Two CNHI Oklahoma newspapers took home top awards from the Oklahoma Press Association’s annual awards banquet, held June 7-8 in Oklahoma City.
The Norman Transcript won the Sequoyah Award in Division 1, while the Tahlequah Daily Press won the Sequoyah in Division 2. The Sequoyah Award goes to the newspaper in each division that racked up the most points in eight categories. The Enid News and Eagle came in behind Norman, and the McAlester News-Capital finished 10 points behind Tahlequah.
The OPA introduced a trio of digital categories this year. Tahlequah won best Digital Media for all dailies, with Enid coming in second.
In the individual sweepstakes categories, in which all papers compete, Kim Poindexter, Tahlequah executive editor, won Editorial of the Year; and Richard Barron of the Ada News won Photo of the Year. The Stillwater News Press took Magazine of the Year honors, with the Duncan Banner coming in second. Jeff Mullin of Enid was inducted into the Half-Century Club.
Awards for Norman adding up to the Sequoyah win were: News Content, 2nd; Layout & Design, 1st; Advertising, 3rd; Editorial Writing, 2nd; Photography, 2nd; Sports Coverage, 1st; and Sales Promotion, 1st. Individual award were: In-Depth Reporting, Andrea Hancock, 3rd; Small Space Ad, Jennifer Jepson, 1st; News Photograph, Kyle Phillips, 3rd; and Sports Photograph, Kyle Phillips, 1st.
Tahlequah’s Sequoyah placings included: News Content, 3rd; Layout & Design, 1st; Advertising, 2nd; Editorial Writing, 1st; Sports Coverage, 2nd; Sales Promotion, 1st; and Community Leadership, 1st. Individual awards were: Sports Story, Jake Sermersheim, 1st; Education Story, Skyler Hammons, 1st; Column Writing, Kim Poindexter, 1st; Small Space Ad, Chris Barnhart, 2nd, and Heather Ruotolo, 3rd; and Sports Photograph, Jake Sermersheim, 3rd.
Other CNHI Newspaper Awards
DIVISION 1
Enid News and Eagle: News Content, 3rd; Layout & Design, 3rd; Advertising, 1st; Editorial Writing, 1st; Photography, 3rd; Community Leadership, 3rd; Sports Story, Bruce Campbell, 3rd; Column Writing, Jeff Mullin, 3rd; Large Space Ad, Kathy Young, 1st; News Photograph, Billy Hefton, 2nd; Feature Photograph, Billy Hefton, 1st; Sports Photograph, Billy Hefton, 2nd; and Front Page Design, Joe Malan, 2nd.
Stillwater News Press: Editorial Writing, 3rd; Sports Coverage, 3rd; Sales Promotion, 2nd; Sports Story, Marcus Trevino, 1st, and Jason Elmquist, 2nd; and Sports Photograph, Jason Elmquist, 3rd.
DIVISION 2
Muskogee Phoenix: News Content, 1st; Editorial Writing, 2nd; and Sports Coverage, 1st.
McAlester News-Capital: News Content, 2nd; Layout & Design, 2nd; Advertising, 1st; Editorial Writing, 3rd; Photography, 1st; Sports Coverage, 3rd; Sales Promotion, 2nd; Community Leadership, 2nd; News Story, James Beaty, 1st; Business Story, Derrick James, 3rd; Education Story, Derrick James, 3rd; In-Depth Reporting, Derrick James and Adrian O’Hanlon, 2nd; Small Space Ad, Phillips Hurlbut, 1st; Large Space Ad, Connie Poole, 3rd; News Photograph, James Beaty, 2nd; Feature Photograph, Derrick James, 2nd; Sports Photograph, Madalyn Nix, 1st; Photo Essay, Derrick James, 1st and 2nd; Front Page Design, Dawnyal Hill, 1st and 2nd.
Ada News: Photography, 3rd; Sports Story, Jeff Cali, 1st and 2nd; Business Story, Richard Barron, 2nd; and Column Writing, Jeff Cali, 2nd, and Richard Barron, 3rd.
DIVISION 3
Duncan Banner: News Content, 3rd; Photography, 2nd; Sales Promotion, 1st; Community Leadership, 2nd; News Story, Charlene Belew, 2nd; Sports Story, Kelly Wray, 3rd; Business Story, Tamara Gregor, 2nd and 3rd; Education Story, Tamara Gregor, 3rd; Column Writing, Linda Provost, 3rd; Small Space Ad, Crystal Childers, 3rd; Feature Photograph, Kelly Wray, 2nd; Sports Photograph, Kelly Wray, 3rd; and Front Page Design, Charlene Belew, 2nd.
Claremore Progress: Editorial Writing, 1st; Sports Coverage, 1st; Sports Story, Kevin Green, 2nd; Colin Writing, Kevin Green, 2nd; Feature Photograph, Jay Lederman, 1st; and Photo Essay, Jay Lederman, 1st and 2nd.
Woodward News: Photography, 3rd; News Story, Johnny McMahan, 3rd; News Photograph, Sara Acosta, 2nd; Sports Photograph, Johnny McMahan, 1st; and Photo Essay, Johnny McMahan, 3rd.
DIVISION 5
Chickasha Express-Star: Sports Coverage, 3rd; Feature Story, Jessica Lane, 2nd; Sports Story, Austin Littrell, 2nd; Feature Photograph, Austin Littrell, 2nd and Jessica Lane, 3rd; and Sports Photograph, Austin Littrell, 2nd.
DIVISION 6
Stilwell Democrat Journal: Layout & Design, 3rd.