Enquirer staff honored in recent Ohio journalism contests

The Enquirer was recently named best newspaper in Ohio in the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists' Ohio's Best Journalism Contest.

The Enquirer's entry "epitomizes what it means to offer a news package," judges said. "Offering a little something for everyone takes a lot of work and care, and it shows with this edition.”

The Enquirer placed second for best newspaper in the Press Club of Cleveland's All Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards and second in the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors contest, behind sister papers the Akron Beacon Journal and Columbus Dispatch, respectively.

Education reporter Madeline Mitchell won APME's Rising Star Award, which recognizes achievement and ability by an individual with five years or less experience in journalism. The Enquirer's series of stories examining the future of Downtown won best digital project and The Enquirer sports section took first in its category. City hall reporter Sharon Coolidge won best news writer and investigative reporter Dan Horn won best features writer in the largest print division for the contest.

Coverage of the father who shot and killed his boys in Clermont County by Quinlan Bentley and Cameron Knight won the spot news category. Bengals reporter Kelsey Conway's feature about D.J. Reader won best sports enterprise. Graphics journalist Michael Nyerges won best infographic for his video examining lifespans in the city .

Other staffers honored in APME:

• Second place : full page design; best investigative reporting: The Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch, Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository, Chaos In Ohio’s Youth Lockups; sports writer, Scott Springer; business writer, Alexander Coolidge; public service, Madeline Mitchell and Terry DeMio.
• Third place : digital presence; sports photo, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Introduction; columnist, Kevin Aldridge; photo story, staff; photographer, Cara Owsley; sports feature writer, Charlie Goldsmith.

In the Ohio SPJ contest, former photographer Kareem Elgazzar was named best photographer in Ohio. Madeline Mitchell and Terry DeMio's stories about teen girls' mental health won best children's/education issues reporting. Real estate reporter Randy Tucker won best business/consumer reporting for a story about Greyhound's move to the city's suburbs . A collection of stories from Horn won best religion reporting.

Haley BeMiller in the USA TODAY Network Ohio bureau won best government/political reporting for her work explaining state Issue 1, and the bureau's Ohio Politics Explained podcast was named top podcast. The joint project with the Columbus Dispatch, Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository investigating Ohio's youth lockups was recognized as best special section.

Several staffers took second place:

• Laura A. Bischoff and Jessie Balmert, criminal justice reporting.
• Keith Pandolfi, feature reporting.
• Scott Wartman, government/political reporting.
• Youth lockup project, investigative reporting.
• Jolene Almendarez, minority issues reporting.
• Terry DeMio, science/medical/health care reporting.
• Charlie Goldsmith, sports reporting.
• Michael Nyerges, graphic designer.

Four Enquirer staffers and a team of reporters won first place awards in June's All Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards:

• Cameron Knight, crime & justice story, “How 1 gun led police to those responsible for at least 5 homicides and dozens of shootings”
• Kelsey Conway, sports feature, “How Bengals star DJ Reader lost his dad but found himself”
• Gordon Wittenmyer, sports news, “How Cincinnati Red Elly De La Cruz pulled off another impossible feat”
• Enquirer staff, breaking news, “Damar Hamlin's collapse at Paycor Stadium”

Others recognized:

• Second place: Keith Pandolfi, food/restaurant; Jolene Almendarez, lifestyle feature; Kevin Aldridge, column or blog.
• Third place: Madeline Mitchell, education; Kareem Elgazzar, portrait/personality photograph; Dan Horn and Terry DeMio, data journalism; "Chaos in Ohio's Youth Lockups”; Haley BeMiller, best news reporter; Anna Staver, profile.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Enquirer staff honored in recent Ohio journalism contests