Joshua Bickel from The Columbus Dispatch and Bill Lackey from the Springfield News-Sun were chosen Ohio News Photographers of the Year for 2021 in the organization’s 71st annual contest. This is the third POY title for Bickel who won the large market division in 2017 and the small market division in 2013 while working at ThisWeek Community News. The POY category was split into small and large market divisions in 2010. This is Lackey’s fourth title in the small market division.
Erin Burk from Ohio University was named the Chuck Scott Student Photographer of the Year with Chris Day from Ohio University placing second. Best of Show went to freelance photographer Erik Schelkun for his first place winning feature Cicada.
Tessa Schelkun, 7 of Liberty Township inspects a Brood X Cicada. This summer much of the Cincinnati area was swarmed with the generational insects that only emerge every 17 years.
39 visual journalists from across the state submitted over 524 entries in the 71st annual news photography contest. Judging the still image competition were: Kathy Kieliszewski, the senior news director for visuals at the Detroit Free Press; Tim Nwachukwu, a staff sports photographer for Getty Images based in Philadelphia; and Angela Wilhelm, a staff photojournalist at the Asheville Citizen Times in North Carolina. Matt Mills McKnight, a Seattle-based video producer for Reuters and Jovelle Tomayo, an independent visual journalist also in Seattle judged the Multimedia entries.
2021 ONPA Annual Contest Winners
George A. Smallsreed, Jr. Photographer of the Year (Small Market)
1st – Bill Lackey, Springfield News-Sun
George A. Smallsreed, Jr. Photographer of the Year (Large Market)
1st – Joshua A. Bickel, The Columbus Dispatch
2nd – Meg Vogel, The Cincinnati Enquirer
3rd – Adam Cairns, The Columbus Dispatch
Chuck Scott Student Photographer of the Year Award
1st – Erin Burk, Ohio University
2nd – Chris Day, Ohio University
Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship
1st –
2nd –
Best of Show
Erik Schelkun, Freelance, “Cicada”
Monthly Clip Contest Photographer of the Year
1st – Kyle Robertson, Columbus Dispatch
2nd – Jeremy Wadsworth, The Blade
3rd – Rebecca Benson, The Bade
Staff of the Year
1st – The Cincinnati Enquirer
2nd – The Columbus Dispatch
3rd – The Blade
1st – Erik Schelkun, Freelance, “Cicada”
2nd – Rebecca Benson, The Blade, “Birthday Fishing”
3rd – Fred Squillante, The Columbus Dispatch, “Windy Day”
Award of Excellence – Chris Day, Ohio University, “Fashion Show”
Feature Picture Story
1st – Erin Burk, Ohio University, “Medicare”
2nd – Joshua A. Bickel, The Columbus Dispatch, “Our Rivers’ Keepers”
3rd – Meg Vogel, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Vaccine Hesitancy”
Award of Excellence – Alie Skowronski, Ohio University, “New Normal”
1st – Chris Day, Ohio University, “Miami Protest”
2nd – Bill Lackey, Springfield News-Sun, “Kiss”
3rd – Albert Cesare, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Police Abuse”
Award of Excellence – Joshual A. Bickel, The Columbus Dispatch, “CRT Protests”
Award of Excellence – Alie Skowronski, Freelance, “Go Beyond”
News Picture Story
1st – Gaelen Morse, Freelance, “Ma’Khia Bryant”
2nd – Chris Day, Ohio University, “New Marshfield, Ohio” A
ward of Excellence – Tanner Pearson, Ohio University, “Tornado”
Award of Excellence – Doral Chenoweth, The Columbus Dispatch, “Kaylie Harris”
1st – Alie Skowronski, Freelance, “ActionQuest”
2nd – Bill Lackey, Springfield News-Sun, Balloons”
3rd – Fred Squillante, The Columbus Dispatch, “Hanging Shoes”
Award of Excellence – Rebecca Benson, The Blade,”Snake”
1st – Joseph Scheller, Ohio University, “Sarah Strouds”
2nd – Alie Skowronski, The Columbus Dispatch, “Phoebe Congleton”
3rd – Joseph Scheller, Ohio University, “Zion Baptist”
Award of Excellence – Meg Vogel, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “MJ”
Award of Excellence – Jeff Lange, Akron Beacon Journal, “Brown Boy Joy”
Award of Excellence – Kareem Elgazzar, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Alex Spencer”
1st – Jeremy Wadsworth, The Blade, “Ice Cream Sandwiches”
2nd – Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch, “The Hopper”
3rd – Jeremy Wadsworth, The Blade, “Kengo”
Award of Excellence – Barbara Perenic, The Columbus Dispatch, “Beef Tartare”
Award of Excellence – Jeremy Wadsworth, The Blade, “Doughnuts”
Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year
1st – Rebecca Benson, The Blade
2nd – Adam Cairns, The Columbus Dispatch
3rd – Kareem Elgazzar, The Cincinnati Enquirer
1st – David Richard, Freelance, “Safe at Home”
2nd – Shane Flanigan, ThisWeek Community News, “Out at Second”
3rd – Sam Greene, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Backhand”
Award of Excellence – Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch, “Save”
Award of Excellence – Shane Flanigan, ThisWeek Community News, “Blind Side”
1st – Rebecca Benson, The Blade, “Mocking”
2nd – Erik Schelkun, Freelance, “Head Pat”
3rd – Jeff Lange, Akron Beacon Journal, “State Champs”
Award of Excellence – Meg Vogel, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Farmer Break”
Sports Picture Story
1st – Joshua A. Bickel, The Columbus Dispatch, “Austin Bowman Leads the Way”
2nd – Kareem Elgazzar, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Olympic Softball”
3rd – Adam Cairns, The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”
Award of Excellence – Jeremy Wadsworth, The Blade, “Solheim Cup”
1st – Marshall Gorby, Dayton Daily News, “Fatal Gun Run”
2nd – Gaelen Morse, Freelance, “Ma’Khia Bryant”
3rd – Marshall Gorby, Dayton Daily News, “Crazy Man”
Award of Excellence – Rebecca Benson, The Blade, “Apartment Fire”
Award of Excellence – Dave Zapotosky, The Blade, “Homicide Reaction”
Award of Excellence – Kurt Steiss, The Blade, Regina Manor Fire”
Multimedia Photographer of the Year
1st – Meg Vogel, The Cincinnati Enquirer
2nd – Courtney Hergesheimer, The Columbus Dispatch
3rd – Liz Dufour, The Cincinnati Enquirer
Award of Excellence, Amanda Rossman, The Cincinnati Enquirer
Award of Excellence, Phillip Kaplan, The Blade
Audio Slideshow No entries
News Video
1st – Courtney Hergesheimer, The Columbus Dispatch, “La Poblanita”
2nd – Meg Vogel, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Mother of 8-Year-Old Gunshot Victim”
Feature Video
1st – Meg Vogel, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Pen Pals”
2nd – Meg Vogel, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Saving the Mill Creek”
3rd – Courtney Hergesheimer, The Columbus Dispatch, “Afghan Couple Escapes”
Award of Excellence – Amanda Rossman, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Foraging Healthy Foods and Friendship”
Sports Video
1st – Amanda Rossman, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Harrison Wrestler Rise Too the Top”
2nd – Amanda Rossman, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Volleyball Fans”
3rd – Phillip Kalan, The Blade, ”Wukie Qualifies For Tokyo Olympics”
Documentary Video
1st – Meg Vogel, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Devils In That Water”
Team Video
1st – Meg Vogel & Amanda Rossman, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “What Is Motherhood?”