‘Dispatch’ reporters to receive chapter’s First Amendment Award

Bill Bush and Jennifer Smith Richards will be presented the First Amendment Award at the Central Ohio SPJ Pro Chapter’s annual Founders Day event for their work on the “Counting Kids Out” series, an investigation that continues to make headlines.

The award is the fifth in six years for a Dispatch staffer, going back to 2008 when Smith Richards and Jill Riepenhoff won for their work on the “ABCs of Betrayal” series.

Join your colleagues at the event May 16 at the Fawcett Center to celebrate their achievement.

Former Dispatch editor and freshman state representative Mike Curtin will be the keynote speaker.

Also at the event, Tom Griesdorn, retiring WBNS-10TV president and general manager, and Bill Cohen, who’s retiring after a 40-year career in public radio, will receive the chapter’s Appreciation Award for their service to journalism in central Ohio.

Tickets are $30 for SPJ members, $35 for non-members and can be purchased online at centralohiofoundersday.eventbrite.com. Reservations are needed by May 10.