COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Newspapers in Columbus, Youngstown, Elyria, Newark and Chillicothe were named the best in the state Sunday in the annual Ohio Associated Press Media Editors newspaper competition. General Excellence awards for 2014 went to The Columbus Dispatch, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, The (Newark) Advocate and The Chillicothe Gazette.
Winning Best Photographer Awards were Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette; Jessica Phelps, The (Newark) Advocate; Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram; Craig J. Orosz, The Lima News and Jeremy Wadsworth, The (Toledo) Blade.
Sixty-two daily newspapers submitted 2,395 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories, features, editorials, columns, graphics and photos from 2014.
Entries were judged by editors from The San Diego Union-Tribune, Division V; the Charleston (West Virginia) Daily Mail, Division VI; the San Angelo (Texas) Standard-Times and the Watertown (New York) Daily Times, Division III; the Sentinel (Pennsylvania) and The Janesville (Wisconsin) Gazette, Division II; the Danville (Kentucky) Advocate Messenger and the Daily News (Bowling Green, Kentucky), Division I.
DIVISION I, newspapers with a daily circulation up to 7,999:
General Excellence: 1, Chillicothe Gazette; 2, Port Clinton News-Herald; 3, The Marion Star.
Best Digital Presence: 1, The Marietta Times; 2, Ed Gebert, Van Wert Times-Bulletin; 3, The Ironton Tribune.
Best Full Page Layout: 1, The (Fremont) News-Messenger; 2, Coshocton Tribune; 3, Coshocton Tribune.
Best Photo Essay: 1, Bill Sinden, The Marion Star, “Farewell to a Sheriff”; 2, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Firefighters Fight Extreme Cold to Fight Emmitt House fire”; 3, Elise Manahan, Chillicothe Gazette, “PRCTC Students Endure Mace Spraying”.
Best Sports Photo: 1, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Stretching to Score”; 2, Jay Gehres, The (London) Madison Press, “Rainy Header”; 3, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Lunging Rebound”.
Best Feature Photo: 1, Jessica St. James, The Ironton Tribune, “Vice Principal Moonlights as Death”; 2, James Miller, The Marion Star, “Veterans Raise Old Glory”; 3, Dean Shipley, The (London) Madison Press, “In a Flap Over the Cold”.
Best News Photo: 1, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Historic Emmitt House Destroyed by Fire”; 2, Jessica St. James, The Ironton Tribune, “Mourning Allison”; 3, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Child Dies After Crash on Ohio 28”.
Best Illustration: 1, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “State Looks to Overhaul 911 System”; 2, Erin O’Neill, The Marietta Times, “Anatomy of a Sternwheeler”; 3, Chillicothe Gazette, “New Schools, Fewer Sites”.
Best Informational Graphics: 1, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Korean War Memorial Under Attack on Two Fronts”; 2, Kandi Johnson, The Ironton Tribune, “What’s it Worth? “; 3, Michael Lehmkuhle, Port Clinton News-Herald, “Boating Under the Influence”.
Best Photographer: 1, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette; 2, Elise Manahan, Chillicothe Gazette; 3, Jason Molyet, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum.
Best Graphics Artist: 1, Michael Lehmkuhle, The (Fremont) News-Messenger; 2, Sarah Allen, Hillsboro Times-Gazette; 3, Kandi Johnson, The Ironton Tribune.
DIVISION II, newspapers with a daily circulation of 8,000 to 12,999
General Excellence: 1, The (Newark) Advocate; 2, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune; 3, The Medina Gazette.
Best Digital Presence: 1, Scott Williams and J.D. Pooley, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune; 2, The (Massillon) Independent.
Best Full Page Layout: 1, Scott Kline, The Medina Gazette, “Not Entirely Transparent”; 2, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette; 3, Zanesville Times Recorder.
Best Photo Essay: 1, Jessica Phelps, The (Newark) Advocate, “Just for Today”; 2, Enoch Wu, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune, “Paradise in the Polar Vortex “; 3, Jessica Phelps, The (Newark) Advocate, “A Labor of Love”.
Best Sports Photo: 1, Jessica Phelps, The (Newark) Advocate, “Double Slide”; 2, Michael Lehmkuhle, The (Newark) Advocate, “Making a Splash”; 3, Chris Crook, Zanesville Times Recorder.
