COLUMBUS – Ohio’s Best Journalism Contest, (www.ohiospjawards.org), sponsored by the Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) chapters statewide, is excited to announce its 2026 awards today. Congratulations to all the winners. View winners here.
Please take time to read the thoughtful comments from the judges praising the high quality of work Ohio journalists produced in 2025.
We’re also thrilled to announce the winner of the 2026 Emil Dansker Award for Outstanding Achievement in Journalism – Jessica Graue, a longtime journalist and journalism educator. This award honors Emil Dansker, one of the founders of the Cincinnati SPJ Chapter and a longtime journalist, professor and mentor to countless journalists and students.
The Outstanding Achievement Award is presented to one individual annually for their hard work, achievements, leadership and contributions to the journalism profession. Journalism professors, publishers, broadcast general managers and editors and reporters, as well as other journalism business professionals from all media segments, are invited to apply.
We’re also excited to announce the 2026 Rising Star Award winners, Sarah Donaldson, Ohio Public Media/ideastream, and Kendall Crawford, The Ohio Newsroom. This annual award recognizes the top emerging professionals in our state with five years or less experience in journalism. Winners receive a $500 cash award. Many thanks to the former Ohio APME contest for creating this award and continuing to sponsor it.
Best of Show distinctions are awarded in all categories except college. Entries were for work done in 2025.
Confirm Names
Attention winners/editors/entry submitters: Even though the info in the spreadsheet is from your submissions, please take time to review the list of winners carefully and confirm that the individual and/or individuals listed in the column “Names on Certificate” are the names that should appear on the awards. If the field is empty, please let us know whose name should appear on the award(s). Please also confirm that the name of the media outlet is correct. If changes are needed, please email contest administrator Sarah Mills Bacha at smbacha@earthlink.net as soon as possible.
Ohio’s Best Journalism is the only Ohio competition that honors journalists who fulfill the SPJ mission: defense of the First Amendment, support of literacy, resistance to censorship, advocacy for openness of public records and meetings, media self-criticism and community service.
Journalists from the Minnesota SPJ Contest judged our contest along with longtime SPJ judges and contest administrators from coast to coast. We are grateful for their help. Judging took a bit longer because of the high number of submissions we received this year. As in previous years, judges gave high praise to the journalism work being done in Ohio. It was exciting to learn from colleagues nationwide that most SPJ contests had banner years this contest cycle.
Save the date!
Please mark your calendars for Saturday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., for our annual contest celebration, which will be held at Hofbräuhaus Columbus, Stube Hall, 800 Goodale Boulevard. Watch your inbox for registration information. We hope you can join us!
Congrats, again, to all the winners. We can’t wait to celebrate with you in August in Columbus!
About SPJ:
The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.
Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry through the daily work of its nearly 10,000 members; works to inspire current and future journalists through professional development; and advocates for the protection of the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech and press.
Nationally, SPJ improves and protects journalism through national and local training; advocacy for freedom of Information and resources; its Code of Ethics that encourages responsible reporting; a website filled with career resources – www.spj.org; and a national recognition program for excellence in journalism.