Note to award winners and finalists: Awards will be distributed to you in the coming weeks by mail or in person to you/your media outlet. If you have questions, email Chapter President Ginny McCabe at gmwriteon@aol.com. Congrats to all!
2021
EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM CONTEST
WINNERS & FINALISTS
The Greater Cincinnati Professional
Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the
winners and finalists in the 2021 Excellence In Journalism Contest. We thank
the members of the Arkansas SPJ Pro Chapter members for their work in judging
the entries.
ALL MEDIA
GERALD
WHITE MEMORIAL AWARD
WINNER: “Matthew
Mangine, Jr.”
ENTRANTS: Stephanie Kuzydym and Eric Gerhardt
MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV, Local 12 – local12.com
JUDGE’S
COMMENT: Superb investigative effort that highlights weaknesses
in requirements for defibrillators and emergency planning in cases of athletic
training.
FINALIST: “2020:
The Year That Revealed Us”
ENTRANT: The
Cincinnati Enquirer Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
CAMILLA WARRICK AWARD
WINNER:
“Addiction Coverage”
ENTRANT: The Cincinnati Enquirer Staff
MEDIA
OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This
in-depth reporting package from a cincinnati.com/The Enquirer team stands out
for its centering of the voices of people living with addiction and in
recovery. In its focus on methamphetamine, it describes an underexplored area
of a national substance-abuse epidemic and rightly identifies the core issue as
addiction, not one particular substance. The package includes a surprising
history of methamphetamine and a poignantly written account of employment
struggles of people in recovery, as well as reporting at length on how meth
affects Ohioans and the ways in which the pandemic has torn rents in the area’s
treatment fabric. But, most importantly, the work goes beyond the anecdote and
truly gives voice to the voiceless – one of journalist’s most crucial
public-service obligations.
FINALIST: “On The
Ground: One Neighborhood’s Turnaround”
ENTRANT: Dave
Holthaus
MEDIA OUTLET: Soapbox Media
FIRST
AMENDMENT AWARD
WINNER: “First Amendment Work By The Enquirer”
ENTRANT: The Cincinnati Enquirer Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S
COMMENT: At
a time when too few news organizations chance taking public officials to court
over fears of unwelcome precedent, the Enquirer successfully challenged a
denial of access to public records twice. The courts’ strong clear rulings led
to significant reportage and public awareness about important issues. Brave and
vital work!
FINALIST: “After
Seven Months Legal Battle, Eye on Ohio Wins Public Records Lawsuit Over
Hospital Capacity Numbers”
ENTRANTS: Bonnie
Jean Feldkamp, Kathiann Kowalski, Lucia Walinchus, Brian Bardwell and
Boniface Womber
MEDIA OUTLET: Eye
on Ohio
FINALIST: “BLM Protest Night Highlights”
ENTRANT: Andy
Overton
MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
BEST NEWS STORY
WINNER: “Tens of Thousands of Ohioans Told To Repay Unemployment Benefits”
ENTRANT: Cid Standifer
MEDIA OUTLET: Eye on Ohio
JUDGE’S COMMENT: “Very thorough reporting with excellent
complementary graphics.
FINALIST: “Coverage
of the Arrest of Ohio’s House Speaker On Bribery Charges”
ENTRANTS: Jessie
Balmert, Dan Horn, Sharon Coolidge and Carl Weiser
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “The
Arrest of Councilmember Tamaya Dennard”
ENTRANTS: Sharon Coolidge, Dan Horn and Kevin Grasha
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST FEATURE STORY
WINNER: “1,000 Feet From The Top Of The
World”
ENTRANT: John Stowell
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Well-told tale of perseverance…very
well-done.
FINALIST: “Go
With The Flow”
ENTRANT: Carrie
Blackmore Smith
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati
Magazine
FINALIST: “What’s
In A Name?”
