KENT, Ohio — Lisa DeJong from The Plain Dealer has been chosen Ohio News Photographer of the Year for 2008 by the Ohio News Photographers Association. Finishing second was Michael E. Keating from the Cincinnati Enquirer and third was Gus Chan from The Plain Dealer.
DeJong also won the James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award for her entry “Survivor’s Journey” which told the story of a rape victim’s journey to find out about the life of her attacker. Diego James Robles from Ohio University won the Student Photographer of the Year award.
Eighty-four visual journalists from across the state submitted 1144 entries in the 58th annual news photography contest judged Friday and Saturday at Kent State University.
Judging the competition were: Smiley Pool from the Dallas Morning News, Matt Detrich from The Indianapolis Star and Jim Brown, executive asociate dean of the IU School of Journalism.
Gary O’Brien, from the Charlotte (NC) Observer, Tim Broekema, Associate Professor Photojournalism/New Media, Western Kentucky University, Rich Beckman, Professor, Visual Journalism, University of Miami School of Communication, Seth Gitner, Multimedia Editor and Chris Zaluski, Multimedia Producer, The Roanoke Times and roanoke.com judged multimedia and online entries remotely.
Neal C. Lauron from The Columbus Dispatch was named Clip Photographer of the Year from points accumulated in the Association’s Monthly Clip Contest. Fred Squillante from The Columbus Dispatch placed second and Marshall Gorby from the Springfield News-Sun won third place.