Odessa American staff members won top awards at the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors contest for work produced in 2021 including first place for the Freedom of Information reporting on the OA’s court fight over timely access to police records with the City of Odessa.
Awards were announced this weekend in Irving during the annual APME convention. Online Editor Royal McGregor and OA Editor Laura Dennis won first place in the FOI category for the continuing story on the court battle between the OA and the City of Odessa.
Photographer Eli Hartman won first place in photojournalism for his work following the Andrews bus crash that killed two people and injured others. Hartman captured the football game and all the #andrewsstrong support that came several days after the horrific wreck and culminated at the final game of the season for the Mustangs.
McGregor was also honored with a third place in deadline writing for his work covering the final game of the Andrews football season in the aftermath of the wreck.
Hartman also won second place in photojournalism for his work on a photo essay at Midland’s Summer Mummers.
He also won honorable mention for a football photo in the sports category division.
Veteran journalist Bob Campbell won second place in business reporting for his work covering the oil industry in West Texas.
