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02/16/2018

Heminger, Oplinger, Ludlow receive awards at ONMA convention

Two distinguished journalists and the fourth-generation leader of one of Ohio’s oldest newspaper companies were honored at the 2018 Ohio News Media Association Convention.

ONMA President’s Award

Karl HemingerPhoto (from left to right): Bill Southern, Karl Heminger, Monica Nieporte, and Dennis Hetzel

Karl Heminger, president of Findlay Publishing Co. and publisher of the Findlay Courier, received ONMA’s highest honor, the president’s award for distinguished service to the organization and the industry.

Karl became publisher of the Findlay Courier in 2000 and president of Findlay Publishing Co. in 2002. The Courier is Findlay’s oldest surviving business, dating to Nov. 10, 1836, when Jacob Rosenberg published the first edition. It faced stiff competition from other local papers for nearly 100 years. One of those papers was the Republican, which started in 1886. The Republican and the Courier came under common ownership when the Findlay Publishing Co. purchased the Courier in 1926, distributing out the morning, partisan Republican and the evening, Democrat-leading Courier until they were combined in 1933 and became politically independent.

The Heminger family started in newspapering in 1886 when I.N. Heminger joined the Republican staff. I.N. son’s R.L. and L.N. Heminger got involved, and it was R.L. who succeeded his father as head of the company. Sadly, L.N. died in a car crash in 1931. It was his R.L.’s son, Harold, who pushed the company into the radio business, where it remains to this day. Many of you knew Karl’s late father, Ed, who was known nationally, particularly as a member of the Associated Press board of directors. Karl is the fourth Heminger to guide the company as president and the third to serve as publisher.

Today, Findlay Publishing Co. publishes The Findlay Courier and the Fostoria Review Times and owns seven radio stations – three in Findlay and four in Columbus, Ind. The company also owns and operates Findlay Allegra Print and Imaging, a commercial print shop, and Findlay Digital Design for web design and hosting. During his many years of service to ONMA, Karl fulfilled countless committee, board and leadership roles. As president, he successfully guided our organization through some of the most challenging years our industry has ever faced, and he remains active on our Convention Committee.

 

William Maxwell Award

Doug OplingerPhoto (from left to right): Bill Southern, Doug Oplinger, Monica Nieporte, and Dennis Hetzel

Doug Oplinger, retired managing editor of the Akron Beacon Journal and current leader of Your Vote Ohio, received the Maxwell Award, which recognizes service to our industry and the citizens of Ohio.

The award is named for the publisher and editor of The Centinel of the Northwestern Territory.  Established in Cincinnati in 1793, The Centinel was the first newspaper in what would become the state of Ohio, admitted to the Union in 1803. The award was presented for the first time at the 2009 ONA Convention to Cleveland native Len Downie, Ohio State University journalism graduate and former editor of The Washington Post. 

Oplinger was involved in Pulitzer prizes, statewide political coverage and –  most significantly –  the mentoring of countless journalists and the development of the stories they told during his 40-plus years at the Akron Beacon Journal as a reporter, business editor, metro editor and managing editor.

In 2007, Oplinger was named managing editor of the Beacon Journal. In this key newsroom role, Oplinger mentored journalists and shaped coverage that made a difference in Akron and beyond.

As journalism came under attack and Ohio citizens needed intelligent reporting about the consequential issues across our state during the last election year, Oplinger was the leader in creation of an unprecedented consortium of print and broadcast journalists from across the state to share resources and provide compelling, meaningful coverage. The ONMA was proud to be involved as a facilitator in that issue. Since retiring, Oplinger is force of energy in Your Voice Ohio, which continues the work of 2017 around the state to bring citizens, officials and journalists together to play their roles in solving problems to the best of their abilities.

 

Champion of Open Government Award

Randy LudlowPhoto: Randy Ludlow

Columbus Dispatch reporter Randy Ludlow received the 2018 Champion of Open Government from the Ohio Coalition for Open Government for decades of advocacy and mentoring others on open government issues as well as his service as an OCOG board member.

Ludlow began his career at the age of 16, reporting for the Indianapolis News in his hometown. He attended Indiana University, went to the Shelbyville, Indiana, News, then spent 19 years at the late, great Cincinnati Post. He worked for a decade in the Post’s statehouse bureau.

In 2002, he joined The Dispatch. He’s part of their government reporting team and writes a blog on First Amendment issues called Your Right to Know. He has received dozens of journalism awards, including the 2010 First Amendment award from the Associated Press Managing Editors. Many of his awards stem from tenacious use of public records.

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