t vote for either.
HEALTH & MEDICAL
1st place
“After years of addiction, this Lorain man is fighting food insecurity through urban farming”
Stephen Langel
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: An intimate, sound-rich look at one person’s solution and journey within a systemic issue affecting so many in America.
HISTORY
1st place
“The Manhattan Project of World War I? Exploring Ohio’s murky link to chemical warfare”
Abigail Bottar
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: While there has been some previous reporting on the Mousetrap project, Abigail Bottar’s timely feature updates us on US history and current attempts to memorialize the site.
HUMAN INTEREST
1st place
“Can political campaign button sales predict an election? These history buffs think so”
Ygal Kaufman
Ideastream
IN-DEPTH REPORT OR SERIES
1st place
“A Slice of Politics”
Staff
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Compelling and well researched work covering all issues related to the election. Good to see all sides represented. Great work!
2nd place
“2024: Year In Review”
Karen Kasler, Jo Ingles and Sarah Donaldson
Ohio Public Radio
NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY NEWS
1st place
“Organizers call for community investment from Huntington after push to reopen Buckeye bank”
Richard Cunningham
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: An important story about the larger ripples created by seemingly small civic actions. Contextualizes the history of why and how so many Black communities in the US become economic “deserts.”
2nd place
“A senior citizen prom at Fort Frye High School gives generations the chance to connect”
Theo Peck-Suzuki
WOUB Public Media
3rd place
“The best high school League of Legends team in Ohio lives in Morgan County”
Theo Peck-Suzuki
WOUB Public Media
NEWS FEATURE
1st place
“Dear Struggling in Ohio, You’re Not Alone”
Josh Boose and Ygal Kaufman
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Heartwarming story, sensitively told. Excellent use of audio.
2nd place
“A town in southeast Ohio comes around to the idea of sheltering those experiencing homelessness”
Theo Peck-Suzuki
WOUB Public Media
Judges’ comments: Wonderful interview with homeless man expresses the concerns of many. Although the soundbite with the advocate was helpful, it could have used interviews with others to get broader points of view.
3rd place
“What went wrong with Ohio’s minimum wage issue? It depends on who you ask”
Sarah Donaldson
Ohio Public Radio
Judges’ comments: Important story, but it could have been told in a more impactful way.
PODCAST
1st place
“Ohio Politics Explained Podcast”
Haley BeMiller
The Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch, Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository
Judges’ comments: Good interviews helped humanize the story, but it would have been more effective to hear the family interviews interspersed with the “official” soundbites to provide more variety and perspective. Nice focus on solutions.
2nd place
“Shuffle”
Amanda Rabinowitz and Brittany Nader
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Wonderful interplay of music and quotes. I especially liked the “find our pocket” soundbite.
3rd place
“How to save energy in your plastics plant and get help paying for it: PMM Insight”
Bruce Geiselman
Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing
Judges’ comments: Timely story of clear interest to the intended audience, though a bit long and could have included other voices including those addressing barriers to energy efficiency. Nice to include extra information, such as the states with the most-generous incentive programs.
PROFILE
1st place
“A Cleveland teen was shot in the head and survived. How do she and her mother cope?”
Conor Morris
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Good human interest aftermath story
PUBLIC SERVICE/PUBLIC AFFAIRS
1st place
“Ohio reviews diversity scholarships”
Sarah Donaldson
Ohio Public Radio
2nd place
“Transforming the future of Akron’s Interbelt”
Sound of Ideas team
Ideastream
RACE & DIVERSITY REPORTING
1st place
“The track and field program gets revived at the alma mater of Olympian Jesse Owens”
Gabriel Kramer
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Nice piece about overcoming systemic adversity. Good historical reference.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
1st place
“Forever chemicals are everywhere. How worried should we be?”
Jeff St. Clair
Ideastream
SPORTS FEATURE
1st place
“You can’t watch a game that way.’ Play-by-play delay fouls up Guardians games for visually impaired”
Abbey Marshall
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: This story is a fascinating and well-reported examination of an issue that affects a small segment of the population — but the saga resonates universally. This story of a blind baseball fan whose ability to follow the game has been disrupted grabbed me right away, and I learned about a whole new world when it comes to the challenges of the sight-impaired. This work is a winner.