ENTRANT: Polk
Laffoon IV
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati
Magazine
BEST BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE
WINNER: “The Death of Riah Milton”
ENTRANTS: Madeline Mitchell and
Cameron Knight
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Very good coverage of a tragic murder.
Insights into the victim’s life and family helped bring home a fear that has
been felt by many citizens who, for one reason or another, don’t always ‘fit
in.’
FINALIST: “Breaking
News Coverage of Unrest After Death of George Floyd”
ENTRANTS: Madeline
Mitchell, Briana Rice, Jennie Key, Segann March, Scott Wartman, Dan Horn, Sarah
Brookbank, Sarah Haselhorst, Cameron Knight and Sharon Coolidge
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST TEAM COVERAGE
WINNER: “Coverage of the Pandemic”
ENTRANTS: Anne Saker, Terry DeMio, Dan Horn, Jackie Borchardt, Mike Nyerges,
Cameron Knight, Scott Wartman and Mark Wert
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer
– cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Very cohesive, well-written series. Blending
the voices of so many authors is no easy task, but the Enquirer team makes it
look easy.
FINALIST: “Corruption In Cincinnati City Hall”
ENTRANTS: Sharon
Coolidge, Dan Horn, Kevin Grasha and Hannah Sparling
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “Weathering
The Storm”
ENTRANT:
Cincinnati Magazine Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati
Magazine
BEST CRISIS COVERAGE
WINNER: “Post George Floyd Death
Coverage by the Staff of The Cincinnati Enquirer”
ENTRANTS: Cameron Knight, Dan Horn,
Sharon Coolidge, Madeline Mitchell, Randy Tucker, Bob Strickley, Deon Hampton,
Jessie Balmert, Briana Rice and Jennie Key
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: These accounts are very vivid and compelling.
Great work by the team.
FINALIST: “COVID-19
Coverage of Anne Saker”
ENTRANT: Anne
Saker
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “I
Still Have Faith”
ENTRANTS: Andy
Brownfield and Chris Wetterich
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Business Courier
BEST SOCIAL/CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORTING
WINNER: “Police Watchdog Ignored”
ENTRANTS: Max Londberg and Mike Nyerges
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer
– cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: A timely and meticulous investigation of a
police department’s interactions with its ostensible oversight agency.
FINALIST: “Team
Coverage of Crime and the Pandemic”
ENTRANTS: Cameron Knight, Anne Saker, Sharon
Coolidge, Terry DeMio and Chris Mayhew
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST MINORITY ISSUES REPORTING
WINNER: “Continuing Coverage of
Minority Issues”
ENTRANTS: Afi Scruggs, Sydney Kornegay, Caitlin Hunt, Lee Chilote, Conor Morris,
Miesha Wilson Headen and Jordan Walker
MEDIA OUTLET: Eye
on Ohio
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Diversity of topic really sets this
collection apart. Not just important Black issues, but those stories of various
other groups meet the definition of this category exceptionally well.
FINALIST: “Terry
DeMio and Dan Horn of The Cincinnati Enquirer”
ENTRANTS: Terry
DeMio and Dan Horn
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer –
cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “History Repeating Itself and the Ways
Cincinnatians Stand Up and Show Support”
ENTRANTS: Jessica Esemplare and Kareem Simpson
MEDIA OUTLET: Soapbox Cincinnati
BEST GOVERNMENT/COMMUNITY ISSUES REPORTING
WINNER: “A City of Renters Where
Renters Are Forgotten”
ENTRANTS: Dan Horn and Sharon Coolidge
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Extremely well-done, clear. The writing was
engaging as it followed one family’s experience.
FINALIST: “Reporting
of Sharon Coolidge and Kevin Grasha”
ENTRANTS: Sharon
Coolidge and Kevin Grasha
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “A User’s Guide To Local Government”
ENTRANT: Cincinnati Magazine Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati
Magazine
BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
WINNER: “Nursing Home Infections and
Deaths”
ENTRANT: Deon Hampton
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Very well
researched and presented. This report reflects the fear and hopelessness felt
by residents and staff of assisted-living facilities during an unprecedented
global event. Kudos!
