COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Newspapers in Columbus, Youngstown, Sandusky, Ashland, Medina and Lancaster were named the best in the state Sunday in the annual Ohio Associated Press Media Editors newspaper competition.
General Excellence awards for 2013 went to The Columbus Dispatch, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, the Sandusky Register, the Ashland Times-Gazette, The Medina Gazette and the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette.
Best Photographer awards went to Chris Russell from The Columbus Dispatch, Jeff Formanfrom The (Willoughby) News-Herald, Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, Kevin Whitlock, The (Massillon) Independent and Brent Lewis, Chillicothe Gazette.
Sixty-four daily newspapers submitted 2,599 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories, features, editorials, columns, graphics and photos from 2013.
Entries were judged by editors from The Detroit News, Division V; The Ann Arbor (Michigan) News, Division VI; the Hopkinsville Kentucky New Era and the Bowling Green (Kentucky) News, Division III; the Cadillac (Michigan) News and The (St. Joseph, Michigan) Herald-Palladium, Division II; The Pueblo (Colorado) Chieftain and The (Grand Junction, Colorado) Daily Sentinel, Division I.
DIVISION V, Newspapers with a daily circulation of more than 75,000
General Excellence: 1st, The Columbus Dispatch; 2nd, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer; 3rd, The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Best Graphics Artist: 1st, Andrea Levy, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer; 2nd, Randy Mazzola, The Cincinnati Enquirer; 3rd, Patrick Kastner, The Columbus Dispatch.
Best Photographer: 1st, Chris Russell, The Columbus Dispatch; 2nd, Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal; 3rd, Jeremy Wadsworth, The (Toledo) Blade.
Best Illustration: 1st, Tom Fisher, The (Toledo) Blade, “Monster Hits”; 2nd, Charlie Zimkus, The Columbus Dispatch, “2013 College Football Preview”; 3rd, Jeff Basting, The (Toledo) Blade, “Portrait of a Pointer.”
Best Breaking News Photo: 1st, Ed Suba Jr., Akron Beacon Journal, “Son Slain”; 2nd, Amy E. Voigt, The (Toledo) Blade, “Student Standoff”; 3rd, Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal, “Flood Rescue.”
Best General News Photo: 1st, Glenn Hartong, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Free to Marry, But Not Here”; 2nd, Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal, “A Crime’s Impact”; 3rd, Eric Albrecht, The Columbus Dispatch, “Duck Rescue.”
Best Feature Photo: 1st, Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal, “Gusting Grandpa”; 2nd, Joshua Gunter, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “A Mother’s Touch”; 3rd, Eric Albrecht, The Columbus Dispatch, “New Splashpad.”
Best Sports Photo: 1st, Jeff Swinger, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Bailey’s No Hitter”; 2nd, Joshua Gunter, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Muddy Dive”; 3rd, Ed Suba Jr., Akron Beacon Journal, “Taking It on the Cheek.”
Best Photo Essay: 1st, Eric Albrecht, The Columbus Dispatch, “Mainstreaming Murphy”; 2nd, Marvin Fong, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Strongsville Teachers’ Strike”; 3rd, Chris Russell, The Columbus Dispatch, “Quad Surprise.”
DIVISION IV, Newspapers with daily circulation of 25,000 to 74,999
General Excellence: 1st, The (Youngstown) Vindicator; 2nd, The (Canton) Repository; 3rd, The Lima News.
Best Graphics Artist: 1st, Ricky Darbey, The (Youngstown) Vindicator; 2nd, Robert McFerren, The (Youngstown) Vindicator; 3rd, Craig J. Orosz, The Lima News.
Best Photographer: 1st, Jeff Forman, The (Willoughby) News-Herald; 2nd, Scott Heckel, The (Canton) Repository; 3rd, William Lewis, The (Youngstown) Vindicator.
Best Illustration: 1st, Michael Weiss, The (Canton) Repository, “Hall of Fame Collage”; 2nd, Michael Weiss, The (Canton) Repository, “Your Brain on Football”; 3rd, Craig J. Orosz, The Lima News, “Bills of Health.”
