The Reporting Project earned six awards from the “Ohio’s Best Journalism” contest from the Society of Professional Journalists, including the prestigious “best in show” award for a digital news outlet.
The Reporting Project staff entered materials created by reporters and editors throughout 2023, and included several significant stories about Intel, asphalt plants in Alexandria, a Vietnam veteran and arts and culture in Licking County.
Categories ranged from website design to videography, and this year, submissions were judged by journalists from the Society of Professional Journalists Northwest Excellence for Journalism contest, including journalists from Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho and Montana.
The Reporting Project earned the first-place “Best of Show” award for a digital news outlet, and was named the best general digital-only news site in the contest. The site was judged on its content, design and navigation, and judges said The Reporting Project’s site is “what happens when great web design meets powerful journalism.”
“We set high standards for our journalism and have found a very appreciative audience in Licking County, where news consumers are hungry for more news about what’s happening in their community,” said Alan Miller, a TRP reporter and editor. “At the same time we are providing this journalistic community service, we also are providing our students with real-world experience and tangible evidence of their work.”
The Reporting Project staff also earned a first-place award for business and tech reporting for three stories, including reporter Jack Wolf’s stories about asphalt plants in Alexandria that set off a firestorm in the rural village and the housing crisis in Licking County, as well as Mia Fischel’s story about a day at the Granville landmark Aladdin.
Additionally, Wolf earned a first-place reporting award and a second-place award for investigative reporting related to Alexandria’s asphalt plants.
Arts and culture reporter Brin Glass earned a second-place award for her coverage of arts and entertainment in central Ohio with her stories about Old Colony Burying Ground, Granville Center for the Arts’ Ryan McGuire and the Hullabaloo children’s theater.
Photojournalist and videographer Andrew Theophilus earned a second-place videography award for his profile of retired Maj. Ray Bower, a 90-year-old Vietnam War veteran.
“I’m particularly proud of the work we submitted from TRP staff reporters — who are first and foremost college students,” said TRP Managing Editor Julia Lerner. “These juniors and seniors in college were judged against journalism professionals — in the industry for years — and still placed.”
TheReportingProject.org is the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program and is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.