OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Enid News & Eagle and The Journal Record in Oklahoma City have won the general excellence categories in the 2017 Associated Press-Oklahoma News Executives contest. The best new journalist of the year was Jordan Bishop of the Stillwater News Press.
The winners were announced Friday.
The Stillwater newspaper took second place in the general excellence category for medium-sized newspapers, while the Norman Transcript was third. Among smaller newspapers, the Tahlequah Daily Press finished second and the Altus Times was third.
There was no competition among larger newspapers in this year’s round of judging.
A list of winners can be found at http://discover.ap.org/contests/oklahoma-newspaper
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The entire list of winners:
DIVISION II, Medium-sized newspapers:
Spot News Reporting: 1, Emily Summars, Enid News & Eagle, “Explosion at Tank Battery West of Waukomis Kills 1”; 2, Vicky O. Misa, The Shawnee News-Star, “St. Gregory’s University Announces Shutdown”; 3, Tim Ahrens, Stillwater News Press, “Downtown Stillwater Shooting.”
Spot News Photo: 1, David Bitton, Stillwater News Press, “Injury Accident”; 2, Billy Hefton, Enid News & Eagle, “Sheriff, 5 Others Indicted in Inmate Death”; 3, Kevin Harvison, McAlester News-Capital, “Car Slams into McAlester House.”
Page One Deadline Layout: 1, Cody Giles, The Norman Transcript; 2, Tanner Holubar, Stillwater News Press; 3, David Christy, Enid News & Eagle.
Non-Page One Layout: 1, Joe Malan, Enid News & Eagle; 2, Julie Thomas, The (Ardmore) Daily Ardmoreite; 3, Cody Giles, The Norman Transcript.
Feature Photo: 1, David Bitton, Stillwater News Press, “Why Did the Turtle Cross the Road?”; 2, Billy Hefton, Enid News & Eagle, “Determined Swing”; 3, Bonnie Vculek, Enid News & Eagle, “Enid Lights up the Plains.”
Feature: 1, Jeff Mullin, Enid News & Eagle, “A Family Legacy of Flight”; 2, Jessica Miller, Enid News & Eagle, “I Don’t Know What I’d do Without Her, Truthfully”; 3, Adrian O’Hanlon III, McAlester News-Capital, “Friends Across Globe Remember Aaron Joel Mitchell.”
Headlines: 1, Jamie Berry, The Norman Transcript; 2, Dillon Hart, The Norman Transcript; 3, Tanner Holubar, Stillwater News Press.
Editorials: 1, Kim Benedict, The (Ardmore) Daily Ardmoreite; 2, Robby Short, The (Ardmore) Daily Ardmoreite; 3, Rob Collins, Enid News & Eagle, “Music Mecca.”
General News Photo: 1, David Bitton, Stillwater News Press, “Unheard”; 2, Billy Hefton, Enid News & Eagle, “Honors Graduating Seniors”; 3, Bonnie Vculek, Enid News & Eagle, “This is a Great Idea.”
General News Reporting: 1, Kim Morava and Vicky O. Misa, The Shawnee News-Star, “Tecumseh Officer Justin Terney Killed in Shootout” and follow-ups; 2, Robby Short, The (Ardmore) Daily Ardmoreite; 3, Michelle Charles, Stillwater News Press, “Oklahoma Earthquake Coverage.”
Reviews: 1, James Beaty, McAlester News-Capital; 2, Jordan Bishop, Stillwater News Press, “Reel Talk.”
Personal Columns: 1, Tina Bridenstine, The Shawnee News-Star, “What Alzheimer’s Stole From Me”; 2, Kieran Steckley, Stillwater News Press; 3, Kent Bush, The Shawnee News-Star.
Business Spot News Reporting: 1, Michelle Charles, Stillwater News Press, “Bad Gas Strands Motorists”; 2, Ryan Miller, Enid News & Eagle, “Broken Blade”; 3, Michelle Charles, Stillwater News Press, “Unlicensed Agent Embezzled Premiums.”
Business Feature: 1, Ryan Miller, Enid News & Eagle, “On Top of the Wind”; 2, Michelle Charles, Stillwater News Press, “Polar Express Leaves Stillwater”; 3, Adam Ewing, The Shawnee News-Star, “Series on Historic Downtown Shawnee.”
Investigative Reporting: 1, James Neal, Enid News & Eagle, “State Teacher Pay”; 2, Cass Rains, Enid News & Eagle, “Currier Resigns”; 3, Mack Burke, The Norman Transcript, “State Seismologist Testifies he was Coerced.”
Sports Photo: 1, Jason Elmquist, Stillwater News Press, “Weigel Wins Big 12”; 2, Billy Hefton, Enid News & Eagle, “Cinderella’s Cinderella”; 3, Kyle Phillips, The Norman Transcript, “Baker’s Revenge.”
Sports Feature: 1, Jordan Bishop, Stillwater News Press, “The Duality of Davon Dillard”; 2, Tyler Palmateer, The Norman Transcript; 3, Dave Ruthenberg, Enid News & Eagle, “At the Crossroads.”
Spot Sports Reporting: 1, Jordan Bishop and Tim Ahrens, Stillwater News Press, “OSU Coach Charged in FBI Investigation”; 2, Dave Ruthenberg, Enid News & Eagle, “Moment-of-Silence Story ’Spiraling out of Control’’’; 3, Jimmy Gillispie, Stillwater News Press, “Doing it for Don.”
Sports Columns: 1, Jimmy Gillispie, Stillwater News Press, “Off the Rim”; 2, Dave Ruthenberg, Enid News & Eagle, “A Sign of the Times”; 3, Clay Horning, The Norman Transcript.
