COLUMBUS — Sports editor Bryant Billing earned two second-place finishes and one third-place finish while chief photographer Luke Gronneberg earned one third-place finish in the 2021 Ohio Associated Press Media Editors contest.
Billing finished second for “Best Daily Sports Section,” in Division II. Since taking over as the Sidney Daily News’ sports editor in 2017, the paper has earned three second-place finishes for best daily sports section and one first-place finish.
Four editions were submitted for the category. Among the submissions was the Tuesday, March 16, 2021 section, which included an article about Fort Loramie’s girls basketball team winning the OHSAA Div. IV state title.
Judges praised the “clean and balanced fronts,” of the section and further commented: “Love the breakout score boxes and quick hit info boxes in the stories. State champ front went big with an emotional celebration shot, bringing the reader right to the center of it.”
“I’m honored to have been selected for recognition again this year,” Billing said. “It was another fantastic year for area sports squads, and I’m happy to know the coverage we’re bringing to readers is considered among the state’s best.”
Billing also finished second for “Best Video,” for a vlog titled “Weather Art and Photographing Basketball,” in which he filmed Gronneberg over the course of a week in February of 2021. Judges praised the “nice camera work and sound.”
Billing also finished third for Best Special Sports Section for the paper’s 2021 Fall Sports Preview.
“It offers readers a nice mix of photos and stories with a great hometown feel,” judges said. “A keepsake for players’ families, for sure.”
Gronneberg finished third in “Best News Photo,” in Division II. His placing image was of Brandon Steele surrendering to police on Oct. 7, 2021. Steele was recently sentenced to 28 years in prison for shooting a Sidney police officer.
Judges commented it was a “good breaking news moment,” and said it takes “patience and skill,” to capture such a photograph.
”Congratulations to Bryant and Luke for being recognized for the work they accomplished in 2021,” said Natalie Buzzard, SDN general manager. “It’s always nice when our staff members are honored for the work they do on a daily basis.”
The First Amendment Award went to the Cincinnati Enquirer for its efforts to uncover the name of a Cincinnati police officer who used a pseudonym to sue people.
The Ohio APME also recognized four hall of fame inductees Sunday, Todd Baucher of WTAP-TV, Les Levine of the Cleveland Jewish News, Alan Miller of the Columbus Dispatch and Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal.
Contest results were announced on Sunday at a banquet in Columbus. Complete contest results can be found online at ohioapme.com.
Forty-eight daily newspapers submitted 1,302 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories, features, editorials, columns, graphics and photos from 2021.
Entries were judged by editors from The Detroit News and The Detroit Free Press, Division V; The Grand Haven (Michigan) Tribune, Division IV; The McComb Daily (Michigan), Division III; Mount Pleasant (Michigan) Morning Sun, and MLive Media Group, Division II; The Holland (Michigan) Sentinel and the Alpena (Michigan) News, Division I.
Twenty-four broadcasters submitted 272 entries in the contest, which featured news, sports and weather reporting as well as features, documentaries and photography from 2021. Entries were judged by broadcasters from Michigan Radio, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and WGSW-FM, Saginaw, Michigan, Radio; WJMN-TV, Marquette, Michigan, WJRT-TV, Flint, Michigan, and WLNS-TV, Lansing, Michigan, Television.
