Oklahoma Press Association

07/25/2024

Congratulations to the winners of the April and May Oklahoma Natural Gas-OPA Column and Editorial Contests! In April, Sara Acosta of Woodward News won in the column category for her piece, "A moment of darkness sheds light" and James Beaty at McAlester News-Capital won in the editorial category with his editorial, "McAlester Council shouldn't repeal the will of voters."

Then in May, Julie Talton of Pottawatomie Online, Countywide & Sun won in the column category with her piece, "Connect the Musical Dots" and Kim Poindexter at Tahlequah Daily Press won in the editorial category for her piece, "Butker's remarks show he is out of touch." These winning opinion pieces were featured in the July issue of the Oklahoma Publisher.

Don't miss out on your chance to be featured in The Oklahoma Publisher and receive a $100 check! Submit your column and editorial entries at the following link.
https://okpress.com/page/ong-contest

To see previous winners of the ONG-OPA column and editorial contests, please visit the link below.
https://okpress.com/news/Default.asp?id=18123

07/24/2024

Congratulations to the winners of the April and May OG&E-OPA Photo Contests! In April, Glen Miller of El Reno Tribune won in the daily division and Brian Blansett at The Lincoln County News won in the weekly division.

Andy Dossett at Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise won in the daily division in May and Boone Clemmons of The Country Connection News won in the weekly division.

Submit your photos for the July contest at the link below or email them to [email protected]! Winners are featured in The Oklahoma Publisher and receive a $100 check.
https://okpress.com/page/oge-photo-contest

07/23/2024

Congratulations to Bruce Willingham, publisher of McCurtain Gazette! He received the ONF Beachy Musselman Award during the annual Convention for his contribution to the newspaper industry and the McCurtain County community. Check out his video below!

The award, established in 1969 to recognize and encourage quality journalism in practice, education and research, is named after the late Norman Beachy Musselman, former editor and general manager of the Shawnee News-Star.

07/22/2024

Congratulations to James O. Goodwin, publisher of The Oklahoma Eagle! He received the OPA Milt Phillips Award during the 2024 OPA Convention for his dedication to the newspaper industry and the Tulsa community. Check out James's award recipient video below!

The H. Milt Phillips Award is the highest honor given by the Oklahoma Press Association. The recipient is selected based on publishing a high-quality newspaper; contribution to the profession and the newspaper industry; years of service to the community, state and nation in a variety of volunteer activities and strong love and dedication to the family.

07/19/2024

Congratulations to Connor Choate at Marietta Monitor Newspaper for receiving the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation's Joseph H. Edwards Outdoor Writer of the Year award!

The award was established to honor Joe Edwards, former publisher of the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise. The contest and award honors a writer whose published work exemplifies and captures Edwards' passion for the outdoors – from its majestic scenery to its abundant and varied wildlife and virtually all sports afield.

07/18/2024

Congratulations to Clifton Adcock of The Frontier for receiving the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation Ray Lokey Memorial Award for Excellence in Reporting!

This award was established by readers of the Johnston County Capital-Democrat to honor its former publisher, John Raiford "Ray" Lokey. It aims to honor an individual writer whose published work demonstrates a dedication to well researched, responsible and fact-driven journalism for the benefit of their community and the newspaper industry.

07/17/2024

Congratulations to The Cameron University Collegian for winning the Sequoyah Award in the College News Media division of the OPA 2023 Better Newspaper Contest!

The OPA annual contest honors excellence in publications across the state and recognizes the staff's hard work to produce a quality publication. The Sequoyah Award is bestowed upon the news organization that receives the most points in its population/frequency division.

07/16/2024

Congratulations to Minco- Unioncity Times for winning the Sequoyah Award in Division 8 of the OPA 2023 Better Newspaper Contest!

The OPA annual contest honors excellence in publications across the state and recognizes the staff's hard work to produce a quality publication. The Sequoyah Award is bestowed upon the news organization that receives the most points in its population/frequency division.

