Contests & Awards

Recognizing journalistic excellence, defense of the First Amendment, and outstanding service.

Chapter Awards
The Martys

Ohio SPJ Awards

The Ohio’s Best Journalism Contest is presented annually and collaboratively by the Central Ohio, Cincinnati and Cleveland Pro Chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. It is the only Ohio competition that honors journalists who fulfill the Society’s mission of defending the First Amendment, supporting literacy, resisting censorship, advocating for openness of public records and meetings, and supporting media self-criticism and community service. This program also recognizes the best college daily and weekly newspapers, and awards student winners in news, feature, opinion and sports reporting.

How to Enter

Chapter Awards

For decades, the Central Ohio chapter has honored accomplishments in and service to the field of journalism.  These awards are determined by the Chapter’s Board of Directors and may be nominated by Chapter members. They are given out annually at our Founders’ Day celebration in the spring and include the following.

First Amendment
Award

This award recognizes significant contributions to First Amendment rights of freedom of expression. Individuals and organizations both inside and outside of journalism are eligible.

View Past Winners

Lifetime Achievement Award

Once overseen by SPJ National and now given out by the Chapter, this award honors individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime contribution to the profession of journalism.

View Past Winners

Distinguished Service Award

This award recognizes a member of the chapter who has demonstrated professional excellence and dedication to the Society in the eyes of the Board of Directors.

View Past Winners

Appreciation
Award

This award is presented to an individual or organization that has made a notable contribution to journalism in Central Ohio in the eyes of the Board of Directors.

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Brick Wall Award

This dubious distinction is presented to individuals or organizations that did the most to block citizen access to public records or otherwise violated the spirit of the First Amendment during the past year.

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Ohio Journalism Historic Site Award

The award is presented by the Chapter and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism to a location in the state of Ohio that has special historical significance to journalism.

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The Martys

Presented by the Central Ohio Society of Professional Journalists and Dispatch Media Group, The Martys is an editorial contest for Central Ohio high school journalists. Established in 2011, the contest honors the late Martin L. Rozenman—a long-time local editor, reporter, and champion for student journalists. A winner ($100 cash prize) and runner-up are selected in each of five categories:

  • Best News Writing
  • Best Feature Writing
  • Best Sports Writing
  • Best Opinion Writing
  • Best Photography

From the category winners, one student is awarded the overall Marty Award (Best in Show) and recognized at the annual Central Ohio SPJ Founders’ Day banquet.

View Contest Rules

Eligibility: Open to Central Ohio high school students. Entries must be published during the current school year prior to Feb. 28.

Submission Limit: Maximum of two students per high school, per category.

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked on or before March 4 with an attached entry form.

Notification: Winners will be contacted in April to provide PDF copies of their work.

Questions? Contact contest coordinator Julanne Hohbach at jhohbach@dispatch.com.

View Past Winners

2026 – Vivian Kumpf of Delaware Hayes High School

2025 – Henry Elmore and Harper Reinhard of Bexley High School, Best Feature Writing category winner for “Exploring alternative medicine: students navigate legal medical marijuana use.”

2024 – Colleen Schweninger of Dublin Coffman High School, Best Feature Writing category winner for “The Cloud on the Horizon.”

2023 – Diya Raj of Dublin Coffman High School

2022 – Diya Raj of Dublin Coffman High School, Best Feature Writing category winner for “Finding the Light.”

2021 – Alex Imwalle of Bexley High School

2020 – No ceremony due to Covid-19

2019 – SeRaye Bray from Dublin Coffman High School, Best Feature Writing category winner for story “Being a Minority in the Majority.”

2018 – Dylan Carlson Sirvent and Sophie Yang of Upper Arlington High School, for their Best Feature Writing category-winning article, “Stressed for Success.”

2017 – Clare Proctor of Dublin Coffman High School for her Best Feature Writing category winner “After the Attack,” a story about a student whose family survived an attack in Iraq in 2005 and moved to the United States.

2016 – Aaron Rothchild and Grace Maley of Bexley High School, for their Best Feature Writing category winner published in The Torch student newspaper, “Living Their Truths.”

2015 – Miriam Alghothani and Becina Ganther of Upper Arlington High School, for their co-written “Brain Game” story on student athlete concussions.

2014 – Lily Wiest of Delaware Hayes High School, for her news story, “Beehive buzzes no more,” that examined the closing of a local bookstore and how locally owned versus chain-owned stores are faring in downtown Delaware.

2013 – Matias Grotewold, Patty Huntley and Cassie Lowery of Upper Arlington High School, for their story, “Pills for Perfection.”

2012 – Cassie Lowery and Olivia Miltner, Upper Arlington High School.

2011 – Sophie Shemas, Dublin Coffman High School.

About Marty

Marty Rozenman

Marty worked for 27 years at Suburban News Publications – merged in 2012 with ThisWeek News – the last 20 as editor; and at The Columbus Dispatch from 2004 until succumbing to a blood disorder in 2010. Marty also was a longtime sports columnist for The Other Paper and a nine-year member of the Central Ohio Society of Professional Journalists board of directors.

Mentoring high school and college student journalists and reaching out to young people to encourage interest in the profession was a hallmark of Marty’s tenure at SNP – as was mentoring the waves of young college graduates he hired into their first professional jobs.

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