FINALIST: “Medical
Marijuana Program”
ENTRANT: Jackie Borchardt
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “Working
To Live or Living to Work?”
ENTRANT: Jim DeBrosse
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
BEST CONTINUING COVERAGE OR SERIES
WINNER: “The Fight for Hospital
Capacity Data In Ohio”
ENTRANTS: Bonnie Jean Feldkamp,
Kathiann Kowalski, Boniface Womber and Lucia Walinchus
MEDIA OUTLET: Eye on Ohio, Ohio Center
for Journalism
JUDGE’S
COMMENT: Excellent, vital and well-written work. The reporters didn’t shy
away from following an important public-records battle and explaining why it
should matter to readers. When Eye on Ohio got the data it fought for, it
created regularly updated charts that enabled the public to see where hospitals
experienced bed and equipment shortages throughout the state.
FINALIST: “Tracking
Fallout From COVID-19 Crisis”
ENTRANT: Alexander
Coolidge
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer –
cincinnati.com
BEST BUSINESS/CONSUMER NEWS STORY
WINNER: “Lordstown’s New Electric
Kool-Aid Acid Test”
ENTRANT: Jim DeBrosse
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Solid, thorough reporting with the right
amount of context and balance. This was especially well-done considering Burns
himself would not give the reporter an interview.
FINALIST: “The
COVID-19 Economy: How Businesses Adapted, Plus Pandemic-Proof Jobs”
ENTRANT: David
Holthaus
MEDIA OUTLET: Soapbox
Cincinnati
BEST BUSINESS FEATURE/ANALYSIS/COLUMN
WINNER: “The Little Lab That Could”
ENTRANT: Liz Engel
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati
Business Courier
JUDGE’S
COMMENT: The lead drew me into the
story. And, once I started, I couldn’t stop reading because it flowed so well.
Good use of quotes, too.
FINALIST: “The
Coronavirus Recession and the Recovery”
ENTRANT: Alexander Coolidge
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST EDUCATION STORY
WINNER: “Meager Results For Ohio
Vouchers”
ENTRANT: Max Londberg
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Excellent investigative and data work that demonstrates a clear discrepancy between the performance of public schools versus private schools that benefitted from taxpayer-funded vouchers. Great work!
FINALIST: “In Six
Home Classrooms, Families Keep Learning Alive In A Pandemic”
ENTRANTS: Max
Londberg and Ambriehl Crutchfield
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST REPORTING ON CHILD/YOUTH/TEEN ISSUES
WINNER: “Children’s Issues Coverage by
Terry DeMio and Jessie Balmert”
ENTRANTS: Terry DeMio and Jessie
Balmert
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: These stories handled some important and
sensitive topics with grace. They were well-written, informative and
well-researched. Excellent work.
FINALIST: “Northern
Kentucky’s Homeless Youth Search For Help, Hope During Pandemic”
ENTRANT: Lucy May
MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV
9 News – wcpo.com
FINALIST: “Freelance Articles That Focus On Kids”
ENTRANT: Bonnie Jean Feldkamp
MEDIA OUTLET: Various
BEST HEALTH/MEDICAL STORY
WINNER: “Health Writing Portfolio of
Anne Saker”
ENTRANT: Anne Saker
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: A live and diverse portfolio spanning both
public health and wellness, tied closely with current topics of note including
police violence and racial justice.
FINALIST: “Reporting
of Anne Saker”
ENTRANT: Ann
Saker
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST ENVIRONMENTAL/SCIENCE STORY
WINNER: “Energy and Environmental
Coverage”
ENTRANTS: Kathiann Kowalski, Bonnie
Jean Feldkamp, Mark Olalde, Lucia Walinchus and Ken Paulman
MEDIA OUTLET: Eye on Ohio
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Good use of data, and the writers didn’t lose
the human element where it could add to the story and keep the reader
engaged. Solid reporting.
