Wright State communications, marketing staff win four awards in Ohio journalism contest

Staff members from Wright State University’s Office of Communications and Office of Marketing received four awards — including three first-place prizes — in the 2022 Ohio’s Best Journalism Contest, sponsored by the Ohio chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Wright State employees honored in the contest are Kris Sproles, video content producer; Erin Pence, university photographer; and Jim Hannah, retired assistant director of public relations.

“Winning an Ohio SPJ award is no small accomplishment. I’m proud to see Erin, Kris and Jim get the kudos they deserve in this competition once again,” said Seth Bauguess, director of communications. “Each year their work highlights the abundance of award-winning and interesting stories the Wright State community has to share.”

Pence won first place as the best online still photographer in the digital media category. Some of the photos featured in her body of work include Anna Helmig, a Wright State alumna and Boonshoft Museum of Discovery collections manager, Loudon Love,  all-time Wright State rebounder, and Dan Lauro, Wright State alumnus and lead brewer at Carillon Brewing Company.

Sproles was recognized with a first-place award for best videographer in the digital media category. His body of work includes “Cover story,” featuring artwork by youth in Dayton’s juvenile justice system, and “Kindergarten cops,” which tells the story of Wright State police officers visiting with children during Children’s Campus Week at Mini University.

Erin Pence’s photograph of Wright State alumna and Boonshoft Museum of Discovery collections manager Anna Helmig was part of her winning entry in the best online still photographer in the digital media category.

Hannah took first place for best headline writing in the digital media category for headlines such as “Liquid asset,” a story about a group of Wright State alumni who own Xenia’s Devil Wind Brewery, and “Talent to spare,” a feature on Madison Stiffler, a member of the Wright State women’s club bowling team.

Hannah, Sproles and Pence took second place for best sports coverage in the digital media category for coverage of the Wright State golf team as well as features of Wright State athletes, including “Talent to spare” and “Chairman of the boards.”

Chris Snyder, photography coordinator at Wright State, also contributed to the success of this award-winning content.

Ohio’s Best Journalism Contest was sponsored by the Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus Society of Professional Journalists chapters. The contest included entries from newspapers, broadcasters, radio stations and colleges from across the state.

The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

From left: Erin Pence, university photographer; Chris Snyder, photography coordinator; Kris Sproles, video content producer; and Jim Hannah, retired assistant director of public relations.

More stories by staff members in the offices of Communications and Marketing, the Boonshoft School of Medicine and University Advancement can be found in the Wright State Newsroom.