USE OF SOUND
1st place
“What makes music scary? Instrumentation, composition and your imagination”
Carrie Wise
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: The spooky music from iconic movies amid the recording allows readers/listeners to better understand the sounds being described and what draws us to them and how they spark fear.
VISUALS
DRONE PHOTOGRAPH
1st place
“Welcome to Cleveland”
Michael Collier
Greater Cleveland Partnership
Judges’ comments: Terrific view of the city skyline.
2nd place
“Go for a Drive!”
Justin Schafer and Brittany Dexter
Cincinnati Magazine
EDITORIAL CARTOON
1st place
“Daily Planet Superman”
Jeffrey Darcy
Cleveland.com
Judges’ comments: Excellent graphics, reminiscent of the Superman TV show. Spunky and fun!
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH
1st place
“White Out”
Phil Masturzo
Akron Beacon Journal
Judges’ comments: Stark but wonderfully evocative of the storm. Love the curvy line and the placement of the man and the tree.
2nd place
“Dyngus Day Cleveland”
Ryan Loew
Ideastream
3rd place
“Snowflakes”
Jeff Lange
Akron Beacon Journal
FEATURE VIDEOGRAPHY
1st place
“Hope through decay: Ohio artists document places reclaimed by nature”
Jean-Marie Papoi
ideastream
Judges’ comments: Wonderful combination of videography and narration by sources to create an interesting story.
ILLUSTRATION, SINGLE IMAGE
1st place
“Old Fashioned”
Jeff Lange
Akron Beacon Journal
Judges’ comments: Mouth-watering styling.
ILLUSTRATION, MULTIPLE FOR ONE STORY
1st place
“Keep Cincinnati Weird”
Emi Villavicencio
Cincinnati Magazine
GENERAL NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY
1st place
“Nixon takes the stand”
Lisa Scalfaro
Akron Beacon Journal
Judges’ comments: Great catch of a dramatic scene in court.
2nd place
“Moreno”
Mike Cardew
Akron Beacon Journal
3rd place
“Birdie“
Phil Masturzo
Akron Beacon Journal
MULTIPLE-PHOTO ESSAY, GALLERY OR SLIDESHOW
1st place
“Valley City Frog Jump”
Jeff Lange
Akron Beacon Journal
Judges’ comments: Nice variety of photo subjects to illustrate the many aspects of the contest.
2nd place
“One Year Later”
Lisa Scalfaro
Akron Beacon Journal
3rd place
“Blink Cincinnati 2024”
Corrie Schaffeld
Cincinnati Business Courier
MULTIPLATFORM PROJECT
1st place
“Forever chemicals are everywhere. How worried should we be?”
Jeff St. Clair, Zaria Johnson and Taylor Wizner
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Balanced use of multiple forms of media that combined tell a compelling series of stories on why our audiences should care about forever chemicals and what they need to know. I even learned some new things!
PAGE DESIGN, COVER – BROADSHEET, TABS & MAGAZINES
1st place
“Love and Romance in the Queen City”
Emi Villavicencio
Cincinnati Magazine
Judges’ comments: Eye-catching and colorful design…really sets the tone.
2nd place
“The Book cover”
Michael McCrady
Rubber News
Judges’ comments: Clean, colorful design.
3rd place
“Exec of the Year cover”
Michael McCrady
Rubber News
Judges’ comments: Standard design, but it gets the job done in a way that’s appealing to the eye.
PAGE DESIGN, SINGLE PAGE – BROADSHEET, TABS & MAGAZINES
1st place
“Who Do You Trust?”
Cleveland Magazine
Abigail Archer
Judges’ comment: Spectacular image, with motion lines and floating papers indicating confusion and contradictions between the candidates. Bright patriotic colors provide a burst of energy. Wondering if AI was employed; if so, it should be identified.
2nd place
“Shifting Currents”
Erin Stinard
Cleveland Magazine
Judges’ comments: Surprised at this entry, as vertically stacked letters (arranging letters in a column, one directly above the other, instead of horizontally) often are discouraged due to potential readability issues and awkward spacing. The photo, however, makes a compelling background for the article introduction.
PORTRAIT/PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPH
1st place
“Greenhouse gardening in Wooster”
Ryan Loew
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Nice positioning of the subject in a corner to show a greater expanse of the greenhouse.