07/15/2024

Congratulations to The Keystone Gusher for winning the Sequoyah Award in Division 7 of the OPA 2023 Better Newspaper Contest!

The OPA annual contest honors excellence in publications across the state and recognizes the staff's hard work to produce a quality publication. The Sequoyah Award is bestowed upon the news organization that receives the most points in its population/frequency division.

07/12/2024

Congratulations to The Purcell Register for winning the Sequoyah Award in Division 6 of the OPA 2023 Better Newspaper Contest!

The OPA annual contest honors excellence in publications across the state and recognizes the staff's hard work to produce a quality publication. The Sequoyah Award is bestowed upon the news organization that receives the most points in its population/frequency division.

07/11/2024

Congratulations to Choctaw Times for winning the Sequoyah Award in Division 5 of the OPA 2023 Better Newspaper Contest!

The OPA annual contest honors excellence in publications across the state and recognizes the staff's hard work to produce a quality publication. The Sequoyah Award is bestowed upon the news organization that receives the most points in its population/frequency division.

07/10/2024

Congratulations to Midwest City Beacon for winning the Sequoyah Award in Division 4 of the OPA 2023 Better Newspaper Contest!

The OPA annual contest honors excellence in publications across the state and recognizes the staff's hard work to produce a quality publication. The Sequoyah Award is bestowed upon the news organization that receives the most points in its population/frequency division.

07/09/2024

Congratulations to El Reno Tribune for winning the Sequoyah Award in Division 3 of the OPA 2023 Better Newspaper Contest!

The OPA annual contest honors excellence in publications across the state and recognizes the staff's hard work to produce a quality publication. The Sequoyah Award is bestowed upon the news organization that receives the most points in its population/frequency division.

07/08/2024

Congratulations to Tahlequah Daily Press for winning the Sequoyah Award in Division 2 of the OPA 2023 Better Newspaper Contest!

The OPA annual contest honors excellence in publications across the state and recognizes the staff's hard work to produce a quality publication. The Sequoyah Award is bestowed upon the news organization that receives the most points in its population/frequency division.

07/05/2024

Congratulations to The Norman Transcript for winning the Sequoyah Award in the Daily & Online Only, Division 1 of the OPA 2023 Better Newspaper Contest!

The OPA annual contest showcases excellence in publications across the state and honors the hard work of the staff to put out a quality publication. The Sequoyah Award is bestowed upon the news organization that receives the most points in its size category.

07/03/2024

Jeff Mullin began his journalism career in January 1976 with the Manhattan (Kansas) Mercury before being hired by Enid News & Eagle in June to be a sportswriter. In just two short years, he became the News & Eagle's sports editor and held that position until the spring of 1993, when he took over as city editor. Soon, Mullin transitioned to news editor and was later named senior writer and lead columnist. He has received a number of awards for sports writing, reporting, feature writing, column writing and editorial writing and was presented the ONF Beachy Musselman Award in 2018. OPA welcomes Jeff Mullin into the Half Century Club! Congratulations, Jeff!

Check out his Half Century Club inductee interview below.

07/02/2024

Before becoming the endowed chair of journalism ethics at UCO and director of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, Joe Hight began his newspaper career in 1974 at the Guthrie Daily Leader. He also worked at The Lawton Constitution and The Shawnee News-Star before joining The Oklahoman, where he spent 27 years. While at The Oklahoman, he was the victims' team leader of the OKC bombing coverage that won two national SPJ awards, a Dart Award for Excellence in Coverage of Violence and many others. OPA welcomes Joe Hight into the Half Century Club! Congratulations, Joe!

