INDIANAPOLIS — The Hoosier State Press Association awarded photo of the year to Daily Reporter photographer Tom Russo for his photo, “After the fire,” during the organization’s annual newspaper awards ceremony Saturday.
The panel judging finalists said the photo, depicting victims of a house fire passing a damaged item between one another, stood out from all the other photo of the year finalists.
“A photo that not all photographers would be looking for,” panelists wrote.
The Daily Reporter fared well at the contest, bringing home 27 awards in its division. The daily newspaper received a first place award for general excellence in its division, an award given based on a points system for papers that “exemplify excellence in all aspects of newspaper publication, including mechanical excellence, editorial content, layout and general appearance,” according to a press release from the HSPA.
The Daily Reporter took home the following awards:
Best news coverage – no deadline
Second place: Noelle Steele and Samm Quinn, “Absent from jobs”
Best ongoing news coverage
Third place: Caitlin VanOverberghe and Daniel Morgan, “Jail overcrowding”
Best editorial writer
Second place: Rick Gotshall
Best business/economic news coverage
Second place: Daniel Morgan, “Building for the future”
Best short feature
Third place: Caitlin VanOverberghe, “Royal treatment”
Best profile feature
Third place: Christine Schaefer, “Bringing his world to life”
First place: Kristy Deer, “She survived”
Best in-depth feature/feature package
Second place: Noelle Steele, “The greatest gift”
Best sports news or feature coverage
Second place: Rich Torres, “Drawing strength”
First place: Rich Torres, “Running through the pain”
Best spot news photography
Third place: Tom Russo, “Sunburst fire”
First place: Tom Russo, “After the fire”
Best feature photo
Third place: Tom Russo, “Sunset harvest”
First place: Tom Russo, “First-day jitters”
Best multiple picture group
First place: Tom Russo, “Winning with class”
Best video/photo story
First place: Noelle Steele, Tom Russo, Kyle Lewis: “Winning with class”
Best editorial page:
Third place: Daily Reporter staff
Best use of graphics
Third place: Daily Reporter staff
Best feature section or pages:
Third place: Daily Reporter staff, religion section
Second place: Daily Reporter staff, Just 4 Fun section
Best business section or pages
First place: Daily Reporter staff
Best community service
Third place: Daily Reporter staff, “Spirit to Survive”
Second place: Caitlin VanOverberghe, “It tugs at your heart”
First place: Caitlin VanOverberghe, “Gap in our system”
Best newspaper design
Second place: Daily Reporter staff
General excellence
First place: Daily Reporter
Photo of the year:
Tom Russo: “After the fire”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the Hoosier State Press Association” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The Hoosier State Press Association, founded in 1933, is a trade association representing 167 daily and weekly paid-circulation newspapers in Indiana. HSPA provides legal information, training and other services to its members.
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