Photo Package: 1, Kevin Harvison, McAlester News-Capital, “Miss McAlester “; 2, Billy Hefton, Enid News & Eagle, “Mud Volleyball”; 3, Bonnie Vculek, Enid News & Eagle, “Veterans Day.”
Website: 1, Violet Hassler and Rob Collins, Enid News & Eagle.
Website Photo: 1, McAlester News-Capital, “Car Collides With Train in McAlester”; 2, Kieran Steckley, Stillwater News Press, “Shooting in Downtown Stillwater”; 3, Billy Hefton, Enid News & Eagle, “PCH Advances to State Final With Lopsided Victory.”
Graphics/Illustrations: 1, Jeff Hopper, Stillwater News Press.
Public Service Reporting: 1, James Neal, Enid News & Eagle, “Separated by Skin”; 2, Janelle Stecklein and Ryan Miller, Enid News & Eagle, “Some use Payday”; 3, James Beaty and Adrian O’Hanlon III, McAlester News-Capital, “State Auditor: More Than $1.7 Million Missing From Hartshorne.”
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DIVISION I, Smaller newspapers:
Spot News Reporting: 1, Sean Rowley, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Mullin a No-Show”; 2, Molly Fleming, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Saving Sacred Land”; 3, Rachael Van Horn, Woodward News, “Investigation Opens After Discovery of Butchered Calf.”
Spot News Photo: 1, Brent Fuchs, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Students Study Creek to Help Conservation Commission”; 2, Brent Fuchs, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Dowell Plans to Reopen Downtown Office Building After Renovations”; 3, Grant D. Crawford, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Ferocious Flames.”
Page One Deadline Layout: 1, Bryan Richter, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record; 2, Juanita Lewis, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Going Forth in Courage”; 3, Johnny McMahan, Woodward News.
Non-Page One Layout: 1, Bryan Richter, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record; 2, Byron Beers, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Base Hits, Northeastern Swept, Welcome Home”; 3, Johnny McMahan, Woodward News.
Feature Photo: 1, Grant D. Crawford, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Splashing Around”; 2, Brent Fuchs, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “No Laughing Matter”; 3, Grant D. Crawford, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Room to Roll.”
Feature: 1, Grant D. Crawford, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Abused and Astray”; 2, Kim Poindexter, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Tribal Projects Spark”; 3, Katrina Goforth, Altus Times, “Caring for Alzheimer’s.”
Headlines: 1, Ronnie Clay, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Looking at the Big Picture”; 2, Ted Streuli, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Ballet”; 3, Kim Poindexter, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Honey of a Deal.”
Editorials: 1, Kim Poindexter, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Shortey’s Quitting;”; 2, Ted Streuli, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Dangerous Bill.”
General News Photo: 1, Brent Fuchs, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Oklahoma Has a Big Toothache”; 2, Grant D. Crawford, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Back in the Workforce”; 3, Brent Fuchs, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Wind, Solar in Enid’s Economic Mix With Oil, Gas.”
General News Reporting: 1, Brian Brus, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Courts Ease Jail Pressure”; 2, Molly Fleming, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Locked Out”; 3, Grant D. Crawford and Sean Rowley, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Tribe Sues.”
Reviews: 1, Kim Poindexter, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Even Geezers Ought to Boogie”; 2, Molly Fleming, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “A Message of Love.”
Personal Columns: 1, Ted Streuli, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Periscope”; 2, Kim Poindexter, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Verification, Validation.”
Business Spot News Reporting: 1, Sarah Terry-Cobo, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Harvey Floods Damage Oklahoma Energy Businesses”; 2, Brian Brus, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Tates Arrested”; 3, Molly Fleming, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Saving Sacred Land.”
Business Feature: 1, Brian Brus, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “What’s in a Domain?”; 2, Molly Fleming, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Pay for Play”; 3, Sarah Terry-Cobo, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Puerto Rico Devastation Opens Opportunities for Oklahoma Businesses.”
Investigative Reporting: 1, Catherine Sweeney and Sarah Terry-Cobo, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Cost of Cuts”; 2, Grant D. Crawford and Tes Jackson, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Property Owner Complied”; 3, Sarah Terry-Cobo, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record.
Sports Photo: 1, Rick Carpenter, Altus Times, “Over the Back”; 2, Johnny McMahan, Woodward News, “Football Catch”; 3, Rick Carpenter, Altus Times, “Grinch Steals Christmas Run!”
Sports Feature: 1, Brian Brus, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “World Champion Fencer”; 2, Byron Beers, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Tigers Defense Making a Splash”; 3, Molly Fleming, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Pay for Play.”
Spot Sports Reporting: 1, Byron Beers, Tahlequah Daily Press, “THS Punches Ticket to State”; 2, Ryan Lewis, Altus Times, “Dream Year Ends”; 3, Brian Brus, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “River Connections.”
Sports Columns: 1, Ted Streuli, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “Hockey Player”; 2, Rick Carpenter, Altus Times, “How an Altus Alum Changed my Athletic Career”; 3, Johnny McMahan, Woodward News, “An Honor to Consider; Big Moments Easy to Find.”
Photo Package: 1, Grant D. Crawford, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Veterans Day Parade.”
Website: 1, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record.
Website Photo: 1, Grant D. Crawford, Tahlequah Daily Press, “Red Fern Festival.”
Graphics/Illustrations: 1, Bryan Richter, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record.
Public Service Reporting: 1, Kaylea Hutson-Miller, Grove Sun Daily, “A Look at Child Abuse”; 2, Sean Rowley and Kim Poindexter, Tahlequah Daily Press, “New State Legislators”; 3, Catherine Sweeney and Sarah Terry-Cobo, The (Oklahoma City) Journal Record, “The Modern Black Plague: Oklahoma’s Opioid Epidemic.”
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There was no competition in 2017 among larger newspapers.
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