First Amendment Award Recipients – 1982-Present

The Central Ohio SPJ award recognizes significant contributions to the First Amendment rights of freedom of expression. Individuals and organizations both inside and outside of journalism are eligible.

2022 – Members of the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association
2021 – The Lantern, specifically staff members Sarah Szilagy, Maeve Walsh, and Max Garrison
2020 – No ceremony due to Covid-19
2019 – The Columbus Dispatch
2018 – The 10 Investigates team at WBNS-TV Channel 10
2017 – Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost
2016 – Lucas Sullivan, Columbus Dispatch reporter
2015 – Dan Trevas, Ohio State Bar Association
2014 – Otterbein University students Anna Schiffbauer and Gena DiMattio
2013 – Bill Bush and Jennifer Smith Richards, Columbus Dispatch
2012 – Dan Gearino, Columbus Dispatch
2011 – Evan Millward, Ohio University
2010 – Randy Ludlow, Columbus Dispatch
2009 – Geoff Dutton and Mike Wagner, Columbus Dispatch
2008 – Jill Riepenhoff and Jennifer Smith Richards, Columbus Dispatch
2007 – Marc Dann, Ohio attorney general
2006 – Fred Gittes, Gittes & Schulte
2005 – State Rep. W. Scott Oelslager, R, Canton
2004 – Dennis Leone, former superintendent of Chillicothe Schools
2003 – Martin Rozenman, Suburban News Publications
2002 – Catherine Candisky and Darrel Rowland, Columbus Dispatch
2001 – Staff of the Ohio State University Lantern
2000 – Thomas A. Schwartz, OSU journalism professor
1999 – Cliff Wiltshire, Suburban News Publications
1998 – Verne Edwards, Delaware Gazette
1997 – Frank Deaner, Ohio Newspaper Association
1996 – Martin Yant, Ohio Observer magazine
1995 – Staff of the Ohio University Post
1994 – The Columbus Dispatch and Editor Bob Smith
1993 – not presented
1992 – Alan D. Miller, Columbus Dispatch
1991 – The Fairfield County Leader
1990 – Luke Feck, former Dispatch editor
1989 – Andrew Douglas, Ohio Supreme Court Justice
1986 – Sam Perdue, Columbus Citizen-Journal city editor and columnist
1983 – Judge John W. McCormac of the Franklin County Court of Appeals

Other winners:
The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer (year not known)