Vindicator wins big in Ohio AP contest

Vindicator Editor Todd Franko said the newspaper’s staff produced much ‘standout’ work.

STAFF REPORT

COLUMBUS — The Associated Press Society of Ohio honored The Vindicator on Sunday with many awards for the quality of its coverage during 2008.

The Vindicator won five plaques for first place, six plaques for second place, four plaques for third place and four plaques for honorable mention in the annual contest that includes categories in writing, editing, design, photography, graphic illustration and others.

The Vindicator also took second place in the prestigious General Excellence category, which measures the overall quality of the newspaper.

The judges said, “This paper knows how to cover the big story and how to cover the community. Impressive work throughout, from a newsy A-1 through sports, life and business.”

Todd Franko, Vindicator editor, said, “The Vindy staff had a lot of standout efforts last year. That so many were honored is a tribute to the hard work of those staffers and their many colleagues who partner with them. We’re never quite sure what a day’s news events will be. But I’m always sure there will be hard work and commitment from The Vindy staff to be the best we can regardless of the events.”

The awards were presented at a luncheon in Columbus.

Vindicator recipients of first- place awards were Dennis B. Mangan, best editorial writer; William D. Lewis, best photographer; Richard P. Logan and John Cruz, best full-page layout; Page A1 design staff, best Page One layout.

Winning second-place awards went to Denise Dick, best news writer; Joe Scalzo and John Bassetti for “Pavlik-Taylor II,” best sports-event coverage; Robert McFerren for “1958 vs. 2008,” best illustration; David Skolnick for “A Dann Shame,” best breaking news; and Joe Scalzo, best sports feature writer.

Capturing third-place honors were William D. Lewis, best online photojournalist; Don Shilling, best business writer; Robert K. Yosay for “Winners,” best general-news photo; Denise Dick for “Chip Gilea Freed,” best community service;

Earning honorable mentions were Cristina Cala, best headline writer; Bertram de Souza, best columnist; Joe Scalzo, best sports columnist; Ashley Luthern for “It’s Cheap, It’s Local,” best explanatory reporting.

The Cincinnati Enquirer won the First Amendment Award for outstanding accomplishment in pursuing freedom of information with its campaign to show how society could be affected by restricted access to public information.

Sixty-six daily newspapers submitted 2,908 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories, features, editorials, columns, graphics and photos from 2008. The contest was split into four divisions by circulation. The Vindicator competed in Division IV, for newspapers with circulation from 25,000 to 74,999. The division was judged by editors of The Modesto [Calif.] Bee.

The Associated Press is a not-for-profit news cooperative representing 1,500 newspapers and 5,000 broadcast stations in the United States.

Members of AP include 88 daily newspapers in Ohio.