The Oklahoma Gazette earned 38 honors during the last two weekends, claiming the top three slots for best reporting among the state’s largest newspapers.

The Gazette received 24 honors, including eight first place awards, at the annual banquet for the Oklahoma Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists held March 1 in Oklahoma City.

The Gazette competed in the largest newspaper division in the statewide contest, which was judged by Chicago, Pittsburgh and Utah chapters.

Gazette writers garnered the top three slots in the Best Reporting Portfolio category. Emily Jerman claimed first place honors while Scott Cooper placed second and Ben Fenwick came in third. Jerman also won first in Feature Writing for “Where in the world is Anita Hill?”

“A compelling, well-researched look at the impact the then-University of Oklahoma professor’s sexual harassment allegations has had on the nation, as well as the community that (served) as the epicenter for the media storm,” judges said about the Hill feature.

Cooper and Fenwick shared first prize for “Pie in the sky” in the In-Depth Enterprise Reporting/Team category for coverage of Rocketplane. Editor Rob Collins won first for In-Depth Enterprise Reporting by an Individual for the “Heart of a martyr” story on the Rev. Stanley Rother.

Assistant editor Rod Lott won a pair of firsts for his story on Morgellons (“No cause. No cure. No joke?”) in Health Reporting and for Feature Headlines with the entries “Fish shtick,” “Vasecto-me?” and “Arac war.”

Additional top honors went to art director Chris Street for “State of the Past” in Feature Page Layout and to freelance artist Bruce Eagle for Fenwick’s “Brad Henry’s Vegas Vacation” in the Best Use of Graphic Illustration category.

The Gazette placed second overall in the Best Newspaper competition, finishing behind the Tulsa World. The Muskogee Phoenix took third, with The Christian Chronicle receiving an honorable mention nod.

The Gazette claimed several second place honors: commentary writer Robin Meyers for “The gift of radical freedom” in Editorial/Commentary, Jerman for “A few bad apples” in Education Reporting, freelancer Deborah Benjamin for “At arm’s length” in Health Reporting, Collins for “Broadband of brothers” in Science and Technology Reporting, former intern Brianna Bailey for “Got wine?” in Business Features, and freelancer Kathryn Jenson White for film reviews in Arts Criticism.

Gazette entries earned third place in the following categories: Fenwick for “Fall of the house of Marland” for Feature Writing and “Open, closed” in General News Reporting, Cooper for “Weather channeled” in Science and Technology Reporting, Lott for “Masters of horror” in Entertainment Features, chief photographer Mark Hancock for “Subterranean sights” in Story/Photo Essay and online editor Stefanie Brickman of OKGazette.com for Best website.

Cooper, SPJ Oklahoma Pro Chapter president, also received an honorable mention for “Curtis McCarty” in Criminal Justice Reporting.

ADDY Awards

One week before SPJ, the Gazette received 14 honors with two Gold ADDYs, six Silver Merits and six Bronze Awards Feb. 23 at the 42nd Annual Oklahoma City ADDY Awards in OKC.

For the Publication Design (Magazine or Book) Series, the Gazette won a Gold ADDY Award for three March/April covers, with credits to Street, Hancock, Lott, marketing director Jill Brown and former graphic designer Marcella Joshlin. The winning covers were “Dust busting” and “Subterranean sights” written by entertainment editor Joe Wertz, and “You don’t know Dick” by Lott.

A Gold ADDY Award went to Brown and Street for “This Machine Thrills Masses” in the Newspaper Self-Promotion Single category, with a Silver Merit going to Joshlin and advertising director Terri Sadler-Goad for “The Catwalk.”

The Gazette earned a pair of Silver Merit accolades and one Bronze Award in the Publication Design (Magazine or Book) Cover category. Winners included Silvers for “State of the Past” by Street, Brown, Collins and Lott, and “Eight Arms to Kill You” by Street and Lott; and a Bronze for “Upper atmosphere” by photographer Shannon Cornman, Street and Lott.

A Silver Merit went to the Gazette’s Skelly the Skeleton by illustrator/designer Brad Gregg, based on an idea by Lott. In the Specialty Advertising Apparel category, the Gazette received a Bronze Award for Best of OKC T-shirts by Brown and Street.

In the Campaign Color (Any Color Besides Black) category, the Gazette won a Silver Merit for the Advanced Laser Center print ad campaign by graphic designer Kim Christensen, account manager Cheryl Fraley, Hancock and Street.

The Best of OKC logo by Street, associate publisher Jeffri-Lynn Dyer and Brown won a Silver Merit in the Elements of Advertising division.

The Gazette received two honors in the Illustration Single category with Bronze Awards for “Soundcheck” by Street and Joshlin and “A few bad apples” by Street and Gregg.

The OKGazette.com features campaign earned a Bronze Award in the Newspaper Self-Promotion Campaign for production director Mandy Hendrickson, Brown and Jennie Melendez, new media operations.

A Bronze Award also went to graphic designer Paul Mays, Brown, Hendrickson and Street for the “Peas on Earth” holiday card for Creative Services and Industry Suppliers, Cards, Invitations or Announcements (Special Event Material).