FINALIST: “The
Art of Science”
ENTRANT: Michele
Day
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati
Magazine
BEST EDITORIAL
WINNER: “Another View”
ENTRANT: Don Mooney
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincy Magazine
JUDGE’S
COMMENT: Practical and perceptive commentary supported, but not overwhelmed
by research. Basically – wise.
FINALIST: “Editorial
Portfolio by Kevin Aldridge”
ENTRANT: Kevin
Aldridge
MEDIA OUTLET: The
Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “Commentaries
on Journalism”
ENTRANTS: Patti Newberry
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com and
Quill Magazine
BEST ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
REPORTING
WINNER:
“Portfolio of Keith Pandolfi”
ENTRANT: Keith Pandolfi
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati.com/The Cincinnati Enquirer
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Loved the intimacy of your writing, drawing
your reader into the places and neighborhoods that comprise these pieces.
FINALIST: “Theda Bara Is Finally Making Noise
ENTRANT: Steve Rosen
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
FINALIST: “Work of Keith Pandolfi”
ENTRANT: Keith Pandolfi
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati.com/The Cincinnati Enquirer
BEST ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT CRITIQUE
WINNER: “Rise Up! Marvelous ‘Hamilton’ Still A Diverse Triumph”
ENTRANT: Russell Florence, Jr.
MEDIA OUTLET: Dayton Daily News
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Not only was this piece elegantly written,
but it also provided an in-depth exploration of the subject.
FINALIST: “Hillbilly Elegy: View From A Middletuckian”
ENTRANT: Dan Sewell
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “Work of Keith Pandolfi”
ENTRANT: Keith Pandolfi
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST NEWS/SPORTS BLOG
WINNER: “HeartLand”
ENTRANTS: Adam Baum, Shelby Dermer and Melanie Laughman
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: I love this entry. All three blog submissions
were well-written and compelling. It was a breath of fresh air at a time when
we can all use one. Well-done.
BEST SPORTS REPORTING
WINNER: “Portfolio of Bobby Nightengale”
ENTRANT: Bobby Nightengale
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: A
well-rounded contest submission that illustrates the author’s writing and
reporting skills. All three articles were easy reads. The author shows a real
knack for getting the most out of his quotes. Just the right touch, with each
adding to the story.
FINALIST: “Portfolio of Tyler Dragon”
ENTRANT: Tyler Dragon
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST SPORTS FEATURE
WINNER: “Sports Feature by Paul Daugherty – 1975 World Series Replay”
ENTRANT: Paul Daugherty
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Splendid writing carried a very close contest
for top honors. Imagery and tone made
the reader feel in the same room as the sources and subjects.
FINALIST: “The Boys of Summer 1858”
ENTRANT: John Erardi
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
FINALIST: “No Doubt”
ENTRANT: Chad Dotson
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
BEST MAGAZINE REPORTING
WINNER: “All of Us Together”
ENTRANT: Bob Driehaus
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Loved the description of places to go with
the various facts…wins in a very close contest for top three.
FINALIST: “Humanity Is Their Job”
ENTRANT: Gil Kaufman
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
FINALIST: “Back To Nature”
ENTRANT: Amy Brownlee
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
BEST NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE DESIGN
WINNER: “Cincinnati Magazine – June, 2020”
ENTRANT: Cincinnati Magazine Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The overall look of this magazine is
beautiful! Well done!
FINALIST: “Work of Clay Sisk”
ENTRANT: Clay Sisk
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “Work of Jason Bredehoeft”
ENTRANT: Jason Bredehoeft
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST WEBSITE DESIGN
WINNER: “CincinnatiMagazine.com”
ENTRANT: Cincinnati Magazine Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Clear mobile design, easy to navigate and
well-edited, with content that is readable and shareable.
