June and July Eddy Awards
We’re late with June recognitions, but we’re peaking early with those for July.
These awards focus on a big three-week stretch of news from June 30, the day of the Toledo council bribery charges, to the week of July 20, when Ohio bribery charges were announced. During this period, a Toledo police officer also was killed in the line of duty, which was the first death in 13 years.
We’ve handled the most news in 2020 that I can recall in a year here at The Blade, and we still have time to go.
While this list doesn’t include every person who had a role in coverage (which also includes police shootings, city homicides, Black Lives Matter protests, hospital wars, and breaking sports developments), it is meant to recognize as many of you as possible.
Allison Dunn – for making The Blade the first to report the reason for the Toledo council arrests and for multiple sourcing. Allison also was one of the reporters on Officer Anthony Dia’s fatal shooting during the early morning hours of July 4. She was on scene for funeral coverage, too.
Alex Mester – for leaving her home in the middle of the night on July 4 to cover the police shooting and a 6 a.m. news conference. Alex also was the first to learn the suspect’s identity. She was the lead writer for the funeral piece.
Sarah Elms – for speaking to Officer Dia’s wife, Jayme, on the same day of his death and for working on multiple city council bribery stories, including a thorough piece on Internet cafes.
Lori King – for getting into One Government Center and taking photos of FBI agents there before it was shut down.
Dave Zapotosky – for leaving his home in the middle of the night on July 4 to cover the police shooting and a 6 a.m. news conference.
Jeremy Wadsworth – for his Page A1 photo of Officer Dia’s widow and her son at the Home Depot memorial.
Danielle Gamble and Joe Landsberger – Danielle went through the FBI complaint about the Toledo bribery case and helped to put together a detailed graphic on the amount that exchanged hands. Joe worked on a variety of graphics also related to the Toledo case.
Alicia Balog, Rona Proudfoot, Kate Mitchell, and Joe Landsberger – for working on many eBlade extras and eBlade updates at all times of morning or day.
Jim Provance – for getting a tip about the Householder raid and also for being the first to report on the identity of the FBI source about the case.
Each winner receives a $50 gas or restaurant card.