2nd place
“Female Football”
Phil Masturzo
Akron Beacon Journal
3rd place
“Drumm”
Mike Cardew
Akron Beacon Journal
SPOT NEWS PHOTOGRAPH
1st place
“Windham Tornado”
Jeff Lange
Akron Beacon Journal
Judges’ comments: The man looking out the window really makes this photo, humanizing the destruction
2nd place
“Cleveland man arrested following Elyria car chase”
Bruce Bishop
The Chronicle-Telegram
3rd place
“Cincinnati Inauguration Day 2024”
Corrie Schaffeld
Cincinnati Business Courier
SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
1st place
“Cornerkick”
Jeff Lange
Akron Beacon Journal
Judges’ comments; Dramatic action shot with wonderful framing.
2nd place
“Somewhere Over the Hurdle”
Phil Masturzo
Akron Beacon Journal
3rd place
“Bunny Ball”
Kristin Bauer
The Chronicle-Telegram
STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY
1st place
“Crushing It: Rhinegeist Brewery new line of Beer”
Corrie Schaffeld
Cincinnati Business Courier
Judges’ comments: Good lighting and composition.
2nd place
“Vintage Vibes”
Jeremy Kramer and Brittany Dexter
Cincinnati Magazine
WEBSITE HOMEPAGE DESIGN
1st place
“Ideastream Public Media”
Staff
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Nice and clean. Well organized.
2nd place
“cjn.org”
CJN Staff
Cleveland Jewish News
3rd place
“FOX 8 News”
FOX 8 web team
WJW Fox 8
COLLEGE STUDENT MEDIA
WRITING, GENERAL NEWS
1st place
“Justice for Stone Foltz”
Blake Pierce
BG Falcon Media
2nd place
”Tri-C East’s Student Government: Energized and Excited?”
Emannuel Harvey
Tri-C The Voice
3rd place
“Understanding the electoral college and why your vote counts”
Casey Couch
The Cleveland Stater
WRITING, FEATURE
1st place
“Blue Angels thrill at the Cleveland Air Show”
Casey Couch
The Cleveland Stater
Judges’ comments: A nice lead really pulls the reader into the event. Overall nice job.
2nd place
“Do college students have a sports gambling problem?”
Jordan Shelton
The Cleveland Stater
Judges’ comments: Good research but would have liked more direct quotes about the negative consequences.
3rd place
“Cleveland Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”: See the iconic ballet at Playhouse Square this holiday season”
Evan Peters
The Vindicator
WRITING, SPORTS
1st place
“1984 national hockey championship remembered”
Ben Corak, Lucas Lucas Kleimeyer, Steve Iwanek and Drake Harlett
BG Falcon Media
Judges’ comments: Riveting story; concise, clear journalism.
2nd place
“Miles of grit: How Cleveland State’s women’s cross country strides towards success”
Casey Couch
The Vindicator
Judges’ comments: Great storytelling.
3rd place
“Women’s Soccer Team Declared OAC Champions, Defeating John Carroll 3-2”
Evelyn Megery
Northern Review
Judges’ comments: Crisp, clean writing. Great storytelling.
AUDIO, GENERAL NEWS
1st place
“Heights Now: John Carroll evaluating legal options in zoning battle with Shaker Heights”
Laken Kincaid and Evan Richwalsky
John Carroll University
AUDIO, FEATURE
1st place
“Bus brings arts and crafts to local kids”
Betty Kankam-Boadu
WOUB Public Media
Judges” comments: Beautifully used natural sound and compelling interviews to weave together a nice feature with a heartfelt message.
2nd place
“Meals on Wheels”
Alison Patton
WOUB Public Media
3rd place
“Ohio Youth Fire & EMS Training Academy”
Haley Swaino
WOUB Public Media
VIDEO, GENERAL NEWS
1st place
”Intoxicating Hemp Regulations”
Donovan Varney
WOUB Public Media
2nd place
“West Union Street Construction Confusion”
Haley Swaino
WOUB Public Media
3rd place
“Ohio Tick Population”
Haley Swaino
WOUB Public Media
VIDEO, FEATURE
1st place
“Local bike club struggles with volunteer shortage”
Alison Patton
WOUB Public Media
2nd place
“Ohio Youth Fire & EMS Training Academy”
Haley Swaino
WOUB Public Media
3rd place
”Student Highlight: How the Art of Photography Has Impacted Anna Kate Jackson”
Evelyn Megery
Northern Review
ViIDEO, SPORTS
1st place
”Eastern Honor Walk”
Maddie Kiefer
WOUB Public Media
Judges’ comments: Effective use of multiple camera perspectives to tell a heartwarming story. I especially like that you miked an alumnus on the field – would be nice to see more soundbites this way.
