BJ's Love wins top AP photo award

Ken Love won the only first place winner for the Beacon Journal in the annual Associated Press Society of Ohio newspaper competition, but several Akron Beacon Journal staff members earned statewide honors Sunday. The Plain Dealer had at least 10 firsts.

Love took top honors for Best Spot News Photo among newspapers with circulations of more than 75,000, while fellow Beacon Journal photographer Phil Masturzo earned second-place honors in the category. Love also placed second in the Best Feature Photo category. In addition, Masturzo earned second-place honors for Best Photo Essay, and Mike Cardew earned third place in Best Sports Photo.

Lew Stamp finished second in the Best Videographer category.

The newspaper's Web site — http://www.ohio.com — was named the second best newspaper Internet site in the state. The Dayton Daily News website was judged the best.

Columnist Bob Dyer placed second in the competition for Best Columnist and Rick Steinhauser took second-place honors in the Best Graphics Artist category and third place in the Best Illustration competition. Dennis Earlenbaugh also earned an honorable mention for Best Illustration.

The Plain Dealer also was first in General Excellence ahead of the Columbus Dispatch and Cincinnati Enquirer. The Dispatch garnered a number of awards..

PD “best” awards went to Peter Krouse, burinsss; Becky Gaylor, editorial writer; Diane Suchestka, feature writer; Andrea Lervy, graphics artist; Toni Grossi, best game story Gus Chan, photographer and also best photo essay; The PD also won firsts for Best Community Service and best sports section

Former BJ staffers who won second place awards were PD staffers Terry Pluto, sports columnist; and Sheryl Harris, business writer.

Click on the headline to see the full list which was published by the Canton Repository which was first in general excellence for newspapers with circulation of 25,000 to 75,000 circulation.