Best Breaking News Photo: 1st, Madelyn Hastings, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “2 Kids Die in I-76 Accident”; 2nd, Craig Orosz, The Lima News, “It’s a Miracle: They Saved her Life”; 3rd, Craig Orosz, The Lima News, “Picking Up the Pieces.”
Best General News Photo: 1st, John Stoops, The Lima News, “Remembering Tara”; 2nd, Jeff Forman, The (Willoughby) News-Herald, “Immigration Vigil”; 3rd, Duncan Scott, The (Willoughby) News-Herald, “T.J. Lane Killer.”
Best Feature Photo: 1st, Robert Yosay, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “On the Right Trek”; 2nd, Scott Heckel, The (Canton) Repository, “A Dab Will Do Ya”; 3rd, Craig Orosz, The Lima News, “Fall Fun Day.”
Best Sports Photo: 1st, William Lewis, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Varsity Blues”; 2nd, Richard Parrish, The Lima News, “Grabbing Golds”; 3rd, Scott Heckel, The (Canton) Repository, “Rainout.”
Best Photo Essay: 1st, Craig Orosz, The Lima News, “Awesome With or Without His ‘Legs”’; 2nd, William Lewis, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Kaitlin Windt”; 3rd, The Lima News, “Big Ideas on Lima’s Big Day.”
DIVISION III, Newspapers with daily circulation of 13rd, 000 to 24,999
General Excellence: 1st, Sandusky Register; 2nd, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram; 3rd, Mansfield News Journal; 3rd, Warren Tribune Chronicle (tie).
Best Graphics Artist: 1st, Joe Landsberger, Warren Tribune Chronicle; 2nd, Karen Holcomb, Sandusky Register; 3rd, Jason Smith, The (Findlay) Courier.
Best Photographer: 1st, Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram; 2nd, Angela Wilhelm, Sandusky Register; 3rd, Luke Wark, Sandusky Register.
Best Illustration: 1st, Clay Sisk, Mansfield News Journal, “Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide”; 2nd, Kevin Keefe, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, “Hometown Heroes”; 3rd, Joe Landsberger, Warren Tribune Chronicle, “Check-up.”
Best Breaking News Photo: 1st, Luke Wark, Sandusky Register, “A Mighty Wind”; 2nd, Pat Burk, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, “River Rescue”; 3rd, Luke Wark, Sandusky Register, “The Roof is on Fire.”
Best General News Photo: 1st, Steven Manheim, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, “Tears for Mom”; 2nd, Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, “Homecoming Queen”; 3rd, Luke Wark, Sandusky Register, “A Father’s Grief.”
Best Feature Photo: 1st, Warren Dillaway, The (Ashtabula) Star Beacon, “Sled Lights”; 2nd, Pat Burk, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, “100 Days”; 3rd, Warren Dillaway, The (Ashtabula) Star Beacon, “Hawaiian Paradise.”
Best Sports Photo: 1st, Jim Cummings, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, “High Five”; 2nd, Angela Wilhelm, Sandusky Register, “Shot Denied”; 3rd, Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, “Little League.”
Best Photo Essay: 1st, Angela Wilhelm, Sandusky Register, “The Perfect Legacy”; 2nd, Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, “Her Own Two Feet”; 3rd, Luke Wark, Sandusky Register, “Kyra’s Story.”
DIVISION II, Newspapers with daily circulation of 8,000 to 12nd, 999
General Excellence: 1st, Ashland Times-Gazette; 1st, The Medina Gazette (tie); 2nd, Zanesville Times Recorder; 3rd, The Marietta Times.
Best Graphics Artist: 1st, Michael Lehmkuhle, The (Newark) Advocate; 2nd, Chris Weidinger, Ashland Times-Gazette; 3rd, Devon Brabenec, Ashland Times-Gazette.
