The Truth Staff
The Toledo Press Club held its annual Touchstone Awards, honoring excellence in the field of journalism, on Thursday October 12 at the Valentine Theatre. Local community honorees included Suzette Cowell, founder and CEO of the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union, Sonia Flunder- McNair, founder & CEO of SONIA Organics.
This year’s youngest nominee was 15-year-old Jaden Jefferson (Jefferson Reports).
Shaun Haggerty of 13ABC hosted this year’s Touchstone Awards. The signature event of the Toledo Press Club has been held since 1991. The evening recognized outstanding journalism, service and also awarded scholarships to local college students.
The Winners of the 2023 Touchstone Awards include:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jim Hoffman (outgoing President of Northwest Ohio Market KeyBank)
Touchstone Award: Jim Webber (Toledo Mudhens)
Contributor Award: Suzette Cowell (Founder & CEO of the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union)
Contributor Award: Sonia Flunder- McNair (Founder & CEO of SONIA Organics)
Print Daily – Hard News: Luke Ramseth (Toledo Blade)
Print Daily – Feature: Shayleigh Frank (Toledo Blade)
Print Daily – Sports: Brian Buckeye (Toledo Blade)
Print Daily – Arts & Entertainment: Jason Webber (The Blade)
Print Non-daily – Hard News: Sean Nestor (Toledo City Paper)
Print Non-daily – Feature: Mary Rose Kulczak (Toledo Parent)
Print Non-daily – Arts and Entertainment: Riley Runnells (Toledo City Paper)
Photojournalism – Videography: Joe Cromer (WTOL 11)
Photojournalism – Print: Isaac Ritchey (The Blade)
Television – Hard News: Brian Duggar, Silas Tsang and Eric Rerucha (WTOL 11)
Television – Feature: Ray Miller and Shane Potgeiter (WGTE)
Television – Sports: Nicole Weaving (BCSN)
Television Arts & Entertainment: Tim McMahon (BCAN)
Radio – Show/ Series: Brad Cresswell (WGTE)
Radio – Single: Brad Cresswell (WGTE)
Podcast : Qaire Marshall (WGTE)
Social Media – (TikTok): Riley Runnells and Libby Cassidy (Toledo City Paper)
Digital Media: WTVG 13 Action News
Student – Television: Ryan Dick, Taylor McFarland, Olivia Ross and BG 24 Staff (BG Falcon Media)
Student – Print: Kyle Neslon and Staff (BG Falcon Media)
Student – Digital Media: Live and Loud (BG Falcon Media)
Student – Photojournalism: Drake Harlett (BG Falcon Media)
Scholarship Winners:
Krystal Clark, student at University of Toledo
Steven Iwanek, student at Bowling Green State University
The sponsors of the 2023 Touchstone Awards were: The Imagination Station, Toledo City Paper, SSOE, WTOL 11, Owens Corning, DANA Corporation, Communica, The Blade, BCAN, BCSN and Buckeye Broadband
For more information on The Press Club or to become a member visit: toledopressclub.com.