Best Feature Photo: 1, Jessica Phelps, The (Newark) Advocate, “Haitian Clinic”; 2, Enoch Wu, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune, “Cinco de Mayo Celebration”; 3, Glenn Dettman, The (Massillon) Independent, “Reduced Training”.
Best News Photo: 1, Enoch Wu, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune, “Pallet Yard Fire”; 2, Reuben Mees, Bellefontaine Examiner, “Beaver Round Up”; 3, Jessica Phelps, The (Newark) Advocate, “Polio Vaccine”.
Best Illustration: 1, Michael Lehmkuhle, The (Newark) Advocate, “Versatile”; 2, Matthew Berry, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, “Warming Cold Cases”; 3, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, “Pickin’ in the Park”.
Best Informational Graphics: 1, Michael Lehmkuhle, The (Newark) Advocate, “Positive
Momentum”; 2, Chris Crook, Zanesville Times Recorder; 3, Greg Kohntopp, The (Massillon) Independent, “Vaccination Chart”.
Best Photographer: 1, Jessica Phelps, The (Newark) Advocate; 2, Enoch Wu, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune; 3, Jess Grimm, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette.
Best Graphics Artist: 1, Michael Lehmkuhle, The (Newark) Advocate; 2, Matthew Berry, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette; 3, Devon Brabenec, Ashland Times-Gazette.
DIVISION III, newspapers with a daily circulation of 13,000 to 24,999
General Excellence: 1, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram; 2, Mansfield News Journal; 2, Sandusky Register; 3, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter.
Best Digital Presence: 1, Mansfield News Journal; 2, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter; 3, Warren Tribune Chronicle.
Best Full Page Layout: 1, Nick Davis, Sandusky Register, “X-Man”; 2, Mark Froelich, The (Defiance) Crescent-News; 3, Jeff Verbus, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter.
Best Photo Essay: 1, Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, “Kyle’s Story”; 2, R. Michael Semple, Warren Tribune Chronicle, “Adoption Day”; 3, Pat Burk, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, “Logan’s Here”.
Best Sports Photo: 1, Jason Molyet, Mansfield News Journal, “State Champions”; 2, Pat Burk, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, “Great Catch”; 3, Angela Wilhelm, Sandusky Register, “Caught”.
Best Feature Photo: 1, Hannah Stevens, The (Defiance) Crescent-News, “Special Visitor”; 2, Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, “Goat Kisses”; 3, Pat Burk, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, “Hello There”.
Best News Photo: 1, Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, “Rescued”; 2, Angela Wilhelm, Sandusky Register, “Engine Dislodged”; 3, Bruce Bishop, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, “Standoff Ended”.
Best Illustration: 1, Bob Kast, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, “Unmarked Graves”; 2, Michael Weiss, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, “Grading Teachers”; 3, Joe Landsberger, Warren Tribune Chronicle, “Hacked”.
Best Informational Graphics: 1, Joe Landsberger, Warren Tribune Chronicle, “Ailing in Ohio”; 2, Joe Landsberger, Warren Tribune Chronicle, “Super Sunday: The Game and Beyond”; 3, Jason Smith, The (Findlay) Courier, “Flood Control Plan”.
Best Photographer: 1, Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram; 2, Bruce Bishop, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram; 3, Luke Wark, Sandusky Register.
Best Graphics Artist: 1, Joe Landsberger, Warren Tribune Chronicle; 2, Bob Kast, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter; 3, Nick Davis, Sandusky Register.
DIVISION IV, newspapers with a daily circulation of 25,000 to 74,999
General Excellence: 1, The (Youngstown) Vindicator; 2, The (Canton) Repository; 3, The Lima News.
Best Digital Presence: 1, The (Youngstown) Vindicator; 2, The Lima News; 3, The (Willoughby) News-Herald.
Best Full Page Layout: 1, B.J. Lisko, The (Canton) Repository, “Shawshank Anniversary”; 2, Robert McFerren, The (Youngstown) Vindicator; 3, Robert McFerren, The (Youngstown) Vindicator.
Best Photo Essay: 1, William Lewis, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Homemade Sausage at Mt. Olivet Church”; 2, Michael Balash, The (Canton) Repository, “Champ”; 3, Robert Yosay, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Ice Fishing”.
