CORPUS CHRISTI The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors met in Corpus Christi over the weekend and awarded the state’s top journalism awards.
Odessa American reporter Corey Paul won first place in the state’s Class 2A in the Star Investigative Report of the Year category, and won first place in the class’s Freedom of Information category, among other recognitions. Paul’s investigative award was for reporting on City Councilman Malcolm Hamilton and the FOI was for reporting on city attorney Larry Long’s harassment of an employee.
The Odessa American placed second in the Newspaper of the Year category in its class, while also taking second in the Online Newspaper of the Year contest in the class.
In addition, OA staffers won several other awards, including:
- Publisher Pat Canty and editor Laura Dennis, second place in editorial writing.
- Will Holford’s contributed columns, first place in comment and criticism.
- Corey Paul, second place in deadline writing.
- Corey Paul, second place in business reporting.
- Justin Lee, second place in sports feature writing.
A complete list of recognized entries from across the state can be found at TAPMEcontest.org/winners.
The Odessa American’s entries recognized by the Texas APME in the state’s Class 2A include:
- First place, Freedom of Information category: Report confirming harassment ignored in Long case, by Corey Paul
- First place, Star Investigative Report of the Year category: Corey Paul’s coverage including Hamilton berates OPD cops; OPD finds Hamilton stop proper; Who is Malcolm Hamilton?; Councilman’s abuses mount
- Second place, Editorial Writing category, with entries by publisher Pat Canty and editor Laura Dennis including Facts are facts and can’t be manipulated; Midland takes Weir, Odessa takes kick to the rear; Watch and learn, Odessa; City Council insulted all Odessans
- Second place, Deadline Writing category: City Council fires City Manager Richard Morton, by Corey Paul
- Second place, Business Reporting category: Sand mining surges ‘like a gold rush’, by Corey Paul
- Second place, Sports Feature category: ANOTHER SHOT: On-court, off-court, UTPB’s Johnnie Lacy making most of last-chance opportunity, by Justin Lee