Check out his Half Century Club inductee interview below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJNH1Reiltw

07/01/2024

Shauna Belyeu, general manager of Eufaula Indian Journal, takes office as president of the Oklahoma Press Association today.
OPA members elected Belyeu during the annual business meeting on June 7 at the OPA Convention in Oklahoma City.
Suzie Campbell, publisher of the Pottawatomie Online, Countywide & Sun, was elected vice president, and Brian Blansett, publisher of Lincoln County News, was elected treasurer.
“I am so proud of our extremely proactive association and that I have the privilege to serve alongside such a great board and staff,” Belyeu said.
READ MORE: https://okpress.com/page/president

06/28/2024

Susie Glasscock began her career in the newspaper industry throwing a paper route with her siblings when she was 9 years old. At 16, she began working inside the Stillwater News Press, with her father and uncle as the owners, and worked her way through the classifieds and accounting departments before finding her home in the business office. Today she's the Office Supervisor at Stillwater News Press and assists the entire staff with her leadership and knowledge of the community. OPA welcomes Susie Glasscock into the Half Century Club! Congratulations, Susie!

Check out her Half Century Club inductee interview below.

06/27/2024

John Ferguson started his journalism career at Enid News & Eagle in 1973 after graduating from the University of Tulsa. A short time later, he joined the Tulsa World and has been a reporter, photographer and editor in the Tulsa metropolitan area for most of his journalism career. OPA welcomes John Ferguson, Wagoner County American-Tribune, into the Half Century Club! Congratulations, John!

Check out his Half Century Club inductee video below.

06/26/2024

OPA welcomes Jeff Schnoebelen, The Mooreland Leader, and Matt Swearengin, Durant Democrat, into the Quarter Century Club!

Being a member of any profession for 25 years is not only a personal achievement, it is an important milestone that should be recognized. That’s why we recognize the contributions of those who have served in the news media industry by inducting them into the Quarter Century Club. Congratulations, Jeff and Matt!

06/25/2024

OPA welcomes Mark Carson, Woods County Enterprise, and Steve Coulter, Mustang Times, into the Quarter Century Club!

Being a member of any profession for 25 years is not only a personal achievement, it is an important milestone that should be recognized. That’s why we recognize the contributions of those who have served in the news media industry by inducting them into the Quarter Century Club. Congratulations, Mark and Steve!

06/21/2024

Congratulations to the 2023 Oklahoma Natural Gas-OPA Column & Editorial Sweepstakes winners! Jennifer Sharpe, formerly of The Journal Record, won in the column category for her piece "On the Streets of Philadelphia" and Kim Poindexter at Tahlequah Daily Press won in the editorial category with her editorial, "McCurtain episode should be punished." OPA President, Sheila Gay, presented the winners with their awards during the OPA Awards Luncheon on June 8, 2024.
Want to be a Column or Editorial Sweepstakes award winner? Submit your pieces to the monthly ONG-OPA column and editorial contests at the link below to be entered next year, or you can email them to [email protected]!
https://okpress.com/page/ong-contest

06/20/2024

Congratulations to the OG&E-OPA Photo of the Year winners! Richard R. Barron of The Ada News won in the daily/semi-/tri-weekly division and Kyle Lomenick at The Perkins Journal won in the weekly division. OG&E's senior communications specialist, Carson Cunningham, presented the winners with their awards during the OPA Awards Luncheon on June 8, 2024.
Want to be a Photo of the Year award winner? Submit your photos to the monthly OG&E-OPA photo contests at the link below to be entered next year, or email them to [email protected]!
https://okpress.com/oge-photo-contest

06/19/2024

Meet the Tulsa World's summer interns.

Like many employers during the summer, the Tulsa World is enjoying having some new faces in the building.

06/13/2024

The room was packed for Mark Thomas', OPA exec. vice president, Blooper Show.

06/13/2024

Lone' Beasley from The Chickasaw Nation and speaker Pat Hall visit before Pat's "Inside the Issues" session.

06/13/2024

Sean and Christy Stephens, Clinton Daily News enjoy the Welcome Dinner and Singo game.

06/13/2024

OPA Executive Director Mark Thomas presents information during Speed Topics on a content and readership project OPA recently completed with a couple newspapers.

06/13/2024

Jason Collington of the Tulsa World discusses how to "billboard" content in a TLDR (too long, didn't read) world during Speed Topics.