Albert Cesare from The Cincinnati Enquirer, Scott Heckel of The Canton Repository, Nick Graham from the Journal-News, Noelle Bye from the Ashland Times-Gazette and Mike Ullery from Miami Valley Today were named Best Photographers in their respective divisions of the Ohio Associated Press annual contest.
Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV, Columbus and Eric Rerucha, WTOL-TV, Toledo were named Best Photographers in the AP broadcast competition.
Newspapers in Columbus, Canton, Sandusky, Cleveland and Massillon were named the best in the state in the annual Ohio Associated Press Media Editors newspaper competition. General Excellence awards for 2019 went to The Columbus Dispatch, The Canton Repository, Sandusky Register, Cleveland Jewish News and The (Massillon) Independent.
Fifty-six daily newspapers submitted 1,630 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories, features, editorials, columns, graphics and photos from 2019.
Entries were judged by editors from Michigan newspapers: The Detroit News, Division V; The Grand Haven Tribune, Division IV; The McComb Daily, Division III; Mount Pleasant Morning Sun and the Cadillac News, Division II; the Petoskey News-Review and the Alpena News, Division I.
Division V, Newspapers with a daily circulation of more than 60,000
General Excellence
1st – The Columbus Dispatch
2nd – The (Toledo) Blade
3rd – The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Best Graphics Artist
1st – Andrea Levy, The Plain Dealer
2nd – Jeff Basting, The Blade;
3rd – Tom Fisher, The Blade.
Best Photographer
1st – Albert Cesare, The Cincinnati Enquirer
2nd – Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer
3rd – Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch.
Best Illustration or Informational Graphic
1st – Dayton Daily News, “Path of the Shooter”
2nd – Julie Fulton, The Columbus Dispatch, “Easton Timeline”
3rd – Joe Landsberger and Jeff Basting, The Blade, “Walleye Quiz”
Best News Photo
1st – Doral Chenoweth III, The Columbus Dispatch, “Suffering on Sullivant”
2nd – Ty Greenlees, Dayton Daily News, “Tornado Devastation”
3rd – Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal, “Call to Duty.”
Best Feature Photo
1st – Fred Squillante, The Columbus Dispatch, “Girl in Mirror”
2nd – Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer, “Through the Mesh Fence”
3rd – Jeremy Wadsworth, The Blade, “Racing Past St. George.”
Best Sports Photo
1st – Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch, “Head in the Game”
2nd – Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal, “Game Winner”
3rd – Jeremy Wadsworth, The (Toledo) Blade, “Touchdown Dive”
Best Photo Story
1st – Kurt Steiss, The Blade
2nd – Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer, “Desperation Knows No Boundary”
3rd – Joshua Bickel, The Columbus Dispatch, “Garrett Ford Prepares for Special Olympics World Games”
Best Video
1st – Meg Vogel, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “10 Years After Fort Hood”
2nd – Doral Chenoweth, The Columbus Dispatch, “Suffering on Sullivant”
3rd – Andy Morrison, The Blade, “As the Season Winds Down, Toledo Christian Reviews 1 Season of 8-Man Football”
Division IV, Newspapers with a daily circulation of 19,000 to 59,999
General Excellence
1st – The Canton Repository
2nd – The Chronicle-Telegram
3rd – The Lima News.
Best Graphics Artist
1st – Craig J. Orosz, The Lima News
2nd – B.J. Lisko, The Canton Repository
3rd – Jason Smith, The (Findlay) Courier
Best Photographer
1st – Scott Heckel, The Canton Repository
2nd – Randy Roberts, The (Findlay) Courier
3rd – Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram
Best Illustration or Informational Graphic
1st – Jason Smith, The (Findlay) Courier, “Hoops 2019 Cover”
2nd – Gary Presley and Jim Krumel, The Lima News, “Lima’s Tank Plant”
3rd – Jason Smith, The (Findlay) Courier, “Findlay by the Numbers”
Best News Photo
1st – Amanda Wilson, The Lima News, “After the storm”
2nd – Kristin Bauer, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, “Lorain House Fire”
3rd – Scott Heckel, The Canton Repository, “Heavy Metal Mess.”
Best Feature Photo
1st – R. Michael Semple, Warren Tribune Chronicle, “Reflection on Life”
2nd – Kristin Bauer, The Chronicle-Telegram, “Skies Over Cleveland Turn Golden”
3rd – Bruce Bishop, The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram, “Socks and Friends.”
