The Wagoner County American-Tribune had a stellar illustration on the annual Oklahoma Press Affiliation Conference in Oklahoma Metropolis on Saturday, June 11, successful two first place newspaper awards, one second place and 5 particular person awards for its division.
The Wagoner County American Tribune was positioned in division 5 — weekly newspaper with a inhabitants between 7,000 and 19,000. Divisions stem from communities over 30,000 to lower than 2,000. Members of the Iowa Press Affiliation judged virtually 1,400 entries from 68 Oklahoma newspapers.
The Wagoner County American-Tribune acquired first place within the Information Content material class for the newspaper as a complete, particularly from editions on Sept. 22, Oct. 13 and Nov. 3, 2021. Notable tales included the long-awaited One for Coweta gross sales tax enhance and family and friends from Wagoner coming collectively in solidarity after a beloved member of the group handed away from COVID-19.
The newspaper additionally acquired first place within the Structure and Design class, whereas judges analyzed Wagoner County American-Tribune editions from Aug. 25, Oct. 20 and Dec. 29, 2021. Notable tales from these editions included the EF-1 twister that startled Coweta colleges and neighborhoods with harm, utility price will increase and a historic stone that lastly arrived again to Wagoner Lumber Co.
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The Wagoner County American-Tribune acquired second place for sports activities protection, with newspaper points spanning from Jan. 6, March 3 and Sept. 21, 2021. For all three of these points, the newspaper had three, totally different editors: Christy Wheeland, Brittney Bennett and Justin Ayer. Pertaining to the sports activities protection award, judges wrote, “A number of the finest footage among the many entries.”
For the person awards, Editor Justin Ayer acquired first place within the Information Story and In-Depth Reporting classes. “Tullahassee leaders drive revitalization in Oklahoma’s oldest surviving all-Black city” and “Preservation versus value: Roof wanted at Wagoner’s historic Katy Depot,” have been the tales judged to attain these recognitions.
Ayer additionally gained second place within the Training class for “12-year-old Wagoner boy emails mayor wanting a skate park.” Ayer gained third place within the Function Story class, once more with “Tullahassee leaders drive revitalization in Oklahoma’s oldest surviving all-Black city” and third place within the Sports activities Story class with “Coweta basketball standout Jenni Bryant remembered for big coronary heart.”
“I’m comfortable to work in a county the place individuals care about what’s occurring of their communities, as they need to,” Ayer stated. “Wagoner County is filled with information on daily basis, and I can solely hope you’ve learn one or two tales that made you smile, query one thing, or wish to be taught extra. Neighborhood journalism is so essential.”
The Oklahoma Press Affiliation Awards Banquet and Conference was held on the Sheraton Resort in Downtown Oklahoma Metropolis. The Oklahoma Press Affiliation is a commerce group serving greater than 100 weekly and every day newspapers in Oklahoma.