Friday, June 26, 2020

SPJ's #EIJ20 Conference to be Held Virtually

We just posted to the Excellence in Journalism website that SPJ and RTDNA leaders have made the difficult decision to cancel an in-person EIJ20 in Washington, D.C. However, we want you to know that SPJ is planning a virtual conference for Sept. 12 and 13.

The Excellence in Journalism team had been monitoring COVID-19 developments all spring — particularly guidance from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Washington, D.C., Health Department.

Based on the best information currently available from health experts regarding the ongoing pandemic, we reached the unfortunate conclusion in recent weeks that it was not feasible to host our in-person joint annual conference as planned this year.

We are disappointed we will not be able to gather in person, but our first priority is protecting the health and safety of our members, trainers, exhibitors and constituents.

And…we are excited to continue with a virtual conference and we hope you are too! We’ll have more details very soon and will share them with you via spj.org, Leads and SPJ social media.

We remain committed to providing quality professional development, connecting journalists and industry leaders and recognizing excellence in journalism.

This unusual year calls for unusual solutions, and that is what we aim to deliver.

We look forward to still seeing you, albeit virtually, come September!

Sincerely,

Patricia Gallagher Newberry

SPJ National President

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Watch the 2020 Greater Cincinnati SPJ Virtual Awards Ceremony Online

Watch the 2020 Greater Cincinnati SPJ Virtual Awards Ceremony online. Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists!

The Greater Cincinnati SPJ Pro Chapter went high-tech for the Excellence In Journalism Contest awards 2020. Due to the ongoing global health pandemic, the wi...

Awards Pick-Up on Saturday, June 27 - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Congratulations, Winners and Finalists! For those who want to pick up their awards, SPJ Board Members will be at the former Cincinnati Club Building at 30 Garfield Place on Saturday, June 27th from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists - Cincy SPJ 2020 Excellence In Journalism Awards

2020 EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM CONTEST

WINNERS AND FINALISTS

The Greater Cincinnati Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the winners and finalists in the 2020 Excellence In Journalism Contest. We thank the members of the Keystone SPJ Chapter in Pennsylvania for their work in judging the entries.

ALL MEDIA

GERALD WHITE MEMORIAL AWARD
WINNER: “Sex Trafficking In Portsmouth”

ENTRANTS: Liz Dufour, Bob Strickley, Kate Murphy and James Pilcher

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: The story of two well-connected sex-trafficking rings in tiny Portsmouth needed to be told. But, doing so required winning the trust of the women who were trafficked, as well as a thorough understanding of the law to tell the tale, despite the fact that most of the suspects had never been indicted. The investigation by Liz Dufour, Bob Strickley, Kate Murphy and James Pilcher finally sparked authorities to take action against men who had gotten away with exploiting women for years. Kudos to the Enquirer for taking a stand for justice.

CAMILLA WARRICK AWARD
WINNER: “Amelia Robinson Entry”

ENTRANT: Amelia Robinson

MEDIA OUTLET: Dayton Daily News

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Amelia Robinson was everywhere – at the scene of the biggest stories in her coverage area, then all over the newspaper, television, podcasts and internet. She brought first-hand accounts of the news when people were most hungry for it, but more than that, she later helped them comes to terms with a hellish year. This was journalism at its finest.

FINALIST: “The Long Hard Road”

ENTRANT: The Cincinnati Enquirer Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: The Enquirer invested months of reporters’ time to tell the all-too-human stories of those trapped in poverty with moving interviews, but also gave the hard facts and statistics behind those stories with clear, snappy graphics. The interviews embedded in the stories were icing on the cake. Panel discussions and town meetings spearheaded by the Enquirer helped readers take the first steps toward turning their new knowledge to action.

This series empowered readers to make their world better. This shows why freedom of the press is important.

FINALIST: “Hope After Hate”

ENTRANTS: Hagit Limor, Michael Benedic and Lindsay Raleigh

MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Hagit Limor’s moving story tracing her father’s path through the concentration camps brings the horror of the Holocaust to a new generation in danger of forgetting. Kudos also for her work with students further document the unspeakable tragedy and the events that led up to it.

FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD

WINNER: “Making Officials’ Text Messages Public Record In Ohio”

ENTRANT: The Cincinnati Enquirer Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: The Cincinnati Enquirer did all of Ohio a service when it filed a lawsuit that resulted in a court ruling that messages about official business sent by text are public records. Before this ruling, public officials had a giant loophole allowing them to get around both open records and public meetings laws. Most citizens don't have the resources to pursue such litigation. For that matter, few newspapers will do so these days. The Enquirer's decision to take up the banner of the citizens' right to know what government is doing in their name was done in the finest tradition of our industry, and beautifully shows why a free press is so important. The fact that the decision came during Sunshine Week makes this example of justice downright poetic.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

BEST NEWS STORY

WINNER: “Construction Site Collapse Coverage”

ENTRANT: The Cincinnati Enquirer Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer - cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Outstanding coverage of tragedy on the worksite. Done with respect as well as professionalism.

