OKLAHOMA CITY – In late October, the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists released its list of journalists who were recognized and awarded for their outstanding journalistic abilities.
Southwest Ledger, a weekly newspaper focusing on business and politics and operated by Hilliary Media Group, received a total of 25 awards, six of which were for first place in the Newspaper B division, for mid-sized newspapers.
Those first-place, award-winning entries included: Andrew W. Griffin’s story “Oklahoma municipalities and the COVID response.” This was noted by the judge as being “A highly detailed and informative story.” This was in the In-depth Enterprise and Investigative Reporting category.
Michael Carrier’s story “Dead abortion bill roils Oklahoma GOP” also placed first, this in the Government Reporting category. The judge considered Carrier’s article a “really well-reported piece.”
In the Election Reporting category, Michael Carrier placed first again in the Newspaper B division, with “SE Oklahoma Senate runoff turns ugly.” The judge called the article “great local reporting on a not-so-fringe candidate.”
In the Business Reporting category, the Ledger’s Mike W. Ray placed first with “Charity flooded with fake unemployment claims.”
And graphic designer Bryan M. Richter placed first not only in the Front Page Layout and Design category with “In the crosshairs,” but also the Use of Graphic Illustration category, a category he swept with “Fort Sill by the numbers” placing first, followed by “Like herding cats” and “Oklahoma coalbed production.”
The following are Southwest Ledger reporters, editors, photographers and designers who placed second and third in their categories, respectively:
In-depth Enterprise and Investigative Reporting
2. “Sig Sauer P320 pistol mishaps reported” by Tim Farley
Government Reporting
2. “Four bills targeting Oklahoma’s missing and murdered indigenous people are waiting for a committee hearing” by Michael Carrier
3. “Advocates address task force on missing, murdered indigenous” by Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Feature Writing
3. “Lawton truck driver to receive ‘Driver of the Year’ award” by Mike W. Ray
Personal Column
2. “With viruses, what’s in a name?” by James Finck
Editorial/Commentary
2. “Where is the leadership?” by JJ Francais.
3. “Governor’s call for more power ignores history and sets precedent for future governors” by JJ Francais
Criminal Justice Reporting
2. “State ready to resume executions” by Debi DeSilver
Education Reporting
2. “Charter board votes to start work on ending contract with Epic” by Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Diversity Coverage
3. “Former players: Coale made racially insensitive remarks” by Michael Kinney
Business Reporting
2. “State’s gross receipts fall in September” by Mike W. Ray
3. “Forces that will shape the U.S. rural economy” by Steve Sichterman
Sports Reporting
3. “Thunder heads to Florida for NBA restart” by Michael Kinney General
Photography
2. “Fort Sill fire lights up nighttime sky” by Steve Booker
3. “OU player among millennials calling for solution to injustice” by Michael Kinney
Photo Essay
3. “Lawton business owners speak out on masks” by Curtis Awbrey
Sterling Cosper, President of the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, told Southwest Ledger that the “quality of coverage we received is just that more outstanding, considering the added logistical reporting challenges from the pandemic.”
Continuing, Cosper said, “I believe it is important now more than ever to have contests to help highlight and incentivize quality journalism and uplift our peers, many of whom have faced serious industry challenges on top of those from the pandemic.
Oklahoma journalists continue to rise above these ongoing issues while overcoming the demands and risks brought on by COVID.”
“This global issue has certainly highlighted the importance of our work. Great journalism and the information it provides saves lives and improves the quality of life, whether pieces directly relate to this phase or not.”
Cosper concluded: “Our contest was a great success and I appreciate our board members who continue to help with this undertaking as well as all the outlets that entered despite their workload and budget demands.”
And Heide Brandes, a longtime Oklahoma-based journalist and the OKSPJ vice president said, “The annual contest celebrates the best of quality journalism in the state of Oklahoma. The Southwest Ledger is a prime example of local journalism that is making a real impact in the lives of its readers by providing unbiased and important news coverage of issues that affect them.
SPJ Oklahoma applauds the hard work and in-depth reporting that the Southwest Ledger provides.”