2nd place
“Painting with BGSU men’s soccer’s Bennett Painter”
Lucas Kleimeyer, Sam Barrett and Raymond Cotis
BG Falcon Media
Judges’ comments: Clever idea to try painting with Mr. Painter – especially with a two-camera shoot – though I’m not sure viewers would find the information very compelling.
ViISUALS, GRAPHICS
1st place
“How to be a Falcon hockey fan”
Nay Say and Ben Corak
BG Falcon Media
Judges’ comments: The winning entry was fun, informative, and a perfect example of how infographics should work. Bravo!
2nd place
“Rite Aid Closure in Ada and Its Impact on Patient Care”
Arin Wade
Northern Review
3rd place
“Here’s how we would Spend Ohio Northern’s Money (Probably)”
Gabriel Mott
Northern Review
VISUALS, PAGE DESIGN
Overall category judges’ comments: This was a challenging category to judge, because there were three significantly different types of layouts. The main reason these rose to the top is because it seemed to thread the needle between giving readers something interesting to look at — the photos and the bullet points or the quote — and gave them a place to look for more info. I’m also a sucker for a QR code.
1st place
“Lokkeberg and Zlinka”
Vic Miller, Nay Say and Emerald Shanefelt
BG Falcon Media
Judges’ comments: What really pushed this one over the top, for me, was the photo and positioning of the two hockey players. You did a very good job setting me up visually to understand what was going on here after just a glance. In a world where we’re fighting for attention every day, the more you can do with one glance, the better.
2nd place
“Garnder Sisters”
Nay Say
BG Falcon Media
3rd place
Who will be the champs?”
Vic Miller, Emerald Shanefelt and Nay Say
BG Falcon Media”
VISUALS, PHOTOGRAPHY
1st place
“The ONU Holiday Spectacular Evokes Christmas Spirit in Annual Performances”
Evelyn Megery
Northern Review
2nd place
“ONU Celebrates the Eclipse”
Evelyn Megery, Gabriel Mott and Anna Kate Jackson
Northern Review
3rd place
“Wrestling Claims First Place at 43rd Annual ONU Invitational”
Evelyn Megery
Northern Review
VISUALS, VIDEOGRAPHY
1st place
“Student Highlight: How the Art of Photography Has Impacted Anna Kate Jackson”
Evelyn Megery
Northern Review
EDITORIAL & COMMENTARY
1st place
“Will I ever see a woman president in my lifetime?”
Isabella Zinchini
The News Record
Judges’ comments: A well-written piece that reflects the opinion of many women. The work is honest and from the heart. Well done!
2nd place
“Safety last, ignorance first: the CSU motto?”
Kat Magalski
The Cleveland Stater
3rd place
“Why Higher Ed Is Getting Weird: The Enrollment Cliff, Smart Program Cuts, and What ONU’s Doing Right”
Arin Wade
Northern Review
BEST IN OHIO
BEST IN OHIO: COLLEGE REPORTER (PRINT/ONLINE)
1st place
Michael Patterson
John Carroll University
BEST IN OHIO: COLLEGE REPORTER (VIDEO)
1st place
Alexandria Radde
Kent State University
Judges’ comments: Lex Radde is clearly a gifted journalist. Her reports are thoughtful and delivered with the confidence and poise of a veteran TV reporter.
BEST IN OHIO: FREELANCE REPORTER
1st place
David Holthaus
Cincinnati Magazine and Soapbox Media
Judges’ comments: Vivid writing that captures a sense of place and spirit.
2nd place
Matt Florjancic
The Chronicle-Telegram
3rd place
Grant Segall
FreshWater Cleveland, Crain’s Cleveland Business, The Land and West Life News
BEST IN OHIO: HEADLINE WRITER
1st place
Kevin Aprile
The Chronicle-Telegram
Judges’ comments: This collection of clever headlines succeeds every time in capturing the essence of the story in just a few words. Beyond that, they also match exquisitely with the photos. The deck heads/secondary heads are also smartly done, which factored into the judging.
2nd place
Bob Jacob
Cleveland Jewish News
Judges’ comments: The headline efficiently conjures up the best Michael Jackson memories for fans of a certain age. Even better, it does so without forcing anything. The headline conveys the essence of the story, whether you’re Michael Jackson’s biggest fan or even if you’ve never heard of him.
