Ohio Capital Journal wins eight Society of Professional Journalists awards, including Best News Site

The Ohio Capital Journal has won eight awards in “Ohio’s Best Journalism Contest” from the Society of Professional Journalists, including First Place for Best General News Site, three other first place finishes, and four in second place. The contest covered stories and editorial from 2025.

The Ohio Capital Journal also won seven Ohio Society of Professional Journalists awards last year, seven Ohio Society of Professional Journalists awards the year before that, seven SPJ awards in 2023, and five SPJ awards in 2022.

Overall, the Ohio Capital Journal has won 34 Ohio Society of Professional Journalists awards in the last five years.

We are honored and grateful for this recognition from our fellow journalists. We are also humbled by all of the support we receive from our readers and Ohioans across the state. Your tips, notes of encouragement, letters of appreciation, generous donations, and sharing of our articles really mean everything to us.

We promise to continue holding politicians in power accountable, lifting up the voices of Ohioans outside the halls of power, and reporting for the people.

Below we are sharing the award-winning entries in Digital Media categories.

Best General News Site — First Place — David DeWitt, Nick Evans, Megan Henry, Marty Schladen, Susan Tebben, Morgan Trau

OhioCapitalJournal.com

Best Overall Commentary/Opinion Section — First Place — David DeWitt and Marilou Johanek

Trump tariffs creating a bumpy ride for Ohio families working in the automobile industry

Ohio family farmers describe life under Trump tariffs: ‘We’re in a hell of a mess here.’

Trump has now twice devastated Ohio’s farm economy, and twice used taxpayer money for a bailout

Chaos and turmoil are whipping through America, spreading fear in Ohio and across the country

Best Feature — First Place — Marty Schladen

The world celebrated Ohio’s most important cultural site. Like so much else, that’s controversial

Judge’s comment: “The writer seamlessly weaves history, a kind of reverse detective narration, mathematics, astronomy, bigotry and politics into craft an intriguing read, with the occasional wry observation to spare. But what really sets this entry apart is the elegance of the writing.”

Best Government/Political Reporting — First Place — Morgan Trau

What happens in Ohio if the U.S. Dept. of Education is defunded?

Ohio GOP threatens to cut school funding, calling spending ‘unsustainable’

How Ohio police justify charging hundreds of dollars for bodycam video

Judge’s comment: “Clear, reader-first journalism that breaks down the impact of policy decisions for the public.”

Best Government/Political Reporting — Second Place — Megan Henry

Ohio has near-universal school vouchers, but 10 counties have no private schools

‘It feels like a betrayal.’ Ohio college students experiencing effects of new higher education law

Ohio has more than two dozen microschools, but the state’s dept. of education does not oversee them

Best Business/Tech Reporting —  Second Place — Nick Evans

Ohio businesses were promised funding for solar but worry the Trump administration won’t pay

Best of Show: Best Digital/Freelance Writer — Second Place — Nick Evans

Miami University students map the land in Ohio stolen from the Randolph Freedpeople

Ohio lawmakers wrestle with how to make amends for land denied the Randolph Freedpeople

Ohio businesses were promised funding for solar but worry the Trump administration won’t pay

Ohio food banks are serving more people than ever, budget would maintain funding at 2019 levels

Ohio’s governor, lawmakers, and grassroots organizers are all wrestling over property tax reform

Best Investigative Reporting —  Second Place — Morgan Trau

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine stunned by teachers’ pension fund behavior with firm accused of corruption

Ex-Ohio teacher pension official says nothing inappropriate about relationship with investment firm

Ohio educators speak out against ‘undemocratic’ removals on retired teachers’ pension fund board