Beacon Journal honored

Associated Press

COLUMBUS - The Akron Beacon Journal won first place in business and arts coverage for 2003 from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, while a staff reporter and photographer each won best of show.

More than 900 entries were submitted by 120 news organizations. In the print category for circulation of 100,000 or more, the newspaper won the following awards:

Best business coverage: first place, ``Legacy of Decline,'' by John Russell.

Best arts reporting: first place, ``Arts Recession,'' staff.

Best coverage of children's issues: second place, ``Kenmore Abuse Case,'' John Higgins, Andale Gross, Keith McKnight, Carl Chancellor, Phil Trexler, Kymberli Hagelberg, Stephen Dyer, and David Knox and staff.

Best explanatory journalism: second place, ``Focus on: Independent Inventors,'' by Paula Schleis.

Best sports coverage: second place, ``Boys of Spring,'' by Keith McKnight and Ed Meyer.

In best of show, Lew Stamp won as best photographer, and Cheryl Powell won as best reporter (as did reporter Kelly Lecker of the Toledo Blade).

The Beacon Journal's online partner, Ohio.com, won first place for best web site.