Best Sports Photo: 1, David Dermer, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “All Hoosiers”; 2, Richard Parrish, The Lima News, “Extra Point”; 3, Jeff Forman, The (Willoughby) News-Herald, “Stiff Arm”.
Best Feature Photo: 1, Jeff Forman, The (Willoughby) News-Herald, “Skate Park After Dark”; 2, Craig Orosz, The Lima News, “Working on the Railroad”; 3, Duncan Scott, The (Willoughby) News-Herald, “Spouting Off”.
Best News Photo: 1, Robert Yosay, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Body Found on Midland”; 2, Craig Orosz, The Lima News, “Not a Drive-thru”; 3, Craig Orosz, The Lima News, “Grand Lake Toxins”.
Best Illustration: 1, Robert McFerren, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Leno’s Last Stand (up)”; 2, Craig J. Orosz, The Lima News, “Elderly Drivers”; 3, Robert McFerren, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Tressel Crossing the Mahoning”.
Best Informational Graphics: 1, Robert McFerren, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Alleged Enterprise of Oakhill Corruption”; 2, Robert McFerren, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Poland Earthquakes”; 3, Bob Kast, The (Canton) Repository, “Water Usage in Fracking”.
Best Photographer: 1, Craig J. Orosz, The Lima News; 2, Duncan Scott, The (Willoughby) News-Herald; 3, Robert Yosay, The (Youngstown) Vindicator.
Best Graphics Artist: 1, Robert McFerren, The (Youngstown) Vindicator; 2, B.J. Lisko, The (Canton) Repository; 3, Richard Darbey, The (Youngstown) Vindicator.
DIVISION V, Newspapers with a daily circulation of more than 75,000
General Excellence: 1, The Columbus Dispatch; 2, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer; 3, The (Toledo) Blade.
Best Digital Presence: 1, The Columbus Dispatch; 2, The (Toledo) Blade; 3, Dayton Daily News.
Best Full Page Layout: 1, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Home”; 2, Andrea Zagata and Joshua Gunter, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Browns Preview”.
Best Investigative Reporting: 1, Bob Dyer, Akron Beacon Journal, “Falling from Grace”; 2, Randy Ludlow, The Columbus Dispatch, “Shielded from the Public”; 3, Lucas Sullivan, The Columbus Dispatch, “311 Calls Ignored”.
Best Photo Essay: 1, The (Toledo) Blade, “Toxic Algae Causes Crippling Water Crisis “; 2, Ed Suba Jr., Akron Beacon Journal, “Cleveland GG9”; 3, Fred Squillante, The Columbus Dispatch, “Whiffle Ball Tournament”.
Best Sports Photo: 1, Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal, “Victory Celebration “; 2, Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal, “Pounded and Grounded”; 3, Eamon Queeney, The Columbus Dispatch.
Best Feature Photo: 1, Eric Albrecht, The Columbus Dispatch; 2, Lisa DeJong, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “First-day Blues”; 3, Isaac Hale, The (Toledo) Blade, “Handing Out Water”.
Best News Photo: 1, Amy E. Voigt, The (Toledo) Blade, “5-Year-Old Mourned in Toledo”; 2, Gus Chan, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Reprieve”; 3, Lonnie Timmons III, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Killer Sentenced”.
Best Illustration: 1, Tyler Post, The Columbus Dispatch, “Summer Reading: Sunshine & Darkness”; 2, Jeff Basting, The (Toledo) Blade; 3, Charlie Zimkus, The Columbus Dispatch, “Robo-advisers”.
Best Informational Graphics: 1, William Neff and Jim Ewinger, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Say Hello to an Entirely New Goodyear Blimp”; 2, Tom Baker and Aaron Harden, The Columbus Dispatch, “Digging Express Trenches”; 3, Tony Lariccia, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Great Gordon”.
Best Photographer: 1, Jeremy Wadsworth, The (Toledo) Blade; 2, Fred Squillante, The Columbus Dispatch; 3, Andy Morrison, The (Toledo) Blade.
Best Graphics Artist: 1, Andrea Levy, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer; 2, Tyler Post, The Columbus Dispatch; 3, Chris Morris, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.