PRSRT STD PRESORT USPRSRT PRPOSTES STDORTAGE PAID FIRST CLASS US STANDARDPOSTAGEPERMIT PAID #166 U.S. Postage PERMITU.S.DAYTON, Postage #166 OH Ohio SPJ Awards DAYTON, OH OhioOhio SPJ SPJ Awards Awards PAID PAID 13311331 South South HighHigh St. St. Columbus OH Columbus OH Columbus,Columbus,1677 Cardiff OHOH 43207 43207Rd. Permit #4592 Permit #4592 Columbus, OH 43221 SPJ AWARDS OHIO’S BEST JOURNALISM BEST OHIO’S OHIO’S BEST JOURNALISM BEST OHIO’S OHIO’S BEST JOURNALIS BEST OHIO’S M OHIO’S BEST JOURNALIS BEST OHIO’S M D R A W A J P P P S S SPJ SPJ AWARDS SPJ AWARDS SPJ 201 5 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame (HOF) opened its doors more than a half century ago. From its humble beginnings in 1963 to today, this impressive institution continues to grow in both size and stature. Indeed, as we honor exceptional Ohio journalists during the 2017 Ohio SPJ Awards luncheon, exciting progress is being made at the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village. When finished, this $700 million develop- ment will have added a hotel, holographic theater, youth playing fields, the expanded and modernized Tom Benson Stadium (site of the NFL’s an- nual Hall of Fame game), and much more. An exhilarating museum and attraction, the HOF pays tribute to the tal- ents and triumphs of pro football’s greatest stars. Chronicled within these Artist rendering of the Tom Benson Hall of Fame walls are the stories and circumstances of play that bring to life words Stadium’s west end zone. such as courage, dedication, vision, fair play, integrity and excellence. The HOF has welcomed more 10 million fans since opening its doors. Each year, visitors travel from all 50 states, and more than 70 foreign countries to tour the Hall of Fame. Today, the HOF reaches tens of millions of additional fans each year through broad outreach, such as nationally televised events, an in-depth website, educational and youth programs, social media, traveling exhibits, and special events held around the country. The HOF works collaboratively with the pro football family – the National Football League, the 32 NFL clubs, and other entities. The cooperative efforts of these organizations have contributed greatly to the HOF’s overall suc- cess. In turn, the Hall strives to serve as the best possible historical showplace and repository for the sport of pro football. Recognized worldwide as one of America’s premier sports hall of fames, it’s doubtful that even the most optimis- tic of those who led the drive to bring the Hall of Fame to Canton, Ohio, could have envisioned the successes it would realize. So, on behalf of the Society of Professional Journalists chapters in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus, congrat- ulations to our attendees – the stars of Ohio journalism – for their winning performances in 2016, and to the Canton Pro Football Hall of Fame for its ongoing success. Thanks for making Ohio proud! Overview of the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village now under construction. BEST MINORITYBEST ISSUES MINORITY REPORTING ISSUES REPORTING BESTBEST POLITICAL POLITICAL REPORTING REPORTING First Place: These are no ordinary times First Place: Chrissie Thompson’s Work First Place: These areMark no Curnutte ordinary times ChrissieFirst Thompson Place: Chrissie Thompson’s Work Mark Curnutte Chrissie Thompson BEST HUMAN INTEREST WRITING BEST PUBLIC RECORDS USE First Place: Being Timothy Thomas’ son First Place: The $680 Million Memo Mark Curnutte BEST HUMAN INTEREST WRITING Dan HornBEST PUBLIC RECORDS USE BEST SOCIAL ISSUES REPORTING First Place: Being Timothy Thomas’ son BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING First Place: Fear There, Fear Here First Place: The $680 Million Memo Second Place: The Lack of MSD Oversight on Mark Curnutte Mark Curnutte Spending,Dan Contracts Horn BEST ARTS REPORTING Dan Horn BEST SOCIAL ISSUESFirst Place REPORTING: Fanfare for the Common Man BESTBEST REPORTER INVESTIGATIVE IN OHIO REPORTING First Place: Fear There,Janelle Fear Gelfand Here SecondSecond Place: The Place: Toll of Heroin The Addiction Lack of MSD Oversight on Mark Curnutte BEST BUSINESS REPORTING Terry DeMio Second Place: Alex Coolidge’s Work Spending, Contracts Alex Coolidge BESTDan EXPLANATORY Horn JOURNALISM BEST ARTS REPORTING First Place: The Height of Danger First Place: FanfareBEST for FEATUREthe Common REPORTING Man Carrie Blackmore Smith First Place: Finding Home BEST REPORTER IN OHIO Janelle Gelfand Hannah Sparling BEST SPORTS REPORTING First Place:Second The Night Place: It All Went The Wrong Toll of Heroin Addiction BEST POLITICAL REPORTING Paul Dehner BEST BUSINESS FirstREPORTING Place: The 2016 Presidential Election in Ohio Terry DeMio BEST MINORITY ISSUES REPORTINGChrissie Thompson BEST POLITICAL REPORTING Second Place: Alex Coolidge’s Work BEST SPORTS PROFILE First Place: Being Andy Dalton Alex Coolidge BEST CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORTING BEST EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM First Place: These are no ordinary timesSecond Place: Accused: The Unsolved Jim Owczarski First Place: Chrissie Thompson’s Work Murder of Elizabeth Andes First Place: The Height of Danger BEST DEADLINE REPORTING BEST FEATURE REPORTINGAmber Hunt Carrie Blackmore Smith Mark Curnutte Second Place: TheChrissie Tensing Mistrial Thompson First Place: FindingBEST Home NEWS STORY Enquirer staff Hannah Sparling First Place: Accused: The Unsolved Murder of Elizabeth Andes BESTBEST GRAPHIC SPORTS DESIGNER REPORTING IN OHIO Amber Hunt SecondFirst Place: Place: Michael TheNyerges’ Night Work It All Went Wrong BEST POLITICAL REPORTING Michael Nyerges BEST HUMAN INTEREST WRITINGBEST REPORTER IN OHIO Paul Dehner First Place: The 2016First Presidential Place: Chrissie Thompson’s Election Work in Ohio BEST PUBLIC RECORDS USE Chrissie Thompson First Place: Being Timothy ChrissieThomas’ Thompson son BEST SPORTSFirst PROFILE Place: The $680 Million Memo Mark Curnutte BEST CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORTING First Place: Being Andy Dalton Second Place: Accused: The Unsolved Jim OwczarskiDan Horn Murder of Elizabeth Andes Amber Hunt BEST DEADLINE REPORTING BEST SOCIAL ISSUES REPORTING Second Place: The Tensing Mistrial BEST NEWS STORY EnquirerBEST staff INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING First Place: Fear There, FearFirst Here Place: Accused: The Unsolved Murder of Elizabeth Andes BEST GRAPHICSecond DESIGNER Place: IN OHIO The Lack of MSD Oversight on Mark Curnutte Amber Hunt Second Spending,Place: Michael Nyerges’ Contracts Work Michael Nyerges BEST REPORTER IN OHIO First Place: Chrissie Thompson’s Work Dan Horn BEST ARTS REPORTINGChrissie Thompson First Place: Fanfare for the Common Man Janelle Gelfand BEST REPORTER IN OHIO Second Place: The Toll of Heroin Addiction BEST BUSINESS REPORTING Terry DeMio Second Place: Alex Coolidge’s Work Alex Coolidge BEST EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM First Place: The Height of Danger BEST FEATURE REPORTING Carrie Blackmore Smith First Place: Finding Home Hannah Sparling BEST SPORTS REPORTING First Place: The Night It All Went Wrong BEST POLITICAL REPORTING Paul Dehner First Place: The 2016 Presidential Election in Ohio Chrissie Thompson BEST SPORTS PROFILE BEST CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORTING First Place: Being Andy Dalton Second Place: Accused: The Unsolved Jim Owczarski Murder of Elizabeth Andes Amber Hunt BEST DEADLINE REPORTING Second Place: The Tensing Mistrial BEST NEWS STORY Enquirer staff First Place: Accused: The Unsolved Murder of Elizabeth Andes BEST GRAPHIC DESIGNER IN OHIO Amber Hunt Second Place: Michael Nyerges’ Work Michael Nyerges BEST REPORTER IN OHIO First Place: Chrissie Thompson’s Work Chrissie Thompson WELCOME CONTENTS PRINT (75,000+ circulation) Winners and Best of Show PRINT (Less than 75,000 circulation) Winners and Best of Show TRADE PUBLICATION Winner WELCOMs Eand Best of Sh owCONTENTS 8 PRINT (75,000+ circulation) Winners and Best of Show 11 PRINT (Less than 75,000 circulation) TELEVISION Winners and Best of Show ow ow ow ow 15ow TRADE ow (All markets) PUBLICATION Winners and Best of Show n) Congratulations toWinner winners of Ohio’s Bests Journalism an awardsd Bestfor 2017, of Show coordinated by the Central Ohio, Cincinnati, and Cleveland Professional 16 TELEVISION Chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. The 316 winning entries (All markets) of Sh were of Sh selected from 700 submissions, of Sh which represented a record of Sh for our of Sh Winners and Best of Sh of Show contest. All winners are listed in this program. They are also available for ION viewing at our competition website – www.ohiospjawards.org. Many RADIO rculatio 17 thanks to Brandon Pence, of Studio Pence, for contest digital work and data (All markets) n) administration. Best Best Best Best Best Winners and BestBest of Show ci RADIO This year we introduced a new contest software program called OpenWater, AT d d d d d d 00 18 DIGITAL MEDIA which provided a much more efficient and intuitive experience for contest Winners and Best of Show ,0 entrants and judges.(All markets) E an an an an an an rculatio O IC FREELANCE A special thank you to dozens of judges from the Long s) Island Press Club, s) 20 s s s s s s 75 Winners and Best of Show ci who judged entriesWinner from newspapers, magazines,s an websitesd andBest radio and of Show television stations from throughout the state. The Centralet Ohio, Cincinnati et 20 COLLEGE 0+ and Cleveland chapters reciprocated by judging their contest this spring. DI Winners and Best of Show BL than Many thanks to allAD of our SPJ members and journalists throughout the state for judging. s 00 mark mark ll ll ADVISORY COMMITTEE 5, es We’re already making plans for our 2018 contest.