ON finalist for two SPJ Indiana awards

The Owen News is a finalist for two awards in the Indiana Pro Chapter of The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) 2024 Best of the Best in Indiana contest.

The annual contest celebrates journalism from newsrooms across the state. The Owen News is a finalist in the Newspaper Page One Design (All Newspapers) Category and Environmental Reporting (Publication Circulation Below 10,000) Category.

The other two finalists in the design category are The Indianapolis Star and The Indianapolis Business Journal. The other two finalists in the environmental reporting category are Limestone Post Magazine and The Herald-Times.

"We're incredibly proud of the newspaper that we publish, and at the end of the day, we know The Owen News serves our community. That is what we're most proud of, regardless of any award recognition," Executive Editor Nicole DeCriscio said.

"But being selected as a finalist for these prestigious awards from our coverage and content in 2024 is an outward testament to the quality of The Owen News and a great honor. It's affirming of the work that we do, placing what we produce among some of the best in the state.

To place among two of our state's largest newspapers for page one design is a fantastic feat for a start-up publication."

The awards contest is judged by journalists from another SPJ chapter, located outside of the state of Indiana. "It's nice to be recognized by our peers in the newspaper industry," said Travis Curry, President of The Owen News Board of Directors.

"To challenge larger and more established publications for recognition in just our first year of operation is amazing, but as a nonprofit we couldn't do what we do without the support of our financial contributors, advertisers and readers."

The placement of the award finalists will be announced at the SPJ Indiana Pro Chapter's annual banquet this evening. The Owen News Facebook page will post information immediately following the banquet, and The Owen News website, theowennews.org, will have a story announcing the results early next week.

The Owen News, which began printing a monthly newspaper in April 2024, is Indiana's first nonprofit newspaper. It was named Non-Profit of the Year last fall by the Owen County Chamber of Commerce, and in February, it won a regional Quality of Place Innovation Award from Regional Opportunities Initiatives, Indiana Uplands.