ASSOCIATED PRESS Vindicator staffers win 3 top awards

The newspaper captured 12 awards in all.
COLUMBUS -- The Vindicator received three first-place awards in the Associated Press Society of Ohio's 2003 newspaper competition, one of the top contests for journalists in the state.
Overall, the newspaper received 12 awards.
The Vindicator competed against nine other newspapers in the Division IV category, judged by the editors of the York (Pa.) Daily Record. The category is for newspapers with daily circulation between 25,000 and 74,999.
First-place wins
First-place honors went to:
UJoe Scalzo, best sports writer. About Scalzo, the judges wrote: "Writes with attitude and confidence. All of his stories and columns are a pleasure to read."
Scalzo also finished in third place as best sports columnist with the judges writing: "Funny stuff, self-deprecating at times. Written to be enjoyed. Columns have attitude and personality without being arrogant."
UArtist Ed Yozwick, best informational graphic. Yozwick won for his "A Peak Experience" graphic. The judges wrote: "An infographic that tells a story. Good approach."
Yozwick also finished second in the best illustration category for his "Kids and Restaurants" illustration, and third place in best full-page layout for "Making a mark with Zorro," in which a Z is cut through an article about the Ballet Western Reserve's production of the play.
In the best illustration category, the judges wrote: "This is an artist to watch. Look at the story being told in the faces across the table. A keeper."
In the best full-page layout category, the judges wrote: "The worry here would be that the artistry would interfere with the ability to read the story. But the execution of this creative concept is so good that the story is only enhanced by the visuals. Well done."
UPhoto intern Scott R. Galvin, best sports photo category for his photo "Painful Ending," of two fallen track runners. The photo also was featured in Sports Illustrated. The judges wrote: "By far the strongest category in the contest. First place is an unusual moment at an event not known to be a contact sport. Galvin nailed the shot."
Other awards
The Vindicator did well in the best enterprise reporting category, winning second place, third place and honorable mention.
Staff writer Maraline Kubik won second place for her "Faces of Diversity" articles. "Great idea; does a good job of introducing 'different' people and then taking us right past the stereotypes," the judges wrote. "The first-person conclusion to the series was a fresh, fun way to add a layer to the package."
Winning third place was "Utility late fees pass $10,000 mark," written by David Skolnick, politics writer, and Bob Jackson, courthouse reporter. "These reporters took a tip and ran with it. Wonderful piece of investigative work, classic watchdog role for when government goes wrong. Nice work."
Getting an honorable mention in the category was "Crunching the cash," a collection of three stories analyzing government spending in the Mahoning Valley written by staff writers.
Stephen Siff and Peggy Sinkovich of the newspaper's Warren bureau finished third in the best investigative reporting category for their probe into purchasing in Trumbull County. The pair won first place in the same category last year on the same subject. The judges wrote: "From a tip to a full-blown investigation, these reporters delivered the goods on an outrageous abuse in this country. Nice follow-through from start to finish."
Roger G. Smith, city hall reporter, received an honorable mention in the best community service category for a series of articles about issues surrounding demolition in Youngstown, and for publishing the city's demolition list on the newspaper's Web site.
Artist Aaron Gray received an honorable mention in the best illustration category for his "Pitfalls of Cohabitation" illustration.
The awards were handed out Sunday in Columbus.