Columbus Dispatch journalists earn 20 Ohio SPJ awards

Columbus Dispatch journalists earned 20 awards in the annual Ohio Society of Professional Journalists competition .

The newspaper’s “ Preying on Patients ” series again won first place for investigative reporting, the sixth time it has placed in state and national contests. The investigation into the State Medical Board of Ohio was reported by Max Filby , Mike Wagner and Jennifer Smola Shaffer and led by Managing Editor Encarnacion Pyle.

“This is an incredibly powerful series that never fails to highlight how negligent systems allow powerful people to cause harm,” judges said. “It's also drawn a response that will hopefully result in lasting positive change.”

Filby also was named best reporter in Ohio for “solid reporting with an eye toward accountability.”

Opinion & Engagement Editor Amelia Robinson won first place for best columnist and best editorial writing for what judges called “really deep and powerful pieces.”

The remaining staff awards included:

• Best explanatory journalism: Mark Ferenchik, Jim Weiker and Nathaniel Shuda, “As Columbus booms, its suburbs limit affordable housing options,” first place.
• Best feature reporting: " Jack Hanna’s long goodbye ," Wagner, first place.
• Best government/political reporting: “Explaining State Issue 1,” Haley BeMiller, first place.
• Best minority issues reporting: Danae King, first place
• Best public service/social issues reporting: “Over 850 Haitian scam victims struggle in cold, unsafe Columbus apartments,” Peter Gill, first place.
• Best special section: “ Chaos in Ohio's Youth Lockups ,” The Columbus Dispatch and USA TODAY Network, first place.
• Best podcast: “ Ohio Politics Explained ,” Haley BeMiller and Anna Staver, first place.
• Best sports reporting: Joey Kaufman, first place.
• Best photographer in Ohio: Adam Cairns, second place.
• Best business/consumer reporting: Jim Weiker, second place
• Best children’s/education issues reporting: Sheridan Hendrix, second place
• Best criminal justice reporting: “Trial of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges,” Jessie Balmert and Laura Bischoff, second place
• Best deadline reporting: Staff from Columbus Dispatch and other USA TODAY Network Ohio sites for “Fiery fatal 1-70 bus crash,” second place.
• Best investigative reporting: “Chaos in Ohio's Youth Lockups,” The Columbus Dispatch and USA TODAY Network, second place
• Best website: Dispatch.com, second place.

The awards covering 2023 were presented Saturday in Cleveland.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Dispatch journalists earn 20 Ohio SPJ awards