After three straight years of placing third in the ONPA year-end Television Contest Joe Cromer from WTOL-TV in Toledo has claimed the brass ring and is the 2025 Television Photographer of the Year.
There were some familiar faces challenging him for top honors. Megan Heady from WBNS-TV in Columbus was the runner-up and Chris Reece with WJW-TV in Cleveland placing third.
Scott Doelling with WBNS won Best of Show for his Feature entry “Healing Waters.” For the fifth consecutive year WBNS has won Station of the Year award.
This year’s contest was judged by the videography staff at KCPQ-TV Fox 13 in Seatle, Washington
Click on entry name to view video
Ali Ghanbari Television Photographer of the Year
1st - Joe Cromer, WTOL-TV, Toledo - 37 points
2nd - Megan Heady, WBNS-TV, Columbus - 29 points
3rd - Chris Reece, WJW-TV, Cleveland - 21
4th - Makael Grant Steelholdt, WBNS-TV, Columbus - 12 points
5th - Bill Price, WBNS-TV, Columbus - 11 points
Best in Show
Scott Doelling - WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Healing Waters”
Station of the Year
WBNS-TV, Columbus
Spot News - “Marion Arrest” - Bill Price
General News - “Painting Found” - Chris Kettler
Sports Feature - “Quinn's Crew” - Rich Yedlicka
Feature - “Healing Waters” - Scott Doelling
Feature - “Incarcerated Men Build ODOT Trucks” - Grant Steenholdt
Personality Profile - “ORW Christmas” - Megan Headyc
48-Hour Feature
1st - Scott Doelling - WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Healing Waters”
2nd - Joe Cromer, WTOL-TV, Toledo, “Fellowship Matters”
3rd - Chris Reece, WJW-TV, Cleveland, “Learning To Fly”
Sports Feature
1st - Megan Heady, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Hilltop Tigers”
2nd - Grant Steenholdt, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Buckeyes Tailgate in Seattle”
3rd - Dan Pasciak, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Memorial Bears”
General News
1st - Joe Cromer, WTOL-TV, Toledo, “Water Lanterns With Special Meaning”
2nd - Travis Onyett, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Arts Council Funding”
3rd - Scott Doelling - WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Building Everywhere”
Award of Excellence - Megan Heady, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Woman Recovers After Being Hit By Car”
Personality Profile
1st - Bill Price, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Devoted Library Patron”
2nd - Chris Reece, WJW-TV, Cleveland, “Officer Smerk”
3rd - Megan Heady, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “ORW Christmas”
Award of Excellence - Joe Cromer, WTOL-TV, Toledo, “Dancing Crossing Guard”
In-Depth
1st - Joe Cromer, WTOL-TV, Toledo, “Ghost Stories in Toledo”
2nd - Scott Doelling - WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Honda Next”
3rd - Travis Onyett, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Markison Ave Issues”
Award of Excellence - Grant Steenholdt, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Incarcerated Men Build ODOT Trucks”
Spot News
1st - Megan Heady, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Marigold”
2nd - Chris Reece, WJW-TV, Cleveland, “My House Got Destroyed”
3rd - Joe Cromer, WTOL-TV, Toledo, “Semi Crash”
Award of Excellence - Grant Steenholdt, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Mansfield House Explosion”
This year’s contest was judged by the videography staff at KCPQ-TV Fox 13 in Seatle, Washington