The Ohio Collegiate Newspaper and Website Competition is a yearly event that recognizes the achievements of the college and university newspapers throughout the state of Ohio. It first began in 2009, created by The Ohio News Media Association (ONMA) & Ohio News Media Foundation. Eligibility was determined by whether campus newspapers were in good standing in the collegiate membership category of ONMA.
For the 2021 awards, Sinclair’s student newspaper, The Clarion, won awards for all categories including OMNA’s newest one, Coronavirus Coverage. This is an enormous contrast to 2020, where The Clarion proudly took home four awards for first place in Arts & Entertainment, second place for Headline Writing as well as Sports Coverage and third Place for Design.
Jeri Hensley, Creative Director of The Clarion, has been employed at the paper for a total of five years and cannot recall a time where awards have been won in abundance like this. All the same, Hensley expresses being incredibly proud and happy.
“This is an amazing accomplishment and really shows the talents of the people who work for the Clarion,” Hensley said, “This year hasn’t been easy, and to do something of this caliber in a year where we had to be completely online and change from the normal is truly inspiring.”
In 2020, Associate Editor Richard Foltz was at the Ohio News Media Association Convention to receive awards alongside the previous editors, Henry Wolski and Samuel J. Claude.
It is common for the ONMA awards to be announced during the annual Ohio News Media Association Convention. Yet, due to COVID-19 concerns, a 2021 convention will not be held. In place of it will be a virtual award session in which the winners will be announced. Shortly after, the award certificates and plaques will be sent.
“It’s very sad that we can’t all go this year and experience that together,” said Foltz, when reflecting on the necessary changes that have taken place to promote safety. “I was the Executive Editor last year and it was really great to celebrate that with my fellow editors. Taylor and Ayzha, this year’s Managing and Executive editors respectively, as well as Jeri, our Creative Director, deserve that and it makes me really sad that they won’t get to experience it, considering how well we’ve done this year.”
“After an unprecedented year, filled with many twists and turns, The Clarion receiving these awards just feels so spectacular,” Taylor Pendleton, Managing Editor of The Clarion expressed. “I am honestly so honored to be a part of a phenomenal group of talented, diligent, and down to earth people.”
Pendleton went on to elaborate that it is the hard work and devotion of all Clarion employees that make the organization remarkable and for her, unforgettable as well as inspirational.
“I am rather excited for the virtual ceremony as well!” Pendleton said, “I’ll have to put on my best zoom background.”
The advisor of The Clarion Jessica Graue also expressed immense pride at this achievement.
“The staff at the Clarion had to completely change the way they distribute the news in 2020.” Graue noted, “The switch to digital-only was difficult, but they rocked it! I’m so honored to work with these amazing students and journalists.”
Ayzha Middlebrooks
Executive Editor