FINALIST: “Neil Armstrong Death Settlement”

ENTRANT: Anne Saker

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Excellent backstory on Armstrong, material most of us were unaware of. Nicely done.

FINALIST: “Coverage of Timothy Pitzen”

ENTRANT: The Cincinnati Enquirer Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Two very well-done stories. The imposter story is very strange, but well done.

BEST FEATURE STORY

WINNER: “Ten Years After Fort Hood: The Forgotten Soldier and the Father Who Is Still Fighting His War”

ENTRANT: Keith BieryGolick

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: With detailed descriptions of a seemingly nondescript topic, this piece is everything a feature should be. Solid information about how the library staff is working to be more accessible to the community balances fascinating depictions of the library and its contents.

FINALIST: “Whitney Austin Wants To End Gun Violence”

ENTRANT: Katie Coburn

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine

FINALIST: “Archdeacon Feature”

ENTRANT: Tom Archdeacon

MEDIA OUTLET: Dayton Daily News

BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

WINNER: “Sex Trafficking In Portsmouth”

ENTRANTS: Liz Dufour, Bob Strickley, Kate Murphy and James Pilcher

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Amazing investigation. Obviously took much time, much careful reporting. Very well done.

BEST CONTINUING COVERAGE OR SERIES

WINNER: “The Long Hard Road”

ENTRANT: The Cincinnati Enquirer Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Incredible project. Beautifully written and told. Gripping writing and the concept of using the highway to tell the story of continued economic despair was brilliant.

FINALIST: “Heroin Addiction Coverage By Terry DeMio”

ENTRANT: Terry DeMio

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is not an honorable mention. This story was equally as beautifully told and comprehensive as the first-place winner. They BOTH deserve first place. The only edge the other had was the project concept was unique.

FINALIST: “Three Articles About the Sentencing and Incarceration of Judge Tracie Hunter in Cincinnati”

ENTRANT: Dan Yount

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Herald

JUDGE’S COMMENT: This series of stories was picked mainly because it had such rich detail from the subject after scoring an interview with the convicted judge.

BEST BUSINESS REPORTING

WINNER: “Dream Home Nightmares”

ENTRANTS: Liz Dufour, James Pilcher, Matthew Prensky and Sarah Taddeo

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: A story revealing problems at a national home builder, that is well-told through the suffering of a local family. Great job.

FINALIST: “What Would Cincinnati Be Without P&G?”

ENTRANTS: David Holthaus

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine

JUDGE’S COMMENT: You made boardroom politics interesting to your average reader.

BEST BUSINESS FEATURE, ANALYSIS OR COLUMN

WINNER: “The Rise and Fall of EBTH”

ENTRANT: Alexander Coolidge

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: The reporting put into this story made for an engrossing tale of business failure and redemption.

FINALIST: “Is This Company Cris Collinsworth’s Best Catch Ever?”

ENTRANT: Steve Watkins

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Business Courier

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Great explanation of what Pro Football Focus does that even a non-football fan could understand.

FINALIST: “States Make Big Play On Betting”

ENTRANT: Steve Watkins

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Business Courier.

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Interesting overview of trends in sports betting.

BEST GOVERNMENT/COMMUNITY ISSUES REPORTING

WINNER: “How Much Are You Overpaying In Property Tax?”

ENTRANTS: Lucia Walinchus, Lukas Udstuen, Samantha Raudins and Chen Chang

MEDIA OUTLET: EyeOnOhio.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: An important topic and a great investigative piece. A fine example of how the media can affect change.

FINALIST: “Landslides Are Bad In Cincinnati. They’re Likely To Get Worse”

ENTRANTS: Hannah Sparling and Terry DeMio

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Wow! I never knew about the landslide problems and it is sad insurance doesn’t protect homeowners.

FINALIST: “Building Community: Black Leaders Are Looking To Bring Change In New Ways To Cincinnati”

ENTRANT: Liz Engel

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincy Magazine

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Really enjoyed reading all of these submissions. Great leads and interesting writing style.

