First Place, General News - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus Dispatch, “Pandemic Revolt”Protesters chant "Open Ohio Now!" in defiance of social distancing guidelines outside the doors to the Statehouse Atrium as news reporters listen during the State of Ohio's Coronavirus response update on April 13, 2020 at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. About 100 protesters assembled outside the building during Gov. Mike DeWine's daily update on the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic to rally against his administration's stay-at-home order and closure of non-essential businesses and schools.
Second Place, General News - Jessica Phelps / Jessica Phelps, “A Mother's Embrace”Dr. Janae Davis embraces her daughter, Mara Royster after she spoke at a forum her older sister, Jadyn Paige, organized. Royster spoke about how her mom helped her to love herself. The Students Against Racism Forum was held at Geller Park in Heath June 24, 2020. The event has been one of many peaceful events in Licking County. The goal of the forum was to create an open dialog about race and a safe space for students to share their experiences.
Third Place, General News - Rebecca Benson / The Blade, “Road Rage”A protester jumps onto a mans car after almost hitting him with his car on South Reynolds Road in Toledo on June 1, 2020. The driver accelerated his car into the protester as he was trying to take a photo of his license plate after almost hitting other protesters in the road.
Award of Excellence, General News - Rebecca Benson / The Blade, “Dia Funeral”A Toledo Police Officer cries as officers carry slain Toledo Police Officer Anthony Dia into Savage Arena at the University of Toledo on July 7, 2020. Toledo Police Officer Dia was killed in the line of duty in the early morning of July 4th.
Award of Excellence, General News - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Day of Distance Learning”Tene Ba, 13, a seventh-grade student at Winton Woods Middle School, reviews his English lessons, April 2, 2020, in Forest Park, Ohio. Tene was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but spent five years in Mauritania where he learned French as his first language. An English Language Learner, Ba faces barriers trying to keep up with daily assignments.
Award of Excellence, General News - Jeremy Wadsworth / The Blade, “Todd’s Guns”Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies separate Black Lives Matter protesters (right) from counter protesters during a protest calling for the removal of Bedford Schools Board member Todd Bruning, who has been criticized for social media posts that have been described to be anti-Muslim, anti-LGBTQ, misogynistic, and racist June 12, 2020, at Mr. Bruning’s business, Todd’s Guns, in Lambertville, Michigan.