FINALIST: “CincyMagazine.com”
ENTRANT: Guy Kelly
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincy Magazine
BEST NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY
WINNER: “Portfolio of Liz Dufour”
ENTRANT: Liz Dufour
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Every photo told a story, some better than
others. And the composition was good
throughout. I really liked the ones that were taken from a different
perspective: i.e. three and five. And bravo for not being afraid to get
close-ups of people who aren’t posed. It’s so easy to get crowd shots. It’s not
as easy to get the one or two people telling that crowd’s story.
FINALIST: “Cincinnati Black Lives Matter Protest
Photos”
ENTRANTS: Tai Sims and Michael Mitchell
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
WINNER: “Portfolio of Kareem Elgazzar”
ENTRANT: Kareem Elgazzar
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This photographer’s portfolio is fantastic! From the look of the football players making great plays to the capturing of fans watching the game, each photo is well-framed and has exquisite composition. To give feedback for each image would be way more than is allowed for a typical judge’s comment. This work is certainly worthy of recognition.
BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
BEST NEWS STORY
WINNER: “For Black Americans,
Following CDC Mask Guidelines Can Be A Fraught Decision”
ENTRANT: Tana Weingartner
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU -- wvxu.org
JUDGE’S
COMMENT: Very timely and insightful – and thought-provoking – presentation
of the dilemma faced by Blacks and likely other minorities during the pandemic.
FINALIST: “The
Arrest of P.G. Sittenfeld”
ENTRANT: Chris Riva
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV, Fox19 Now – fox19.com
BEST FEATURE STORY
WINNER:
“A Book and a Family Tree Uncover
Hamilton’s Little-Known Role In Gay Liberation”
ENTRANT: Evan Millward
MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV 9 News -- wcpo.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Incredible
coverage of an important topic.
FINALIST: “Fourteen-Year-Old Honors Student Is
Cincinnati’s First Black ‘Annie’”
ENTRANTS: Kristen Swilley and Andy Overton
MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV 9 News -- wcpo.com
BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE
WINNER: “George Floyd Protests”
ENTRANT: WXIX-TV, Fox 19 Now Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV, Fox 19 Now -- fox19.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Well-done! Great footage! I felt the tension
of that night.
FINALIST: “2001
Protest Leaders Urge Youth to ‘Build On Our Accomplishments’”
ENTRANT: Tana Weingartner
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU -- wvxu.org
FINALIST: “Brent
Spence Bridge Fire”
ENTRANT: WXIX-TV, Fox 19 Now Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV, Fox 19 Now – fox19.com
BEST TEAM COVERAGE
WINNER: “The Arrest of P.G. Sittenfeld”
ENTRANTS: Chris Riva, Jason Scott and
Payton Bradley
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV, Fox 19 Now -- fox19.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This is team coverage of a breaking event at
its best. Excellent use of fresh and archival footage, strong on-air
presentations of the news as well as context and the wider ramifications for
the city and its political class.
BEST CRISIS COVERAGE
WINNER:
“City Erupts In Protests”
ENTRANTS: Courtney Francisco, Andrew Overton and Matthew Wood
MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV 9 News -- wcpo.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Courtney and her crew did a fantastic job bringing the story to the viewers. They didn’t shy away from the action and stayed calm while covering all angles throughout the continued coverage.
FINALIST: “Bethel Protests”
ENTRANT: Trevor Peters
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV, Fox
19 Now – fox19.com
FINALIST: “George Floyd
Protests”
ENTRANT: WXIX-TV, Fox19 Now
Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV,
Fox19 Now – fox19.com
BEST MINORITY ISSUES COVERAGE
WINNER: “For Black Americans,
Following CDC Mask Guidelines Can Be A Fraught Decision”
ENTRANT: Tana Weingartner
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU -- wvxu.org
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Winner for somehow finding an angle on
COVID-19 that hasn’t been done to death. Very insightful and unique topic and
approach, plus written well.
