AP, NET Television Tops at OPC Awards

NET Television (Cox Channel 12) and The Associated Press were the two big winners in the Omaha Press Club’s fourth annual “Excellence in Journalism” awards competition.

The Associated Press earned seven awards, including top honors in best sports photo, best feature photo and best photo essay. NET also took home seven awards, including first place honors for best sports story and best public affairs program.

Shiloh Woolman of KETV won for best feature story (print) and best news media website while KPTM (Cox Channel 10) anchor Taylor Wilson won for best TV feature story.

In the radio division, Rich Denison and Colleen Cook of KFAB won for best newscast.

Judging was performed by the East Bay Press Club, the San Diego Press Club and the Los Angeles Press Club. A portion of the proceeds from the OPC Excellence in Journalism Awards goes toward funding college scholarships for journalism students.

The complete list of winners:

PRINT MEDIA
Best Special Section
First Place: metroMAGAZINE (“Journeys”)

Best Feature Story – Print
First Place: Shiloh Woolman, KETV.com (“High Heels Raise Pain Levels, Other Problems”)
Second Place: Shiloh Woolman, KETV.com (“Fix Your Fitness with Pen, Paper”)
Honorable Mention: Andrew Norman, The Reader (“Barrio Therapy”)

Best Column – Print
First Place: Tim McMahan, The Reader
Second Place: Joel Stevens, Glenwood Opinion-Tribune (“Does Mother’s Day Really Say Enough?”)

Best Enterprise Reporting – Print
First Place: Joel Stevens, Glenwood Opinion-Tribune (“Methamphetamine Devastation”)
Second Place: Oskar Garcia, The Associated Press (“Swift Schoolkids”)
Honorable Mention: Josh Funk, The Associated Press (“Coal Crunch”)

Best Editorial Cartoon – Print
First Place: Neal Obermeyer, The Reader (“Stem Cell Research”)

PUBLIC RELATIONS
Best Print Newsletter
First Place: Jon Brooks, Image Building Communications (“In the Crease”)
Second Place: Joel Long and Ashley Delisi, Omaha World-Herald (“Between the Lines”)
Honorable Mention: Jon Brooks, Image Building Communications (“Drippings”)

Best Media/Press Kit
First Place: The Nebraska Medical Center (“Serious Medicine, Extraordinary Care”)

Best Annual Report
First Place: Marian High School (“Counting Our Blessings”)
Second Place: The Salvation Army / SKAR Advertising (“Lean On. Trust In.”)

Best Brochure/Direct Mail
First Place: Don Doll, SJ, Photographer and Pat Osborne, Designer (“St. Augustine Indian Mission 2007 Calendar”)

Best Web Site
First Place: The Nebraska Medical Center (“NebraskaMed.com”)
Second Place: Jon Brooks, Image Building Communications (“OmahaBizarre.com”)
Honorable Mention: Jon Brooks, Image Building Communications (“Quantum QRE”)

STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
Best Photo Essay
First Place: Nati Harnik, The Associated Press (“Layover of the Cranes”)
Second Place: Don Doll, S.J. (“CAT Scan”)
Honorable Mention: Nati Harnik, The Associated Press (“Chimney Rock”)

Best Feature Photo
First Place: Nati Harnik, The Associated Press (“Guard Return”)
Second Place: Nati Harnik, The Associated Press (“Aptopix Heat Wave”)

Best Sports Photo
First Place: Nati Harnik, The Associated Press (“Dodge Stapleton Football”)

MAGAZINE
Best Magazine Layout & Design
First Place: UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications students (“In the Wake of…”)
Second Place: Rick Davis, Sheila Swanson, and Corporate 3 (“DaVinci Code Factor”)
Honorable Mention: UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications (“One Big Family”)

Best Magazine Cover
First Place: Amanda Walden, UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications (“Platte River Odyssey”)
Second Place: The Nebraska Medical Center (“OneThousandOne”)
Honorable Mention: metroMAGAZINE (“Journeys”)

Best Magazine Feature Story
First Place: Leo Adam Biga, Nebraska Life Magazine (“How ‘Mr. Grand Island’ Became a Holocaust Rescuer”)
Second Place: Creighton University Magazine
Honorable Mention: metroMAGAZINE (“Life is But a Dream”)

TELEVISION
Best Feature Story – Television
First Place: Taylor Wilson, KPTM (“Crazy Leonard”)
Second Place (tie): Perry Stoner, NET Television (“Heritage Camp”)
Second Place (tie): Taylor Wilson, KPTM (“Polka Man”)

Best Sports Story – Television
First Place: Sue Maryott, NET Television (“Halftime Segment”)
Second Place: Brad Pace, NET Television (“Nebraska-Kansas Volleyball Intermission”)

Best Videography – Television
First Place: Ben Drickey, Torchwerks and Susan Eustice, The Salvation Army (“Tree of Life”)

Best News Media Web Site
First Place: Shiloh Woolman, KETV (“KETV.com”)
Second Place: NET Television (“NetNebraska.org”)

Best Public Affairs Program or Documentary – Television
First Place: Bill Kelly and Jim Underwood, NET Television (“Don’t Touch That Dial”)
Second Place: Sue Maryott, NET Television (“Omaha’s Creighton Family”)
Honorable Mention: Mike Tobias and Ray Meints, NET Television (“Nelson vs. Ricketts: Nebraska’s Senate Race”)

RADIO
Best Newscast
First Place: Richard Denison and Coleen Cook, KFAB Radio (“5:30 a.m. Newscast”)
Honorable Mention: Bill Boyer and Mitch Cooley, KGFW AM (“Dec. 31, 2006 Newscast”)