BEST IN OHIO: GRAPHIC DESIGNER
1st place
Stephen Valentine
Cleveland Jewish News
Judges’ comments: Nice, splashy spreads!
2nd place
Jessica Simon
Cleveland Jewish News
BEST IN OHIO: ART DIRECTOR
1st place
Erin Stinard
Cleveland Magazine
2nd place
Michael McCrady
Rubber News
BEST IN OHIO: ILLUSTRATOR
1st place
Jeff Darcy
Cleveland.com
Judges’ comments: Creative and amusing cartoons. The art and the words wonderfully convey the message.
2nd place
Jason Bredehoeft
The Columbus Dispatch
BEST IN OHIO: PHOTOJOURNALIST (STILL IMAGERY)
1st place
Bruce Bishop
The Chronicle-Telegram
Judges’ comments: Bruce Bishop shows skill in photographing a variety of settings from crime to cute kids.
2nd place
Kristin Bauer
The Chronicle-Telegram
3rd place
Corrie Schaffeld
Cincinnati Business Courier
BEST IN OHIO: PHOTOJOURNALIST (VIDEO)
Overall category judges’ comments: I enjoyed judging this category. Great body of work with important stories.
1st place
Courtney Hergesheimer
The Columbus Dispatch
2nd place
Jean-Marie Papoi
Ideastream
3rd place
Chris Reece
WJW Fox 8
BEST IN OHIO: SPORTS REPORTER (PRINT/ONLINE)
1st place
Gordon Wittenmyer
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Judges’ comments: The submissions show an ability to work the room, to revive old arguments with new twists, and to take the reader along for the ride. Pete Rose’s ban from baseball has often been publicized, but the writer went to great lengths to look at the case through the lens of legalized gambling, scandals of
the distant past (White Sox) and more recent present (Mizuhara), and the HOF voting procedures from the beginning. The Terry Francona hiring story was well-rounded, covering his health concerns, the front office pursuit, respect around the game, and looking at recent successes and failures in bringing in proven, future HOF managers. Can you imagine the buzz around baseball after Juan Soto signed his mega deal with the Mets? It does beg the question of what future contracts of budding stars might look like, and Wittenmyer explores that as it pertains to Elly De La Cruz.
2nd place
Joey Kaufman
The Columbus Dispatch
Judges’ comments: It’s important to remember the past, and though there are fewer and fewer who saw Archie Griffin play for Ohio State, his accomplishments are remembered for a community that he has since called his home. The reader is taken through his playing career, the Heisman Trophy ceremony, how the masses remember him, his place in the community, and the family’s dynamics. The beat writer sprinkles in features on rising stars on the offensive and defensive side of the ball for Ohio State football. Not all the news is happening on the field, and Kaufman also takes a look at how Ohio State will look to provide funding for its student-athletes.
3rd place
Nate Ulrich
Akron Beacon Journal
Judges’ comments: You probably won’t find a more entertaining story in the contest than Ulrich’s look back in time at “10-Cent Beer Night” at the old ballgame. A fun, lively piece that opens with some fans remembering their glory days decades after the mayhem.
BEST IN OHIO: SPORTS REPORTER (VIDEO)
1st place
Ken Carman
WJW Fox 8
Judges’ comments: Ken Carman clearly has an infectious passion for all sports at all levels, from high school to college to professional teams, as well as knowledge and skill in delivering everything from game summaries to commentaries, or rather, “Carmantaries.”
BEST IN OHIO: ON-AIR TALENT (AUDIO)
1st place
Amy Eddings
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: What a voice! Thoughtful interviews and stories, including pieces reflecting a wide mix of perspectives. Beautiful narration throughout.
BEST IN OHIO: NEWS REPORTER (PRINT/ONLINE)
Overall category judges’ comments: Excellent category. We’d also give Honorable Mentions to Jennifer Pignolet and Sheridan Hendrix because there were so many entries in this category.
1st place
Dan Eaton
Columbus Business First
Judges’ comments: Terrific collection of stories. Love the writing style, just so easy and flowing, and loved the graphic breakdowns with the articles to illustrate points. Super well done.
