Friday the 13th was a lucky day for the Daily Journal.
The newspaper was honored for journalism excellence in a statewide newspaper contest Friday.
Staffers won multiple first-, second- and third-place awards for reporting, writing and photography in the 2024 Hoosier State Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, with the newspaper as a whole receiving a first place General Excellence Award for its division, Division 3. Members of the Alabama Press Association judged content published between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.
The Daily Journal swept the Best News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure category, with News Editor Noah Crenshaw receiving first place for his initial story about the death of Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith in the line of duty, the staff receiving second place for their collaborative work on the initial story about the June 2023 tornado in White River Township, and Crenshaw receiving third place for one of the initial stories about the March 2023 Whiteland tornado.
For the Best News Coverage with No Deadline Pressure, category, Crenshaw won first place and former multimedia news editor Emily Ketterer won second place for their respective series of stories about the aftermath of the Whiteland tornado.
Here are the other awards the Daily Journal earned:
First place for Best Sports Event Coverage went to sports writer Mike Beas for his November story about Center Grove Football’s semi-state loss during overtime.
First place for Best Sports News/Feature Coverage went to Sports Editor Ryan O’Leary for his December story about how mental health was coming to the forefront in swimming and other sports.
First place for Best Sports Feature Photo went to contributing photographer Rob Baker for his July 2023 photo of Franklin baseball standout Max Clark signing a fan’s baseball at Youngs Creek Park after he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers.
First place for Best Feature Photo went to senior reporter Ryan Trares for his August 2023 photo of Greenwood resident Helen Abbott reacting to Fire Marshal Tracy Rumble blowing out candles at her 100th birthday party.
First place for Best Website went to the Daily Journal staff.
First place for Best Special Section went to the Daily Journal staff for its 2023 Brave Hearts Cancer Awareness Special Section.
Second place for Best Business/Economic News Coverage went to Crenshaw for his February story about the potential economic impact of the total solar eclipse.
Second place for Best General Commentary went to Trares.
Second place for Best Short Feature Story went to Trares for his August 2023 story about Franklin residents who were beautifying the city with floral displays.
Second place for Best Profile Story went to Ketterer for her August 2023 story about how the family of the late Alaina Dildine was calling for change and accountability after their daughter’s death.
Second place for Best In-depth Feature or Feature Package went to Trares for his March story about how two families were bonding after tragedy and a heart transplant.
Second place for Best Sports News/Feature Coverage went to O’Leary for his October 2023 story about Nobody Listens, a locally-owned and “shining star” race horse who died.
Second place for Best Sports Action Photo went to contributing photographer Chris Williams for his June 2023 photo of Center Grove hurdler Parker Doyle falling to the ground during 110 hurdles state final.
Second place for Best Special Section went to the Daily Journal staff for its 2023 Johnson County Bicentennial Special Section.
Second place for Best Sports Action Photo went to Williams for his October 2023 photo of Center Grove receiver Noah Coy trying to make a catch around a Lawrence North defender during a football game.
Second place for Best Portrait went to editor Leeann Doerflein for her August 2023 photo of Jeremy Gibbs holding his dog Benny after their home burned down in downtown Franklin.
Third place for Best Profile Story went to Crenshaw for his August 2023 story about how the late Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputy Tim Guyer was being remembered as a faithful family man, friend and coach.
Reporter Jayden Kennett was a finalist for the Nina Mason Pulliam Environmental Journalism Award for her environmental stories. She previously won the award in 2023 at a different publication.