BEST EDUCATION REPORTING

WINNER: “Max Londberg Stories ”

ENTRANTS: Max Londberg

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

FINALIST: “Northern Kentucky Schools Scored In New State System”

ENTRANTS: Michael Monks and Patricia Scheyer

MEDIA OUTLET: The River City News

BEST HEALTH/MEDICAL REPORTING

WINNER: “A Surgeon’s Victims Wait For Justice”

ENTRANT: Jim DeBrosse

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine

FINALIST: “Portfolio of Anne Saker”

ENTRANT: Anne Saker

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

FINALIST: “How Kids’ Personalities Affect Behavior”

ENTRANT: Bonnie Jean Feldkamp

MEDIA OUTLET: Northeast Ohio Parent

BEST ENVIRONMENTAL/SCIENCE REPORTING

WINNER: “Ohio River Stories Series”

ENTRANTS: Bonnie Jean Feldkamp, Lucia Walinchus (and others)

MEDIA OUTLET: EyeOnOhio.com – OhioWatershed.org

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Excellent series on history, environmental issues. Well-researched and well-written.

FINALIST: “Campbell County Family Lives In Solar-Powered House They Built Themselves”

ENTRANT: Bonnie Jean Feldkamp

MEDIA OUTLET: River City News

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Great enterprise piece on people working to make the environment better.

FINALIST: “What Lies Beneath The Fernald Preserve”

ENTRANT: Jenny Wohlfarth

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Excellent writing. Shows writer’s passion for the issue.

BEST ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT REPORTING

WINNER: “Portfolio of Polly Campbell”

ENTRANT: Polly Campbell

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: After reading Polly Campbell’s selection of entries, I could only think of one thing – where are the Tums? Campbell’s description of her food adventures are entertaining and while normally food and drink are not categories I would see the same way as arts and entertainment, Campbell proves me wrong.

FINALIST: “What Woodstock Was Really Like”

ENTRANT: John Stowell

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine

FINALIST: “How One Kentucky Town Almost Became Vegas”

ENTRANT: Chez Chesak

MEDIA OUTLET: Los Angeles Times

BEST EDITORIAL

WINNER: “Body of Work: Bonnie Jean Feldkamp”

ENTRANT: Bonnie Jean Feldkamp

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Thoughtful presentation of opinion.

FINALIST: “Reflections On Leadership”

ENTRANT: Dan Hurley

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincy Magazine

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Nicely done.

BEST SPORTS REPORTING

WINNER: “Portfolio of Bobby Nightengale”

ENTRANTS: Bobby Nightengale

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: This entry provided the most comprehensive coverage of the Reds to the readers and also offered a variety of topics to keep fans in the know about the team.

FINALIST: “Archdeacon Sports Reporting”

ENTRANT: Tom Archdeacon

MEDIA OUTLET: Dayton Daily News

JUDGE’S COMMENT: I really enjoyed this well-written story about the former 49ers player. A fascinating story that grew out of a tragedy, this young man came back to bring hope to a wounded community he called home.

BEST SPORTS FEATURE

WINNER: “Cincinnati High School Football Coaches: It Gets To Your Soul, The Things You See”

ENTRANT: Melanie Loughman

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Such an important sports feature at a local, regional and national level. It was moving, sad, yet compassionately written.

FINALIST: “Can Cincinnati Become A Hockey Town? Cyclones Head Coach Matt Thomas Is Looking To Do Just That By Creating A Winning Team”

ENTRANT: David Lyman

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincy Magazine

JUDGE’S COMMENT: I hope hockey takes off in Cincinnati. This coach and his players have the passion to show the city a team that has fire in their souls. Move over Reds!

FINALIST: “Archdeacon Sports Feature”

ENTRANT: Tom Archdeacon

MEDIA OUTLET: Dayton Daily News

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Very well written. A great sports feature.

BEST MAGAZINE REPORTING

WINNER: “How A Local Family Found Itself At The Center of the National Covington Catholic Controversy”

ENTRANT: Lisa Murtha

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Amazing, yet sad story for the young man and his family. It reflects how people are in this world and how taking the high road is difficult, but the correct thing to do.

FINALIST: “Light In The Darkness”

ENTRANT: Lisa Murtha

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Such a moving story. I was in tears.

FINALIST: “High Times At the Cupboard”

ENTRANT: Laurie Pike

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine

JUDGE’S COMMENT: This one made me reminisce of my days as a hippie. How narrow-minded people were then and unfortunately, they are even now. Good for the owners for sticking it out.

BEST NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE/WEB SITE DESIGN

WINNER: “Cincinnati Business Courier Website”

ENTRANT: Cincinnati Business Courier Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Business Courier

FINALIST: “Designs By Jason Bredhoeft

ENTRANT: Jason Bredhoeft

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

FINALIST: “EyeOnOhio.com”

ENTRANTS: Ben Keith, Adam Schweiger and Lucia Walinchus

MEDIA OUTLET: EyeOnOhio.com

BEST NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY

WINNER: “Tornadoes Across Western Ohio”

ENTRANT: The Cincinnati Enquirer Photo Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

BEST SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

WINNER: “Brawl At Reds-Pirates Game”

