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.

2026 –  The Columbus Dispatch, for its legal efforts pertaining to Marsy’s Law

2025 –  Isabel Cleary, NBC4

2024 – USA Today Network Ohio

2023 – Max Filby, Mike Wagner, and Jennifer Smola Shaffer, The Columbus Dispatch

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)