Best Photographer: 1st, Kevin Whitlock, The (Massillon) Independent; 2nd, Patricia Schaeffer, Lisbon Morning Journal; 3rd, Robb DeCamp, The Marietta Times.
Best Illustration: 1st, David Knox, The Medina Gazette, “Puff Balls”; 2nd, Mark Pummell, The (Celina) Daily Standard, “Golf Cover”; 3rd, Erin O’Neill, The Marietta Times, “Heart Health.”
Best Breaking News Photo: 1st, Michael Lehmkuhle, The (Newark) Advocate, “Mother’s Plea”; 2nd, Patricia Schaeffer, Lisbon Morning Journal, “Saving the Day”; 3rd, Michael Lehmkuhle, The (Newark) Advocate, “Big ‘O’verturned.”
Best General News Photo: 1st, Sarah Gordon, Ashland Times-Gazette, “Spelling Bee Emotions”; 2nd, Chris Crook, Zanesville Times Recorder, “Paige Calendine”; 3rd, Glenn Dettman, The (Massillon) Independent.
Best Feature Photo: 1st, Patricia Schaeffer, Lisbon Morning Journal, “On the Fence”; 2nd, Luke Gronneberg, The Sidney Daily News, “Baby Swing”; 3rd, Kevin Whitlock, The (Massillon) Independent, “Snow Fun.”
Best Sports Photo: 1st, Patricia Schaeffer, Lisbon Morning Journal, “Bronc Flying”; 2nd, Tom E. Puskar, Ashland Times-Gazette, “Where Did He Go?”; 3rd, Ron Schwane, The Medina Gazette, “Header-ache.”
Best Photo Essay: 1st, Jessica Phelps, The (Newark) Advocate, “A World Apart”; 2nd, Sara C. Tobias, The (Newark) Advocate, “It Takes a Village”; 3rd, Enoch Wu, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune, “Last Day at Ridge.”
DIVISION I, Newspapers with daily circulation of up to 7,999
General Excellence: 1st, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette; 2nd, Troy Daily News; 3rd, Chillicothe Gazette; 3rd, The Ironton Tribune (tie).
Best Graphics Artist: 1st, Kandi Thompson, The Ironton Tribune; 2nd, Matthew Berry, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette; 3rd, Jason Smith, The (Fostoria) Review Times.
Best Photographer: 1st, Brent Lewis, Chillicothe Gazette; 2nd, Jessica St. James, The Ironton Tribune; 3rd, James Miller, The Marion Star.
Best Illustration: 1st, Tony Maluso, The (Tiffin) Advertiser-Tribune, “465”; 2nd, Matthew Berry, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, “Pair’s Leadership Shines”; 3rd, Rich Lewis, Chillicothe Gazette, “Keep it Simple.”
Best Breaking News Photo: 1st, Nancy Radcliff, Circleville Herald, “A Mother’s Prayer”; 2nd, Ryan Horns, Marysville Journal-Tribune, “Bad Day”; 3rd, Brent Lewis, Chillicothe Gazette, “Close Call for Family.”
Best General News Photo: 1st, Bill Sinden, The Marion Star, “Marine Surprises Graduate”; 2nd, Jess Grimm, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, “Planning for the Worst”; 3rd, Matthew Berry, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, “Military Mother Surprises Son.”
Best Feature Photo: 1st, Dave Polcyn, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, “A Little to the Left, Please”; 2nd, Pat Gaietto, The (Tiffin) Advertiser-Tribune, “Rodeo”; 3rd, Jessica St. James, The Ironton Tribune, “Not Everyone Loves a Parade.”
Best Sports Photo: 1st, Dave Polcyn, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, “One Win Short”; 2nd, James Miller, The Marion Star, “State Wrestling Championships”; 3rd, J.D. Creer, The Salem News, “Ref Knocked Over.”
Best Photo Essay: 1st, Jess Grimm, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, “Homegrown Life”; 2nd, James Miller, The Marion Star, “Teachers Learn Self Defense”; 3rd, Anthony Weber, Troy Daily News, “Fair-Well.”