Scott Doelling – 2015 ONPA Television Photographer of the Year

Scott Doelling realized early in his career he was better behind the camera rather than in front of it. Seems to have been a good career choice as the one time weekend sports reporter / photographer is the 2015 ONPA Television Photographer of the Year.

There have been a few stops in between WLUC-TV in Marquette, MI in 1986 and his current home at WBNS-TV in Columbus for Doelling.

After graduating from Northern Michigan University Doelling was a full time news reporter at TV 6 in Marquette and in 1991 went to work for “Moore Outdoors,” an outdoors hunting and fishing show. A year later he became a photographer and bureau chief at WFRV in Green Bay in 1992.

In 1996 Doelling moved to Columbus in what he thought was just another stop along the way. Twenty years later he is still at 10TV in Columbus, where he seems to have put down roots after getting married to his wife Chrstina. The couple, who live in Hilliard, have two adopted children from China.

“The best part of my job as a photographer is that it’s different every day,” Doelling said.  “I never know where the news will take me and who I’ll get to meet and that’s what keeps me coming back each day.”

Billy Muhammed from WJW-TV in Cleveland placed second in the contest and Kris Sproles from WDTN-TV in Dayton placed third. The two reversed their positions from the previous years contest.

2015 ONPA Television year-end contest results

ONPA Television Photographer of the Year
1st – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV, Columbus – 49
2nd – Billy Muhammed, WJW—TV, Cleveland – 38
3rd –  Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV, Dayton – 15
4th – Chris Reece, WJW—TV, Cleveland – 13
4th-  Ryan Hitchcock, WBNS-TV, Columbus – 13
4th-  Chris Poturalski, WBNS-TV, Columbus – 13
7th-  Bill Reagan, WBNS-TV, Columbus – 7

Spot News
1st – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV, “Gotta Do Something About the River”
2nd – Chris Poturalski, WBNS-TV, “Upper Arlington House Explosion”
3rd – Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV, “Fitworks Tornado”

General News
1st – Billy Muhammed, WJW—TV, “Black Friday”
2nd – Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV, “Positive Exposure”
3rd – Ryan Hitchcock, WBNS-TV, “Buckeye Lane”

News Feature
1st – Billy Muhammed, WJW—TV, “Art for Less”
2nd – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV, “Long Live”
3rd –  Chris Poturalski, WBNS-TV, “Heather Pick Music Program”

Sports Feature
1st – Billy Muhammed, WJW—TV, “More Battle Scars”
2nd – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV, “Say Hi to Brutus”
3rd – Chris Reece, WJW—TV, “Pole Vaulter”

Personality Profile
1st – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV, “Harley Skorpenske”
2nd – Ryan Hitchcock, WBNS-TV, “Street Speech”
3rd – Bill Reagan, WBNS-TV, “Shall We Dance”
HM – Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV, “The Magnificent Madison”

In-Depth
1st – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV, “Cell Phone Plans”
2nd – Chris Reece, WJW—TV, “Saving Your Skin”
3rd – Billy Muhammed, WJW—TV, “They Are Out There”
HM – Bill Reagan, WBNS-TV, “Protect This House”

Judged by WHAS, Louisville, KY .