ENTRANT: Sam Greene

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

BROADCAST COMMUNICATION

BEST NEWS STORY

WINNER: “Exclusive: Ned Peppers Manager Recounts Dayton Shooting”

ENTRANTS: Evan Millward and Michael Benedic

MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV/wcpo.com

BEST FEATURE STORY

WINNER: “The Truth About Tourette’s”

ENTRANTS: John Bedell and Michael Burianek

MEDIA OUTLET: WHIO-TV/whio.com

FINALIST: “Hope After Hate”

ENTRANTS: Hagit Limor, Michael Benedic and Lindsay Raleigh

MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV/wcpo.com

BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

WINNER: “Parents of PE Teacher’s Misconduct Victims Share Fears/Frustrations”

ENTRANTS: Molly Koweek Matthew Simon and Michael Burianek

MEDIA OUTLET: WHIO-TV/whio.com

FINALIST: “Failure To Protect Avery”

ENTRANTS: Duane Pohlman and Eric Frisbee

MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV/wkrc.com

FINALIST: “The Veterans’ ER Loophole”

ENTRANTS: Matthew Simon and Michael Burianek

MEDIA OUTLET: WHIO-TV/whio.com

BEST BUSINESS/CONSUMER REPORTING

WINNER: “Local Indoor Robotics Farm Expands and Sells Its Technology Worldwide”

ENTRANT: Ann Thompson

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU/wvxu.org

JUDGE’S COMMENT: What a brilliant idea and use of technology. With all of the issues produced in the past this idea has the least amount of human contact and grows an abundance of produce in a safe environment.

FINALIST: “GE Signs Five-Year Agreement With DOE To Improve 3D Printing”

ENTRANT: Ann Thompson

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU/wvxu.org

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Important reporting on an important topic

FINALIST: “Strangers Next Door”

ENTRANTS: Walter Smith-Randolph and Eric Frisbee

MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV/wkrc.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: This was definitely an important topic and it was a tough choice between this and the bad gas story.

BEST GOVERNMENT/COMMUNITY ISSUES REPORTING

WINNER: “It’s A Very Scary Thing For Me: Stand Your Ground Worries Some Black Gun Owners”

ENTRANT: Ambriehl Crutchfield

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU/wvxu.org

JUDGE’S COMMENT: More community courses like this should be presented. These women care about their lives, the lives of their children and the lives of the community. Such a great story of empowerment and safety.

FINALIST: “Hidden Past”

ENTRANTS: Duane Pohlman and Eric Frisbee

MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV/wkrc.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Duane Pohlman does exactly what every journalist should do and that is investigate. Too many issues slip through the cracks when others do not look into the people they deal with.

FINALIST: “Keep Fighting To Close This Horrible Loophole”

ENTRANTS: Evan Millward, Lot Tan and Paul Weeden

MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV/wcpo.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Keep fighting to close this horrible loophole.

BEST EDUCATION REPORTING

WINNER: “Can There Be Racial Equality In Our History Lessons? One Class Is Trying”

ENTRANT: Ambriehl Crutchfield

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU/wvxu.org

JUDGE’S COMMENT: I have always complained that education was too white and too male. America is a melting pot with a lot of history contributing to its formation. This was an excellent piece of journalism highlighting the gaps in education and especially with minorities, ethnicity and gender.

BEST HEALTH/MEDICAL REPORTING

WINNER: “Miami University Discovers New Way To Make Psychedelic Drugs”

ENTRANT: Ann Thompson

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU/wvxu.org

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Very interesting topic. Well-produced and content is expressed succinctly. It is an important story that should be followed.

BEST VIDEOGRAPHY

WINNER: “Mike Burianek Composite”

ENTRANT: Mike Burianek

MEDIA OUTLET: WHIO-TV/whio.com

FINALIST: “Chuck Hamlin Composite”

ENTRANT: Chuck Hamlin

MEDIA OUTLET: WHIO-TV/whio.com

BEST DOCUMENTARY

WINNER: “The Memorial Day Tornadoes: A Community Rises”

ENTRANTS: Matthew Simon, Michael Burianek and Emily Gay

MEDIA OUTLET: WHIO-TV/whio.com

BEST SPECIAL REPORT OR PROGRAM

WINNER: “Hope After Hate”

ENTRANTS: Hagit Limor, Michael Benedic and Lindsey Raleigh

MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV/wcpo.com

FINALIST: “Walking The Path of the Storm”

ENTRANT: McCall Vrydaghs, Matthew Simon and Michael Burianek

MEDIA OUTLET: WHIO-TV/whio.com

BEST PODCAST

WINNER: “Amelia Robinson ‘What Had Happened Was’ Podcast”

ENTRANT: Amelia Robinson

MEDIA OUTLET: Dayton Daily News

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Outstanding podcast. Amelia Robinson takes her brilliance in journalism and brings human elements to listeners.

