Vindy collects 31 nominations for Ohio APME contest

Staff report

COLUMBUS

The Vindicator collected 31 nominations as the finalists were announced in the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors’ 2013 newspaper contest for newspapers with circulation from 25,000 to 74,999.

The awards will be presented at the Ohio APME annual awards banquet May 18 in Columbus. The General Excellence and First Amendment winners also will be announced at the meeting.

Sixty-four daily newspapers submitted 2,599 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories, features, editorials, columns, graphics and photos from 2013.

“It’s a privilege that every day, thousands of [Mahoning] Valley residents invite us into their lives,” said Editor Todd Franko, who is a finalist. “It’s nice to get recognized by our peers for the work that is part of this daily privilege. There are many dedicated people who make The Vindicator happen every day, and I’m glad for them.”

The Vindicator nominees are:

Best Headline Writer: Richard Logan and Matt Arnold.

Best Business Writer: Jamison Cocklin.

Best Editorial Writer: Richard Logan.

Best News Writer: Joe Gorman.

Best Feature Writer: Ashley Luthern and Editor Todd Franko.

Best Graphics Artist: Ricky Darbey and Robert McFerren.

Best Sports Columnist: Ed Puskas and Joe Scalzo.

Best Sports Feature Writer: Scalzo.

Best Sports Writer: Scalzo.

Best Photographer: William D. Lewis,.

Best Sports Event Coverage: Kevin Connelly and Peter Milliken, “Death of Sharon High School Football Players.”

Best Daily Sports Section: The Vindicator.

Best Informational Graphics: Robert McFerren, “Mill Creek Makeover” and “The Great Flood of 1913.

Best Breaking News Photo: Madelyn Hastings, “2 Kids Die in I-76 Accident.”

Best Feature Photo: Robert Yosay, “On the Right Trek.”

Best Sports Photo: Lewis.

Best Photo Essay: Lewis.

Best Community Service: The Vindicator, “Drugs in the Mahoning Valley.”

Best Special Section: McFerren, “The Great Flood of 1913.”

Best Breaking News Coverage: The Vindicator, “Car Crash Kills 3.”

Best Explanatory Reporting: The Vindicator, “Murder of Teddy Foltz.”

Best Enterprise Reporting: David Skolnick, “$1,117,000 Spent on City Studies.”

Best Investigative Reporting: Cocklin, “What is Going On at 2761 Salt Springs Road?”

Best Full Page Layout: McFerren.

Best Page One Layout: McFerren.

Best Use of Multimedia: The Vindicator, “Vindy Talk Radio.”