Two photographers who are no strangers to having a POY title linked to their name, have once again been recognized as Ohio News Photographers Association Photographers of the Year. Ali Ghanbari and David Bradford, who both work at WJW-TV in Cleveland, won top honors for their work in 2011. Ghanbari won the year-end contest and Bradford the quarterly clip contest title. The two photographers each have won nine POY titles in their careers.
Ghanbari won as he usually does with consistent work placing in every category in the contest and also winning Best of Show for his entry Walking With the Unknown, a news feature about those who stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. Ghanbari won the POY title for his work in 2010 and now has eight year-end POY titles to go with one clip title won in 2000.
There was a tie for second place in the contest between Kris Sproles from WDTN-TV in Dayton and Bradford, each having 27 points, trailing Ghabari’s 45 points. For Bradford it is the third time he has been runner-up in the contest which he has won three times.
A complete winners list can be found on the ONPA website under the Television Contest Archive tab
The quarterly clip contest was a very competitive battle all year with Bradford, Jeff Ritter, from WBNS-TV in Columbus and Ghanbari all challenging for the top spot. In the end it was Bradford winning his sixth quarterly clip contest title.
Quarterly 2011 standings
1st – David Bradford, WJW-TV, Cleveland – 72
2nd – Jeff Ritter, WBNS-TV, Columbus – 60
3rd – Ali Ghanbari, WJW-TV, Cleveland – 58
4th – Scott Doelling, WBNS Columbus – 36
4th – Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV, Dayton – 36
6th – Stephen Maguire, WBNS-TV, Columbus – 35
6th – Eric Rerucha, WTOL-TV, Toledo – 35
There was a significant rise in participation this year in the quarterly contest, thanks in large part to Bradford’s efforts in taking on the duties as contest chairman. The plug was about to be pulled on the contest for lack of participation when Bradford stepped in. The participation carried over to the year-end contest as well, which Bradford also oversees.
After six years though Bradford is stepping down and ONPA is in need of a volunteer to step forward to oversee one or both contests. You can contact David Bradford to see exactly what the duties entail and if you are interested contact ONPA television vice-president Chris Reece or chairman of the board Karl Kuntz. Time is of the essence as the first quarterly deadline in April 15th.