FINALIST: “Accused Season 3”

ENTRANTS: Amanda Rossmann and Amber Hunt

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Also an excellent production and a close second to the first place choice.

FINALIST: “Cloudy With A Chance of Podcast”

ENTRANT: McCall Vrydaghs and Kirstie Zontini

MEDIA OUTLET: WHIO-TV/whio.com

BEST OF SHOW

BEST OF SHOW – BEST OVERALLWRITTEN REPORTER

WINNER: “Tom Archdeacon Articles”

ENTRANT: Tom Archdeacon

MEDIA OUTLET: Dayton Daily News

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Outstanding work to put people’s stories in front of us.

FINALIST: “Mark Curnutte – Portfolio of Work”

ENTRANT: Mark Curnutte

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Portraits in courage – nicely done.

FINALIST: “Dan Sewell – AP Best Overall”

ENTRANT: Dan Sewell

MEDIA OUTLET: Associated Press

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Excellent Writing On A Variety of Topics

BEST OF SHOW – BEST OVERALL BROADCAST REPORTER

WINNER: “Best Reporter – Kristen Swilley”

ENTRANTS: Kristen Swilley

MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV/wcpo.com

FINALIST: “Jatara McGee – Best of Show”

ENTRANT: Jatara McGee

MEDIA OUTLET: WLWT-TV/wlwt.com

FINALIST: “Sean Cudahy: WHIO-TV”

ENTRANT: Sean Cuhady

MEDIA OUTLET: WHIO-TV/whio.com

BEST OF SHOW -- BEST NEWSPAPER

WINNER: “The Cincinnati Enquirer”

ENTRANT: The Cincinnati Enquirer Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com

FINALIST: “Cincinnati Business Courier”

ENTRANT: Cincinnati Business Courier Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Business Courier

BEST OF SHOW -- BEST MAGAZINE

WINNER: “Cincy Magazine”

ENTRANT: Cincy Magazine Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincy Magazine

BEST OF SHOW -- BEST WEB SITE

WINNER: “Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU/wvxu.org”

ENTRANT: WVXU News Team

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.76WVXU/wvxu.org

FINALIST: “Cincinnati Business Courier Web Site”

ENTRANT: Cincinnati Business Courier Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Business Courier

BEST OF SHOW -- BEST TELEVISION NEWSCAST

WINNER: “NewsCenter 7 At 11:00: The Memorial Day Tornadoes”

ENTRANT: WHIO-TV Staff

MEDIA OUTLET: WHIO-TV/whio.com

BEST OF SHOW – BEST RADIO NEWSCAST

WINNER: “WVXU Newscast: October 11, 2019”

ENTRANT: WVXU News Team

MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio - 91.7WVXU/wvxu.org

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Solid reporting and to the point with information important to the listeners.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

A Couple of Reminders - RSVP for Cincy SPJ EIJ Virtual Awards Ceremony on June 18 and Ohio SPJ Contest Deadline on June 15

You're Invited

Excellence in Journalism

Virtual Awards Ceremony
June 18, 2020
7:00 p.m.

The Greater Cincinnati SPJ Pro Chapter is going high-tech for the Excellence In Journalism Contest awards.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the winners and finalists will be announced during a live virtual gathering on Zoom.

Join us to honor those who are being recognized for their terrific work in 2019.

We look forward to honoring this year's winners and finalists.

Hope to see you there!

Please RSVP on Eventbrite to reserve your spot. RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spj-greater-cincinnati-pro-chapter-virtual-awards-ceremony-2020-tickets-60430481196

The event is free, but we encourage a donation to support Cincinnati SPJ and local journalism. Donate here: https://tinyurl.com/yczkyhp3

An RSVP will also automatically enter you to win event giveaways, such as a complimentary 1-year SPJ professional membership and more!

Attendees will be sent a Zoom link prior to the awards ceremony.

For questions, email spjcincy@gmail.com.

Ohio SPJ Extends Competition Deadline

NEW DEADLINE: MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

Honoring the Best of Ohio’s Print, Broadcast, Digital Media, Freelance, Trade and College Journalism

Entry information and a list of categories are available at our competition website

Earlier this year, in response to your requests to have extra time to submit entries as a result of the pandemic, we extended our contest to June 1. As that date approaches, submissions are down considerably in comparison with a year ago, yet we can tell that many submissions are in progress. Recognizing that these uncertain and difficult times have upended everything in our lives – and that folks might need a few extra days to finish up submissions – we are going to extend our deadline again until midnight Monday, June 15, 2020.
Many thanks to the dedicated, hard-working journalists throughout our state who continue to work every day to keep us informed and safe. Your work has never been better. And many thanks to all of you who have submitted entries or are still in the process of submitting. This contest is about honoring you, our Ohio journalists, and we can’t wait to celebrate the wonderful work you did in 2019.
Below is some general submission information in case you need it again.