FINALIST: “Minority Issues
Reporting: Kristen Swilley”
ENTRANT: Kristen Swilley
MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV 9
News – wcpo.com
FINALIST: “Childhood
Poverty: Cincinnati’s Crisis”
ENTRANTS: Stephanie
Kuzydym, Eric Gerhardt, Meghan Mongillo and Walter Smith-Randolph
MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV,
Local 12 – local12.com
BEST GOVERNMENT/COMMUNITY ISSUES REPORTING
WINNER:
“Warrant For Concern”
ENTRANTS: Duane Pohlman and Eric Frisbee
MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV, Local 12 – local12.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This story was a great example and reminder
of why journalists are important in our democracy. The reporter caught an error
by the government that was putting the community in danger. The report was
well-done and well-sourced. The reporter did a great job of explaining how
putting criminals into the system caused a danger to the community and to the
country as a whole. The interview with Gov. DeWine was well done.
BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
WINNER: “Drifting Death”
ENTRANTS: Duane Pohlman and Eric Frisbee
MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV, Local 12 – local12.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT:
This was a well-done and through investigation. I felt the reporter did a
great job of speaking to sources outside of the DOE to show the lack of
transparency from the agency. Even though the DOE wasn’t being cooperative, I
felt it was still professional of the reporter to contact them and at least get
a statement from them. The reporter also did an excellent job interviewing the
victims’ families. The victims’ families were able to share their account of
what happened and also they were able to tell the story of who their children
were.
BEST CONTINUING COVERAGE OR SERIES
WINNER: “Athletes At Risk”
ENTRANTS: Stephanie Kuzydym and Eric Gerhardt
MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV, Local 12 – local12.com
JUDGE’S
COMMENT: Extremely competitive category. What gave this entry the win is
the variety of angles at which they came at a central, important topic and done
very well at that.
FINALIST: “Drifting Death?”
ENTRANTS: Duane Pohlman and Eric Frisbee
MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV, Local 12 – local12.com
FINALIST: “Ohio’s Unemployment Crisis”
ENTRANTS: Jason Scott and Chris Riva
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV, Fox19 Now – fox19.com
BEST BUSINESS/CONSUMER REPORTING
WINNER: “Distillery Sanitizer”
ENTRANT: Trevor Peters
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV, Fox19 Now – fox19.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Overall, this was a well-done report on an important issue during the pandemic. The reporter did a great job of allowing business owners to share their concerns and frustrations with the government taxing them for using their distilleries to solve the issue of the hand sanitizer shortages. During the pandemic, businesses were hurt and this was an important story to share with the public and public officials. This report also did a great job of highlighting good things that were happening during an incredibly depressing time. It was a nice feel-good story to see distillery owners use their business to help out the community during the early stages of the pandemic. \
BEST EDUCATION REPORTING
WINNER: “COVID Back To School Special”
ENTRANT: Jason Scott
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV, Fox19 – fox19.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: “Excellent reporting, strong visuals and a
great public service. This 35-minute special touched all of the bases – public
schools in three states, colleges, reaction of kids and parents, effects of
screen time and stress – giving viewers a thorough understanding of what school
districts were doing as the fall semester began and why certain choices were
made.
FINALIST: “Miami U. Dropped Its Race-Based Mascot 20
Years Ago, Sees Benefits Today”
ENTRANT: Tana Weingartner
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU - wvxu.org
FINALIST: “Test Scores, Risks and Inequities”
ENTRANTS: Stephanie Kuzydym, Christian Hauser and
Walter Smith-Randolph
MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV, Local 12 – local12.com
BEST REPORTING ON CHILD/YOUTH/TEEN ISSUES
WINNER: “From EAPs to AEDs”
ENTRANT: Stephanie Kuzydym and Eric Gerhardt
MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV, Local 12 – local12.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: This series is very valuable and I am glad to
see this team take an in-depth look at it. This is definitely worthy of
recognition. Well-done!