2nd place
Dan Horn
The Cincinnati Enquirer
3rd place
Tim Botos
The Repository
BEST IN OHIO: NEWS REPORTER (VIDEO)
1st place
Duane Pohlman
WKRC-TV
Judges’ comments: Masterful storytelling by Duane. Propulsive storytelling matched with excellent videography. It’s clear lots of careful work went into these packages. A joy to watch.
2nd place
Scott Noll
WEWS-TV 5
3rd place
Darrel Rowland
WSYX-TV
BEST IN OHIO: NEWS REPORTER (AUDIO)
1st place
Abbey Marshall
Ideastream
Judges’ comments: Expertly narrated stories, told with ample natural sound and vivid interviews. Top-notch audio work!
BEST IN OHIO: COLLEGE NEWSPAPER
1st place
The Carroll News staff
John Carroll University
Judges’ comments: Nice mix of campus and local news coverage. Great to see this publication revived!
BEST IN OHIO: COLLEGE WEBSITE
1st place
The Carroll News staff
John Carroll University
BEST IN OHIO: WEBSITE
1st place
Staff
Cincinnati Business Courier
2nd place
Julia Lerner
TheReportingProject.org
3rd place
David Jacobs
Shelby News
BEST IN OHIO: PUBLIC AFFAIRS /NEWS TALK SHOW (AUDIO)
1st place
“Ohio turns deeper red after GOP dominates in 2024 election”
Ideas team
Ideastream
2nd place
“The State of Ohio” – Nov. 29, 2024
Karen Kasler, Daniel Konik, Jo Ingles and Sarah Donaldson
Ohio Public Television
BEST IN OHIO: AUDIO NEWSCAST IN OHIO IN A MAJOR MARKET
1st place
Staff
Ideastream Public Media
Judges’ comments: Election newscast provided a variety of perspectives on a busy day. Good variety of stories with a variety of lengths. Could have used a feature kicker at the end.
BEST IN OHIO: VIDEO NEWSCAST IN OHIO IN A MAJOR MARKET
1st place
“Best Newscast: Morning and Daytime”
Andy Fishman, Marc Singer and Jessica Bates
WJW Fox 8
BEST IN OHIO: PRINT PERIODICAL
1st place
Staff
Cleveland Magazine
Judges’ comments: The layouts and graphics are exceptional. Loved the eclipse coverage.
2nd place
Don Detore and David Manley
Tire Business Newspaper
3rd place
Staff
Columbus Monthly
BEST IN OHIO: PRINT WEEKLY
1st place
Staff
Cincinnati Business Courier
Judges’ comments: Impressed by the quality and depth of the reporting in this business magazine. Stunning design helps bring the content on the page to life.
2nd place
Staff
Columbus Business First
Judges’ comments: The cover stories are fine examples of the type of in-depth reporting business magazines often skimp on. Eye catching design makes it a joy to keep turning the page.
3rd place
Staff
Crain’s Cleveland Business
Judges’ comments: Solid reporting and an impressive amount of content in each issue. Design seems dated relative to competitors.
BEST IN OHIO: PRINT DAILY
1st place
Staff
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Judges’ comments: Consistent quality of writing, punchy topics make this a winner.
2nd place
Staff
The Columbus Dispatch
3rd place
Staff
The Chronicle-Telegram
A-MARK PRIZE FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN OHIO
1st place
“Vanished”
Danae King, Max Filby and Barbara Perenic
The Columbus Dispatch
Judges’ comments: 1) Text book investigative reporting. Nice to see a legacy newspaper devote these kinds of resources to such an important topic. 2) This is really important work that goes beyond traditional work on the topic. The analysis, the storytelling, the accountability and weak efforts by police all add up to something special. 3) Impressive breadth and depth of research, involving a lot of shoe leather. Effective presentation, mixing several personal stories with statistical analysis.
2nd place
“Cincinnati homicide cases unravel after deals with informants”
Dan Horn and Amber Hunt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Judges’ comments: 1) Fantastic work revealing a huge problem within the criminal justice system. 2) An excellent example of holding officials’ feet to the fire and not letting them worm out of it with BS explanations”
3rd place
“On the Dark Web: Uncovering the City Hack”
Isabel Cleary
WCMH
Judges’ comments 1) Great watchdog reporting that finally got the city to admit that it had covered up the full extent of the hack that exposed hundreds of citizens’ private information. Hats off to Isabel Cleary! 2) Through investigation that’s expertly reported.
2024 Hall of Fame Induction
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