View the “Rules” and “Help” tabs in the header of the contest home page for complete directions and explanations to help you submit entries if you have not already done so. If you have submitted to our contest in the past, you may use your same login information.

Please take note of the following when submitting entries:

If you submit an entry that requires a password-protected URL to be accessed, there is a specific field for you to submit the user name/password information for judges.
There is a field asking whose name(s) should appear on any award, as well as the name of the media outlet, should your entry receive an award. Thank you for paying close attention to this field and entering the information correctly. This will help avoid any errors when awards are created.
Please be sure to submit your entry in the correct category. Large print categories are reserved for publications with circulation of 60,000 and higher; small print categories are reserved for publications with circulation of less than 60,000.

Our annual statewide contest is presented collaboratively by the Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland Pro Chapters of The Society of Professional Journalists and honors print, broadcast, digital, trade, freelance and college journalists in Ohio for their best work during 2019. Our contest is the only Ohio competition that honors journalists who fulfill the SPJ mission: defense of the First Amendment, support of literacy, resistance to censorship, advocacy for openness of public records and meetings, media self-criticism and community service. Our contest also recognizes the best college newspaper in the state.

ELIGIBILITY: Journalists who work for newspaper, magazine, radio, television, trade, digital and college media in Ohio and adjacent states that have significant reach into Ohio are eligible to enter the contest. Freelance journalists, who are Ohio residents, are eligible, regardless of where their work is published, broadcast or webcast. We recently added numerous freelance categories in response to the growing number of freelance journalists. Click here for Freelance categories. Newsletter and blog submissions also are welcome. Entrants need not be members of the Society of Professional Journalists. Submitted work must have been published or broadcast in 2019. All websites and links for digital submissions must remain active throughout 2020.

FEES: A $30 entry fee must accompany each submission, except college entries. College students pay a $10 entry fee for writing of news, feature, sports and opinion. College newspapers may enter the best college newspaper category for free. There is a $5 discount per entry for work by SPJ members. You may submit any given article in as many relevant categories as you wish. Not an SPJ member? Join here and save. Join here and save.

SPREAD THE WORD: Please forward this message to anyone you think would like to participate in Ohio’s Best Journalism contest! OpenWater makes it easy to share the contest site with your colleagues and friends. Look for the social media icons (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) on the left side of the contest site landing page.

We’re always trying to increase submissions to our contest and add newcomers to our database for contest information and updates. So if you want add the contact information of your colleagues and friends, who want to be added to our elist, or if they want to add themselves, here is the link.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support of our contest. Proceeds are used to support student journalism scholarship programs at the Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus pro SPJ chapters, as well as to help us provide programming for students and professional journalists throughout the state.

We look forward to receiving your entries.

QUESTIONS: For additional information, please visit our website – www.ohiospjawards.org – or contact:

Sarah Mills Bacha
614.563.1066
contact@ohiospjawards.org

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Hope to See You! Cincinnati SPJ Virtual Awards Ceremony on June 18, 7 p.m.

Excellence In Journalism

Virtual Awards Ceremony 2020

JUNE 18, 2020 – 7:00 P.M.

SPJ opposes violence against, provides resources for, journalists covering protests

June 3, 2020

“When journalists are attacked, societies are attacked. No democracy can function without press freedom nor can any society be fair without journalists who investigate wrongdoing and speak truth to power.”

— António Guterres , Secretary-General of the United Nations

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Americans across the country have taken to the streets to protest the death of George Floyd and other black Americans killed by police. Journalists covering the protests have been injured by protesters and police, often getting hit with pepper spray , riot gear , tear gas , rubber bullets and fireworks . Police have also arrested many journalists who are clearly identifying themselves. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker is keeping a running list of incidents against journalists covering protests and noted more than 250 since May 26. Not only are threats and violence against journalists making their job difficult, so are curfew orders many cities with protests have put in place. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press is tracking curfew orders and whether they include exemptions for members of the news media. SPJ wrote an open letter to police officers and protesters asking they let journalists do their jobs covering the protests and do not target, intimidate, humiliate or block their efforts to report. In response to the attacks, the ACLU of Minnesota filed a class-action lawsuit against the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota State Patrol and Minneapolis Police on behalf of journalists.

While reporters are being attacked and threatened, black journalists have to deal with added stress from reporting on the protests. “We have to keep up with the news, but it’s hard to shake the fact that the subjects could’ve been us or people we know,” writes Wall Street Journal reporter Jared Council for Quill . The work can be challenging but many black journalists say it’s necessary for them to be involved in covering this story. MSNBC correspondent and “Into America” podcast host Trymaine Lee told The Washington Post , black journalists can help “tell the story in an honest way with emotional access, historical access and physical access that many of the other journalists don’t have.” Although it is necessary, it can affect journalists’ mental health , something most are not to prepared for.

