Two ACM Ohio newspapers took home honors from the Ohio Newspaper Association’s Hooper Awards competition on Feb. 9.
Jackson County Managing Editor Jennifer Hughes has announced that the Jackson County Times-Journal took home three honors at the Osman C. Hooper Newspaper Awards on Thursday, Feb. 9 in Columbus.
In the same contest, the Pike County Newswatchman also received three honors. The News-Watchman honored first place in sports coverage for Class 6-Division C, and third place for best photo in Class 9: Division C. The newspaper received fourth place in Class 12: Division C in community service.
The Jackson County TImes-Journal earned the first place design award in Division B.
“For nice structure and organization. Masthead, side callout and headline,” said Fahlgren Mortine of Columbus who judged the class.
“I am so proud of the we work do,” said Hughes. “It is great when others see the quality of your work as well. This is the second year in a row that we have earned first place honors for our design. The design class is judged on the overall look of the newspaper with emphasis on placement and organization of headlines, photos, stories, art and ads. Judges consider frequency, quality and appropriate uses of color, original art and original graphics. We have an attractive newspaper.”
The newspaper also earned a first place award in the Advertising class in Division B.
Staff writer Felicia Tackett brought home a third place award in the In-Depth Reporting, division B category, for her “Jackson County’s War on Drugs series. Judges Michael Sweeney and Bill Reader from Ohio University’s E. W. Scripps School of Journalism praised Tackett saying, “the reporter’s obvious rapport with local law enforcement resulted in a series of articles about various crackdowns, initiatives and police raids aimed at stemming widespread drug crimes in the rural county. The reporting provides a cohesive series that, taken together, describes the insidious nature of drug addiction and trafficking in a financially addled, rural county.”
“I am very proud of staff writer Felicia Tackett,” said Hughes. “Felicia has finally been recognized for her finesse with law enforcement story telling. She works hard to bring those stories to life in her several part series we called, Jackson County’s War on Drugs. That series really showcased her talent.”
The annual Osman C. Hooper Newspaper Contest recognizes the best weekly newspapers in Ohio and is named after Ohio journalist Osman C. Hooper.
