2014 ONPA Television year-end contest results

Andy Wallace of WBNS-TV in Columbus is the 2014 ONPA Television Photographer of the Year. Kris Sproles from WHIO-TV in Dayton was the runner-up and Billy Muhammed from WJW-TV in Cleveland placed third.

The win is the first for Wallace in the ONPA contest. Wallace was named Best Photographer in 2012 and Best Editor in 2011 in the Ohio SPJ contest and Best Photographer in 2011 by the Associated Press.

“I work in the greatest and fastest growing city in Ohio! Columbus is a great town with tons of untold stories. As a 3 year staff photographer for WBNS 10TV, I’ve had the amazing privilege to dig up these gems and showcase them to our Central Ohio audience,” Wallace said.. “My approach to every day, and every story, is with the thought that everyone has a story, no matter how large or small. We, as story tellers, have the best jobs in the world.”

“Dayton, my hometown, is where the television bug bit me, hard. Alongside some of the best journalists I know, and many who I grew up watching, WHIO become my first TV family. I started as a sports intern, made my way to a part time editor, then worked my way up to become a staff photographer.” Before life at 10TV, Wallace was the Chief Photographer for their since deceased sister station, The Ohio News Network (ONN) for the better part of 4 years before transitioning to WBNS.

WBNS-TV in Columbus was named ONPA Station of the Year by judges from WHO-TV in Des Moines, Iowa.

ONPA Television Photographer of the Year
1st – Andy Wallace, WBNS-TV Columbus
2nd – Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV, Dayton
3rd – Billy Muhammed, WJW-TV, Cleveland
4th – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV Columbus
5th – Jeff Sheerer, WBNS-TV Columbus
6th – Trey Bach, WBNS-TV Columbus
7th – Chris Reece, WJW-TV Cleveland
8th – Ryan Hitchcock, WBNS-TV Columbus

Spot News
1st – Billy Muhammed, WJW-TV Cleveland, “Church Fire”
2nd – Andy Wallace, WBNS-TV Columbus, “Penn Ave”
3rd – Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV Dayton, “Franklin Fire”
HM – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV Columbus, “Tamerak Fire”

General News
1st – Andy Wallace, WBNS-TV Columbus, “Last Minute Shoppers”
2nd – Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV Dayton, “Memorial Day Cemetery”
3rd – Trey Bach, WBNS-TV Columbus, “Police OVI”
HM – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV Columbus, “I’ll Send My Dog”

48 Hour Feature
1st – Andy Wallace, WBNS-TV Columbus, “Rife’s Market Closes”
2nd – Billy Muhammed, WJW-TV Cleveland, “Soap Box Derby”
3rd – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV Columbus, “Remembering”
HM – Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV Dayton, “Runner’s Inspiration”

Sports Feature
1st – Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV Dayton, “Slope Style”

Personality Profile
1st – Jeff Sheerer, WBNS-TV Columbus, “Smiling With Hope Bakery”
2nd – Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV Dayton, “Esther Price Love Story”
3rd – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV Columbus, “Alexa’s Cards”
HM – Ryan Hitchcock, WBNS-TV Columbus, “Fiddler”

In Depth
1st – Billy Muhammed, WJW-TV Cleveland, “Money Mistakes”
2nd – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV Columbus, “Color Guard”
3rd – Andy Wallace, WBNS-TV Columbus, “Cold Case”
HM – Chris Reece, WJW-TV Cleveland, “Breast Cancer Awareness”

Contest judged at KATU-TV, Portland, OR