BEST HEALTH/MEDICAL REPORTING
WINNER: “Chamber of Hope”
ENTRANTS: Duane Pohlman and Eric Frisbee
MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV, Local 12 – local12.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: A strong series of stories about hyperbaric
oxygen therapy, typically associated with deep-sea divers, and its use in
treating traumatic brain injury among veteran football players and its possible
use as an alternative to placing oxygen-depleted COVID-19 patients on
ventilators.
FINALIST: “Researchers Zeroing In On Blood Vessels To
Prevent COVID ‘Long-Haulers’”
ENTRANT: Ann Thompson
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU -- wvxu.org
FINALIST: “Ghost Surgeries”
ENTRANTS: Jason Scott, Jessica Schmidt and Payton
Bradley
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV, Fox 19 Now – fox19.com
BEST SPORTS FEATURE STORY
WINNER: “Going The Distance”
ENTRANT: Joe Danneman
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV Fox19 Now – fox19.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Oh my gosh! This story brought tears to my
eyes! This was a great story that went beyond the sport and I am so glad you
told it. This entry is certainly worthy of first-place recognition.
BEST DOCUMENTARY
WINNER: “2020: The Year That Revealed Us”
ENTRANT: The Cincinnati Enquirer Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: From the first note of the background music
and first word spoken by the narrator, it’s obvious this piece is a winner.
Amazing video work from what I assume is a primarily print/web publication.
FINALIST: “Bigger Than A Moment”
ENTRANT: WXIX-TV, Fox19 Now Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV, Fox19 Now – fox19.com
BEST SPECIAL EVENT COVERAGE
WINNER: “Pence In Cincinnati: The Road To Victory Runs Through Ohio”
ENTRANT: Tana Weingartner
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU -- wvxu.org
JUDGE’S COMMENTS: Nice use
of soundbites while still telling a story along with the event. Nice job!
BEST PODCAST
WINNER: “Cincinnati Edition: June 1 Peaceful Protests, Nighttime Clashes &
Arrests Take Place In Cincinnati Over The Weekend”
ENTRANTS: Michael Monks and Selena Reder
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU -- wvxu.org
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Superbly produced. Strong use of actualities. Highly polished,
yet conversational tone. Explored varied perspectives on the primary topic of
2020 – after the pandemic – the killing of Black men by law enforcement and
police responses to public demonstrations over those killings.
FINALIST: “’That’s So Cincinnati’ Podcast”
ENTRANTS: Sharon Coolidge and Jason Williams
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST VIDEOGRAPHER
WINNER: “Matthew Wood – Videographer
Composite”
ENTRANT: Matthew Wood
MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV 9 News – wcpo.com
JUDGE’S
COMMENT: A strong video portfolio. Noteworthy were the Dayton shooting
memorial and the high school athletic stories. Effective visually with nice
emotional touches.
BEST OF SHOW
BEST OF SHOW - BEST OVERALLWRITTEN REPORTER
WINNER: “Portfolio of Keith
BieryGolick”
ENTRANT: Keith BieryGolick
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Keith BieryGolick is a fine writer with a
breezy conversational style and excellent story-telling chops. With a phrase or word or two, he draws vivid
pictures of his story subjects. He writes with passion and compassion about
lives that matter and lives that make a difference. Hard to pick a favorite in
this portfolio, but ‘The Shooting Wasn’t The Worst Thing To Happen To Me’ and
‘Sad, Sadder and Saddest’ stuck with me for a long time.
FINALIST: “The
Portfolio of Dan Horn”
ENTRANT: Dan Horn
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “Sharon
Coolidge”
ENTRANT: Sharon Coolidge
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.co
BEST OF SHOW – BEST OVERALL BROADCAST REPORTER
WINNER: “Duane Pohlman, Chief Investigative
Reporter”
ENTRANT: Duane Pohlman
MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV, Local 12 –
local12.com
JUDGE’S
COMMENT: I can tell Duane is a seasoned professional and the selection of
clips presented a very effective picture of his talents.
