Newark Advocate reporters win top prizes from Associated Press Media Editors

Newark Advocate journalists won 12 awards Sunday from Ohio's top journalism contest, including top prizes for three reporters.

The Advocate earned third place for general excellence in Division II of the 2023 Ohio Associated Press Media Editors contest announced at Villa Milano in Columbus.

Individual reporters earned top honors in three categories. Kent Mallett won first place for best business writer — his fifth time taking home in honor in nine years — for coverage of Licking County's development boom, including Intel.

Kurt Snyder was named the best sports writer for his dedicated coverage of high school sports . Dave Weidig won first place in best feature writing for multiple stories, including one about a Heath teacher equipping students for the future. Maria DeVito took home second in the same category for stories about a Jersey Township couple's life being disrupted by Intel and the woman behind a gluten-free, vegan Granville bakery .

"These awards are a testament to all the hard work The Advocate's journalists do each and every day, covering the issues that are important to our community," said Advocate editor Nathaniel Shuda, who assumed the role in 2023.

Here's The Advocate's full list of Ohio APME Newspaper Contest winners:

• General Excellence, third place
• Best Business Writer: Kent Mallet, first place
• Best Sports Writer: Kurt Snyder, first place
• Best Sports Feature Writer: Kurt Snyder, second place
• Best Feature Writer: Dave Weidig, first place; and Maria DeVito, second place
• Best Sports Photo: Kurt Snyder, second and third place
• Best Sports Enterprise: " Growth pushes Johnstown, Northridge youth sports programs to crossroads as Intel looms ," Kurt Snyder, second place
• Best Special Sports Section: "Football Weekly, "Kurt Snyder and Dave Weidig, third place
• Best Daily Sports Section: Kurt Snyder and Dave Weidig, second place
• Best Enterprise Reporting: " 'You really can't stand in the way of it.' Family parting with farm for Intel factories ," Maria DeVito, third place

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Newark Advocate reporters win top prizes from Associated Press Media Editors