Journalists at the Post & Courier in South Carolina returned to work Monday , despite seeing the largest increase of COVID-19 deaths in one day in the state. Top editors have not given a reason for the decision to return to work but said that it was a “business decision.” The Daily Beast reports that staff have expressed concerns and one staffer said, “people are terrified.” The Post & Courier is an outlier compared to many other media organizations who are returning to work later. The New York Times and Washington Post won’t be returning until at least September; the majority of CNN staff won’t go back to the office until 2021; and NBC Universal is keeping its plans open ended, but likely won’t return to offices before the end of the year. Earlier, the Post & Courier was criticized for requiring staff to come to work at least one day a week in early May.

Monday marked the 40th anniversary of the first CNN broadcast. Now, CNN is a global news operation available to more than 2 billion people in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. CNN took a look back at the topics of its first newscast and shared clips from early broadcasts, including a tour of the studio.

SPJ QUICK FIX

In her latest Freedom of the Prez blog post , SPJ National President Patricia Gallagher Newberry says, "In the past week, we’ve devoted considerable energy on two fronts: pointing journalists to resources to help their coverage of [George] Floyd-related events and defending – loudly and frequently – their right to cover the story without harassment and harm." She outlines the multiple letters and statements SPJ has signed and issued regarding the protests, and highlights Friday's panel discussion with Brian Stelter and other journalists.

Speaking of: Join SPJ for a webinar with CNN Reliable Sources host Brian Stelter as he talks with journalists covering the protests over the death of George Floyd at noon EDT Friday. They'll discuss why journalists have faced unprecedented hostility and how they can protect themselves and get the access they need to keep their communities informed going forward. Pre-registration is required .

Atlanta-based freelance journalist and SPJ member Haisten Willis was arrested Saturday while covering the protests in Atlanta for The Washington Post. In a new piece for Quill, he wrote about his experience , talked to Chicago freelancer Jonathan Ballew who had a police officer unload pepper spray directly into his face and discussed why it's important to have journalists reporting from the front lines.

SPJ National President Patricia Gallagher Newberry discusses the attack by protesters against Fox News reporter Leland Vittert in Washington, D.C., Saturday with The Daily Caller. She calls it “inexcusable” and explains SPJ’s open letter to police and protesters . She also talks to Brian Muñoz from Gateway Journalism Review about media literacy , saying we in the world of journalism forget we need to continue to share information about best practices and why we do what we do because there’s always a new generation coming up.

SPJ demands answers from the Minnesota State Patrol regarding the arrests of CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez, CNN Producer Bill Kirkos and CNN photojournalist Leonel Mendez Friday morning. In the moments before the arrest, Jimenez could be heard clearly identifying himself as a reporter and offering to move wherever he and his crew were directed. Instead they were placed in custody. The three were released about an hour later. SPJ is offering its expertise and resources to Minnesota law enforcement, to educate them on the First Amendment rights of journalists to report the news without interference or threats.

The fifth edition of SPJ’s ethics textbook, “Media Ethics: A Guide For Professional Conduct,” is available for pre-order! Closely organized around the SPJ Code of Ethics , this updated edition uses real-life case studies to demonstrate how students and professionals in journalism and other communication disciplines identify and reason through ethical dilemmas. The book will be available for purchase June 25.

Join SPJ’s International Community to dig deeper into the work of American photographer George Steinmetz in a one-on-one conversation at 7 p.m. Tuesday . Steinmetz is an award-winning photographer with over 35-years of experience and a regular contributor to National Geographic magazine.

Having trouble motivating yourself as a freelancer? Last week, the SPJ Freelance Community held a goal setting workshop with the author of "Your Goal Guide" Debra Eckerling on how to set goals that will propel you toward the career and life that you want. If you missed it but would like to view the workshop now, email Susan Valot for the link.

SPJ mourns the loss of Virginia "Ginny" Frizzi, a longtime SPJ member and leader, who died Monday due to complications from COVID-19. A former SPJ board member, Frizzi was a Pittsburgh stalwart in journalism , longtime spokesperson for Point Park University and worked tirelessly for SPJ in contest judging, committee assignments and upholding SPJ's principles. She will be greatly missed.

We’re hiring! SPJ is searching for a Director of Education who will be responsible for developing a wide spectrum of curriculum and delivery methods that position SPJ as an innovator and leader in journalism education . The ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of emerging journalism trends and a firm understanding of the journalism community. Working remotely may be possible. Deadline to apply is 5 p.m. EDT June 17.