FINALIST: “Kristen
Swilley – Best Reporter 2020”
ENTRANT: Kristen Swilley
MEDIA OUTLET: WCPO-TV 9 News – wcpo.com
FINALIST: “Walter
Smith-Randolph”
ENTRANT: Walter Smith-Randolph
MEDIA OUTLET: WKRC-TV, Local 12 – local12.com
BEST OF SHOW – MULTI-MEDIA JOURNALIST
WINNER: “Portfolio of Ginny McCabe”
ENTRANT: Ginny McCabe
MEDIA OUTLET: Northern Kentucky Magazine
JUDGE’S COMMENT: These types of articles can sometimes feel mailed-in. Yours did not, showing genuine care for the
subject matter and respect for the reader.
BEST OF SHOW – BEST OVERALL COLUMNIST/COMMENTARY
WINNER: “Column Portfolio of Kevin
Aldridge”
ENTRANT: Kevin Aldridge
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Powerful,
pithy columns. The ones on Smitherman’s decision to put his family before
political ambition and the one on the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder really
stand out.
FINALIST: “Portfolio of Jason Williams”
ENTRANT: Jason Williams
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “Portfolio of Paul Daugherty”
ENTRANT: Paul Daugherty
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
BEST OF SHOW - BEST TELEVISION NEWSCAST
WINNER: “Fox19 Ten O’Clock News”
ENTRANT: WXIX-TV, Fox19 Now Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: WXIX-TV, Fox19 – fox19.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: Good mix
of stories, well-shot and well-written.
BEST OF SHOW – BEST OVERALL RADIO NEWS ANCHOR
WINNER: “Maryanne Zeleznik”
ENTRANT: Maryanne Zeleznik
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU -- wvxu.org
BEST OF SHOW – BEST RADIO NEWSCAST
WINNER: “WVXU News Team”
ENTRANT: 91.7WVXU
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU -- wvxu.org
BEST OF SHOW -- BEST NEWSPAPER
WINNER: “The Cincinnati Enquirer”
ENTRANT: The Cincinnati Enquirer Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer
– cincinnati.com
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The Cincinnati Enquirer’s entry included an
interesting range of stories from the rise of meth addiction, love in the age
of COVID-19, the re-investigation of a mysterious 36-year-old disappearance and
one death, internet access difficulties in Appalachia and a special section on
how people are making it through a challenging 2020.
BEST OF SHOW -- BEST MAGAZINE
WINNER: “Cincinnati Magazine”
ENTRANT: Cincinnati Magazine Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
JUDGE’S
COMMENT: Amazing layout and writing, eye-catching, engaging writing.
FINALIST: “Cincy Magazine:
ENTRANT: Cincy Magazine Staff
MEDIA OULET: Cincy Magazine
BEST OF SHOW -- BEST WEB SITE
WINNER: “CincinnatiMagazine.com”
ENTRANT: Cincinnati Magazine Staff
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Magazine
FINALIST: “The
Digital Presence of Cincinnati.com/The Enquirer”
ENTRANT: The Staff of Cincinnati.com/The Cincinnati
Enquirer
MEDIA OUTLET: The Cincinnati Enquirer – cincinnati.com
FINALIST: “wvxu.org”
ENTRANT: Jennifer Merritt
MEDIA OUTLET: Cincinnati Public Radio – 91.7WVXU -- wvxu.org
BEST OF SHOW – BEST OVERALL FREELANCE REPORTING
WINNER:
“David Holthaus”
ENTRANT: David Holthaus
MEDIA OUTLETS: Cincinnati Business Courier, Cincinnati Magazine, Soapbox Media, Cincy
Magazine and other publications.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: David is a very accomplished, very versatile journalist. Well-done!
ENTRANT: Ginny McCabe
MEDIA OUTLETS: Northeast Ohio Parent Magazine
