Oklahoma journalists win Salute to Excellence awards

Russell Perry of Perry Publishing & Broadcasting was the recipient of the Oklahoma Salute to Excellence Awards in Journalism Lifetime Achievement Award.  Perry, a native Oklahoman, has a longstanding career in the newspaper, radio and television industry.

Mia Fleming, a Weekend Anchor for FOX23 News, was named Journalist of the Year by NABJ-Tulsa for her work in covering stories that have a significant impact on the African-American and minority communities in Tulsa.

Mia began her television career at KFOR in Oklahoma City while attending Langston University. She joined FOX23 news as an Associate Producer and Weekend Assignment Editor in 2001.

Martha Vaughan, General Manager of KJMM 105.3 FM and KGTO 1050AM in Tulsa, is the recipient of the NABJ Community Service Award for her work to increase breast cancer awareness across the African American community.

The Tulsa World won the Thumbs Up award for Best Practices for its interactive multi-media project that combined print and web components, “The Questions That Remain: A conversation about Tulsa’s Race Riot and racism today.”

The site listed seven questions such as, “Is racism still a problem in Tulsa today?” and “What can individuals do to improve race relations in our community?” Among the seven panelists who answered each question were State Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, Rev. G. Calvin McCutchen Sr., Nancy Day and Negiel Bigpond who gave personal responses to the question of the day, which were also open to reader’s responses which are captured online.

There are interactive sections including a timeline, multimedia and a map of important sites during the riot as well as an archive of Tulsa World articles including recent coverage of the Race Riot Commission, reparations and the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park.

Celicia Jones, a Senior at Edmond Santa Fe High School, a former Tulsan and an active student volunteer will pursue journalism as her major this fall at the University of Central Oklahoma. She is this year’s recipient of the Yvonne Lewis Urban Journalism Scholarship.

This year’s keynote speaker was the nationally recognized author and award-winning journalist, Roland S. Martin. Martin’s speech was titled, “Never Say Toby!” He encouraged everyone to not allow their spirit to be broken and to speak up for what is right wherever we are, in newsrooms, on the job, or in the community. His program on TV One, “Washington Watch with Roland Martin” is a must see.  He is also a political analyst on the nationally-syndicated radio broadcast, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, heard locally on KGTO (AM 1050). Martin is often seen on CNN as a political analyst.

NABJ-Tulsa annually hosts the Oklahoma Salute to Excellence Awards in Journalism to honor those who provide excellence in news coverage of the plight and successes of the African-American community and the African Diaspora.

Each year, the awards banquet serves as one of the main fundraisers for the organization. The money that is raised during the event helps to put on the Urban Journalism Workshop (UJW) for students interested in becoming journalists, the NABJ-Tulsa Yvonne Lewis Urban Journalism Scholarships and further enrichment training for both students and media professionals.

A complete list of the winners follows:

2011 Oklahoma Salute to Excellence Awardees

Journalism –Divisions & Categories

Division One

NEWSPAPER–

Editorial/Commentary

1^st Place  – Owen Canfield, “Late Lawmaker was true public servant” – The Oklahoman

Sports

1^st Place – Berry Tramel, “The Main Event Diversity in College Football Coaching” – The Oklahoman

2^nd Place – Jenni Carlson, “Unknown Pioner” – The Oklahoman

3^rd Place – Jenni Carlson, “Healing in the Heart of Little Dixie” – The Oklahoman

Feature

1^st Place – David Zizzo, Reward and Challenge –  Love Spreads Across Cultural Lines for Families” – The Oklahoman

2^nd Place – David Cathay, “Inspiring Couples  – MARRIAGE” – The Oklahoman

3^rd Place – Manny Gamallo, “One of the Wereth 11 buried in Oklahoma Grave” – Tulsa World

News

1^st Place  – Omer Gillham, Series Coverage

Inmates questioned in police probe; Sentences vacated; Ex-agent

pleads in Conspiracy; 5 TPD officers indicted; TPD sets no-tolerance

policy on officers ; Officer denies link to burglary ring

2^nd Place -  Sonya Colberg,”Adjustable – Rate loans helped lead to impossible payments”

– The Oklahoman

3^rd Place – Nolan Clay, “Pharmacist charged with murder says “crazed” DA Is seeking black voters’ support   – The Oklahoman

Entertaiment/Criticism

1^st Place – George Lang, “Local rap artist makes a clean break” – The Oklahoman

2^nd Place – Michael Smith, “First black princess review mixed” – Tulsa World

3^rd Place  -  Tetona Dunlap, “Keeping the Beat” – The Oklahoman

Division 3

TELEVISION

Feature

1^st Place – Chris Lincoln/Rick Pendergraft, “Tisdale One Year Later” – KTUL-TV

2^nd Place  – Kim Jackson/Andrejs Dabars, “Diversity in Schools” – KTUL-TV

Division 5

VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS

Photo/Single Image

1^st Place – John Clanton, “People on Sunday” – The Oklahoman

2^nd Place – John Clanton, “Oklahoma City Bombing” – The Oklahoman

3^rd Place  – Cory Young, “Planting the Future” – Tulsa World

Photo/Multiple Images

1^st Place  – Cory Young, “Marching the Dream” – Tulsa World

2^nd Place  -  John Clanton, “Clyde Coulter” – The Oklahoman

Layout and Design

1^st Place  – Oklahoman Staff, “I Have a Dream” – The Oklahoman

Division 7

NEW MEDIA

Multimedia

1^st Place  – John Clanton, “Clyde Coulter” – The Oklahoman

2^nd Place – John Clanton, “Martin Luther King Avenue” – The Oklahoman

SPECIAL HONORS

Lifetime Achievement – Russell Perry, Perry Publishing & Broadcasting

Journalist of the Year  – Mia Fleming, Fox 23 News

Community Service  – Martha Vaughan, Perry Publishing & Broadcasting

Best Practices  – Tulsa World