Best Sports Photo
1st – Scott Heckel, The Canton Repository, “Victors”
2nd – Thomas Fetcenko, The Chronicle-Telegram, “No Quit in Sailors”
3rd – Thomas Fetcenko, The Chronicle-Telegram, “Kyle Wurtzels’ Engine Explosion”
Best Photo Story
1st – Ray Stewart, The Canton Repository, “Burying Dad”
2nd – Ray Stewart, The Canton Repository, “Wheelchair Basketball”
3rd – Kristin Bauer, The Chronicle-Telegram, “All Star Weekend in CLE”
Best Video
1st – The Canton Repository, “The Madam Must Die”
2nd – Bruce Bishop, The Chronicle-Telegram, “Amherst Active Shooter Training”
3rd – Adrienne McGee Sterrett and David Trinko, The Lima News, “Crafton Beck Reflects on Time with Lima Symphony Orchestra”
Division III, Newspapers with a daily circulation of 12,000 to 18,999
General Excellence
1st – Sandusky Register
2nd – The (Wooster) Daily Record
3rd – Mansfield News Journal.
Best Graphics Artist
1st – Jen Kundrach, The (Wooster) Daily Record
2nd – Karen Gidcumb, Sandusky Register
3rd – Emily Carey, The (Wooster) Daily Record.
Best Photographer
1st – Nick Graham, Journal-News
2nd – Erin Caldwell, Sandusky Register
3rd – Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal
Best Illustration or Informational Graphic
1st – Jennifer Kundrach, The (Wooster) Daily Record, “Rover: Pipeline or Pipe Dream”
2nd – Karen Gidcumb, Sandusky Register, “Recovery House Rejected”
3rd – Karen Gidcumb, Sandusky Register, “Cedar Fair Stock Prices”
Best News Photo
1st – Bill Lackey, Springfield News-Sun, “Fudge Funeral”
2nd – Erin Caldwell, Sandusky Register, “Another Drowning”
3rd – Jason Molyet, Mansfield News Journal, “Homecoming”
Best Feature Photo
1st – Jason Molyet, Mansfield News Journal, “Overcome”
2nd – Bill Lackey, Springfield News-Sun, “Fair Frustration”
3rd – Erin Caldwell, Sandusky Register, “Water Flip”
Best Sports Photo
1st – Lisa Scalfaro, Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier, “Helmet Tackle”
2nd – Lisa Scalfaro, Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier, “Pinned”
3rd – Kevin Graff, Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier, “Tagout”
Best Photo Story
1st – Erin Caldwell, Sandusky Register, “Beating the Odds”
2nd – Bill Lackey, Springfield News-Sun, “Robot Helps Boy Attend School”
3rd – Lisa Scalfaro, Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier, “England Sisters”
Best Video
1st – Matt Westerhold and Patrick Pfanner, Sandusky Register, “Best Small Town”
2nd – Lisa Scalfaro and Jonah Rosenblum, Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier, “1-time Champs”; 3rd – Lisa Scalfaro and Krista Kano, Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier, “Real Talk.”
Division II, Newspapers with a daily circulation of 8,000 to 11st -999
General Excellence
1st – Cleveland Jewish News
2nd – The (Celina) Daily Standard
3rd – The Medina Gazette.
Best Graphics Artist
1st – Paula Walton, Mount Vernon News
2nd – Bill Thornbro, The (Celina) Daily Standard
3rd – Jessica Simon, Cleveland Jewish News
Best Photographer
1st – Noelle Bye, Ashland Times-Gazette
2nd – Joshua Morrison, Mount Vernon News
3rd – Dan Melograna, The (Celina) Daily Standard
Best Illustration or Informational Graphic
1st – Joshua Worster, Mount Vernon News, “History of Allegations”
2nd – Stephen Valentine, Cleveland Jewish News, “Richest Jews”
3rd – Stephen Valentine, Cleveland Jewish News, “New Eruv Map”
Best News Photo
1st – Chris Crook, Zanesville Times Recorder, “Reaching Out to Man on Bridge”
2nd – Dan Melograna, The (Celina) Daily Standard, “Barn Fire”
3rd – Noelle Bye, Ashland Times-Gazette, “Structure Fire”
Best Feature Photo
1st – Tom E. Puskar, Ashland Times-Gazette, “Rocket Launch Reaction”
2nd – McKenna Corson, Cleveland Jewish News, “Dream Come True for Mayor of Menorah Park”
3rd – Dan Melograna, The (Celina) Daily Standard.