Annual Reports for both professional and campus chapters are due June 19 . This is for the time frame of April 30, 2019 – May 1, 2020 . All reports are due no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT. There will be no exceptions . If you have any questions, please email Manager of Membership and Chapters Caroline Escobar .

SPJ is seeking candidates who are interested in serving on the SPJ Board of Directors or as a regional coordinator. Open positions for the national board are president-elect, secretary-treasurer and two at-large directors. Regional coordinator positions are open for regions 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9. Individuals can declare their candidacy by emailing Program Coordinator Matthew Kent . Voting is scheduled to take place electronically during the Excellence in Journalism conference in September.

SPJ continues to monitor the spread of the coronavirus and how it could affect SPJ events and conferences. Further updates, COVID-19 information and resources are available on SPJ.org . SPJ members experiencing financial difficulties renewing their membership or who recently were laid off from full-time employment in the media industry can apply for a dues waiver that now grants 12 months on their SPJ membership. To submit the waiver request, fill out this form .

Nominations are being accepted through June 20 for the Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award , which honors an individual, group of individuals, or organization who have fought to protect and preserve one or more of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. The award comes with a $10,000 cash prize and an engraved crystal. The honoree(s) will be recognized at the Excellence in Journalism conference later this year.

Cincinnati Public Radio seeks a producer for Cincinnati Edition, its live one-hour daily talk show. Applicants should have three to five years’ experience in radio as a news host/reporter/producer, familiarity and appreciation for public radio news style and an understanding of Cincinnati Public Radio’s programming.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee is hiring an education reporter . The chosen applicant will be a resourceful and persistent reporter who can develop sources, working collaboratively across the newsroom. Applicants must be able to work in a digital-first environment with the ability to tweet and shoot video from news events, obtain and analyze data and engage readers intelligently before and after a story publishes.

The GroundTruth Project is accepting applications for the Preserving Democracy & Voting Rights Fellowship . The fellowship is open to candidates from anywhere in the world. Candidates may apply with a partner or partners, and each fellow will receive a total of $5,000 — which will cover all travel expenses and a fee to the fellow. Experience covering voting rights, politics or threats to democracy is preferred. Deadline to apply is June 15.

Looking for more journalism jobs? Check out SPJ’s Career Center and resources from the Journalist’s Toolbox .

FIGHTING FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT

SPJ joined the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 114 other local, state and national media and news organizations in sending a letter Tuesday urging Minnesota officials to take immediate, concrete steps to end the series of police arrests and attacks on clearly identifiable members of the news media.

SPJ also joined the National Press Club and 16 other journalism and press freedom organizations Monday to call on law enforcement, mayors and governors across the country to halt the unprecedented assault against journalists in the field covering the protests for social justice. The open letter says, “These cities belong to all of us. The people that live in them will learn of your bravery and courage and training through news coverage by journalists. Do not fire upon them. Do not arrest them. The world is watching. Let the Press tell the story.”

LEARN SOME STUFF

In case you missed it, SPJ gathered these resources including tips for covering protests, legal and ethics resources and information on stress and mental health for easy reference. The SPJ Journalist’s Toolbox also offers resources on covering protests and civil unrest , diversity and the First Amendment and free speech . Don't forget to take care of yourselves.

Sometimes the best way to tell a story isn't through text, photos or video, but through data and maps. Join journalist Dan Petty, an SPJ digital tools trainer and President of the Denver Press Club, for 90-minute session on how to build basic and complex Google Maps, Google Earth flyovers and more at 1 p.m. EST June 10 . Be sure to have a Google account before you take the class.

Looking for more learning opportunities? Don’t forget to check out SPJ's events calendar ! You’ll find the latest journalism webinars and e-learning offerings from our journalism friends and partners to help you do your job and continue your professional development. New protest-related webinars have been added this week.

ETHICS ESSENTIALS

For journalists covering protests around the country, the SPJ Code of Ethics provides guidance on reporting and covering stories accurately, fairly and thoroughly. Keep in mind that journalists should:

Remember that neither speed nor format excuses inaccuracy.
Take care not to misrepresent or oversimplify.
Gather, update and correct info throughout the life of a story.
Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
Give voice to the voiceless.
Diligently seek subjects of news coverage to allow them to respond.
Show compassion for those who may be affected by coverage.
Weigh consequences of reporting personal info.
Balance public's need for info against potential harm or discomfort.

For more guidance refer to the Code of Ethics . And remember, SPJ’s Ethics Hotline is available for journalists facing ethical dilemmas while reporting.

GIVE A LITTLE

As cities across the country see protests and we continue to grapple with the global pandemic, information is crucial. Journalists work day and night, in potentially dangerous situations, to keep citizens informed. A donation to the Legal Defense Fund supports your right to know. Every penny assists with the legal expenses of journalists on the front lines.

Pages