ON wins SPJ awards

The Owen News has won four reporting awards from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Indiana Professional Chapter's annual Best in Indiana Journalism Awards.

The annual awards are judged by another SPJ chapter. This year's awards were judged by the Northern California chapter.

The Owen News placed first in Feature Writing with its coverage of VentFest, second place in coverage of children's issues for its coverage of the closure of Tiny Town Learning Center, second place in coverage of government in politics for its piece on awaiting public records concerning the jail land swap, and second in criminal justice reporting for its coverage of a juvenile being waived into adult court in the Gosport shootings that took place during Lazy Days weekend last year.

"These awards reflect the kind of journalism our community deserves: reporting that holds institutions accountable, tells meaningful local stories and doesn't shy away from difficult topics. It shows that The Owen News offers quality journalism," Executive Editor Nicole DeCriscio said. "I'm incredibly grateful that we get to do this work in and for Owen County every day. It's a privilege to serve this community, and we're proud to be building something that truly reflects and supports it. We couldn't do this without the support of our community."

"Our mission has always been to ensure that Owen County has a reliable, independent voice, and these honors from the SPJ affirm that we are meeting that standard of excellence," added Travis Curry, President of The Owen News Board of Directors. "Quality journalism is a vital community asset, and our entire board remains committed to providing the structural support necessary for our team to keep digging deep and telling the stories that matter most to our neighbors. This recognition proves that when a community supports its local newsroom, the result is award-winning journalism that can stand alongside the best in the state."