Best Sports Photo
1st – Dan Melograna, The (Celina) Daily Standard
2nd – Bryant Billing, The Sidney Daily News, “Sidney Among MVL’s best”
3rd – Joe Catullo, Steubenville Herald-Star, “Celebratory Moment”
Best Photo Story
1st – Jessica Phelps, The (Newark) Advocate, “Growing up on a Farm”
2nd – Jessica Phelps, The (Newark) Advocate, “Newark Grad Finds Strength in Art After Loss of Parents”
3rd – Warren Dillaway, The (Ashtabula) Star Beacon, “Soldier Procession and Funeral”
Best Video
1st – Joshua Morrison, Mount Vernon News, “Help from My Friends”
2nd – Bruce Bishop, The Medina Gazette, “A Lonely Funeral Becomes Something Special”
3rd – Alyssa Schmitt, Cleveland Jewish News, “Milton and Tamar Maltz – Lifetime Achievement Award”
Division I, Newspapers with a daily circulation up to 7,999
General Excellence
1st – The (Massillon) Independent
2nd – The (Fremont) News-Messenger
3rd – Chillicothe Gazette
Best Graphics Artist
1st – John Lindgren, The (Massillon) Independent
2nd – Kandi Thompson, The Ironton Tribune
Best Photographer
1st – Mike Ullery, Miami Valley Today
2nd – J.D. Pooley, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune
3rd – Robert McGraw, Chillicothe Gazette
Best Illustration or Informational Graphic
1st – Matthew Berry, Chillicothe Gazette, “The Last Hours of Cheryl Hughes Life”
2nd – Matthew Berry, Chillicothe Gazette, “Seven Women, Five Dead, Two Missing, Many Questions”
3rd – Matthew Berry, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, “Traffic Changes Coming to West Side Ahead of Junior High Construction”
Best News Photo
1st – Robert McGraw, Chillicothe Gazette, “Cleaning up Memories”
2nd – Sam Blackburn, Coshocton Tribune, “Ansell Edmont Fire”
3rd – J.D. Pooley, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune, “Prison Time”
Best Feature Photo
1st – Mike Ullery, Miami Valley Today, “Skydancers”
2nd – The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune, “Rodeo”
3rd – Kevin Whitlock, The (Massillon) Independent, “Summer Spin.”
Best Sports Photo
1st – Doug Hise, The (Fremont) News-Messenger, “Woodmore Season Ends”
2nd – Robert McGraw, Chillicothe Gazette, “From Braces to Cleats, No Stopping Me!”
3rd – Robert McGraw, Chillicothe Gazette, “For the Love of the Seeds”
Best Photo Story
1st – Robert McGraw, Chillicothe Gazette, “Lessons in Strength: Canaan Knoles Refuses to Let Burn Injury Define Future”
2nd – Chris Crook, Coshocton Tribune, “Last Day at Union School”
3rd – J.D. Pooley, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune, “Wood County Fair”
Best Video
1st – The (Massillon) Independent, “Storm Drain Rescue”
2nd – J.D. Pooley, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune, “BGSU Football Kicks off “Give Back Fridays”
3rd – Barrett Lawlis and Matthew Berry, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, “Get Lost at the Sharp Farms Corn Maze with Reporter Barrett Lawlis”
Ohio Associated Press Media Editors broadcast competition
Twenty-four broadcasters submitted 299 entries in the contest, which featured news, sports and weather reporting as well as features, documentaries and photography from 2019.
Entries were judged by broadcasters from Michigan Radio, Ann Arbor, Michigan and WGSW, Saginaw, Michigan, Radio; WJMN-TV, Marquette, Michigan, WLNS-TV, Lansing, Michigan, and KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, Television I and Television II.
Television I
General Excellence
1st – WBNS-TV, Columbus
2nd – WSYX/WTTE-TV, Columbus
Best Photographer
1st – Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV, Columbus
2nd – Dennis Spronck, WSYX/WTTE-TV, Columbus
Best Use of Photography
1st – Marcus Nichols, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Ariel-Foundation Park”
2nd – Jeff Haynes, WVIZ-TV, Cleveland.
Television II
General Excellence
1st – WHIO-TV, Dayton
2nd – WTOL-TV, Toledo
Best Photographer
1st – Eric Rerucha, WTOL-TV, Toledo
2nd – Todd Gaertner, WTVG, Toledo
Best Use of Photography
1st – Michael Burianek, WHIO-TV, Dayton
2nd – Derek Steyer, WFMJ-TV, Youngstown