Ohio Newspaper Association
1335 Dublin Rd., Suite 216-B
Columbus, OH 43215
http://www.ohionews.org
P: (614) 486-6677  F: (614) 486-4940

2016 marks the Pulitzer Prize Centennial Celebration. To honor the centennial Dennis Hetzel, the executive director of the Ohio Newspaper Association and a life-long newspaper journalist, approached Bowling Green State University and Ohio University about creating a video and related website documenting the Ohio newspapers and journalists who have won a Pulitzer. The resulting work stands as a testament to both the historic importance of in-depth journalism to Ohio and how hard-hitting local journalism remains an essential part of all our state’s communities.

Robert Stewart and his students at Ohio University created the video documentary on Ohio’s Pulitzer winners. Jim Foust and his group of students and faculty at BGSU created the accompanying website. George Rodrigue and his staff at the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Bruce Winges and his staff at the Akron Beacon Journal provided advice and assistance on the project. Pulitzer Prize winner Connie Schultz also provided advice while ONA’s Jason Sanford coordinated the project. Thanks also to all the Ohio newspapers who provided access to their archives for this project.

MARISSA BARENBRUGGE is a multiplatform journalism major. She currently works off campus at Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity as the communications coordinator and on campus as a writer for Live Wire. She will be graduating in May.

NANCY BRENDLINGER is an associate professor in the Department of Journalism and Public Relations. She teaches feature writing, public affairs reporting and international studies, and was a newspaper reporter, photographer and editor in Iowa. She has taught reporting and about U.S. journalism in Indonesia, Slovakia and China.  

SAMI FISHER is a multiplatform journalism major. She is a competitive figure skater and public relations practitioner for BGSU Club Figure Skating. She is also an editorial contributor for the Lala, an online magazine dedicated to empowering college students.

JIM FOUST is a professor in the Department of Journalism and Public Relations. He teaches online journalism, multimedia reporting and law and ethics. He formerly worked in television news and corporate video production. He has written textbooks on online journalism and video production.

ANNIE FURIA is a multiplatform journalism major. She has worked with ONA previously as part of the Student News Bureau covering its 2015 Annual Convention. She is currently a junior and editor-in-chief of The BG News.

LINDSEY GUMP is a public relations major.  She has designed and currently runs a website for the Animal Ark Pet Resort in Cincinnati, Ohio.  She is a political science minor and hopes to work in local government after graduation.  

ROB STEPHENS is a film production major and journalism minor. He has previously created websites, social media outlets, and video material for small businesses around Pittsburgh. He is currently working on student film productions.

KELLY TAYLOR is a lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Public Relations. She teaches publication design, reporting and advising school publications. A former high school adviser she remains active in scholastic press.

JON FOBES is a photo editor, videographer, sound designer and Emmy-winning composer-musician at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. The four-time OSU grad was a teacher for five years and has more than 900 copyrighted songs, which he uses to create soundtracks for various projects. 

CAROL HECTOR-HARRIS is an award-winning journalist working almost 40 years in print and electronic media, public/media relations, congressional affairs, education, fundraising, photography, public speaking and special event coordination in the U. S. and the Caribbean.  She is in her final term at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism’s doctoral program, after which she plans to produce and direct documentaries on the history of Africans in the diaspora.

KATE HILLER is currently pursuing a master’s degree in journalism at Ohio University after graduating in December 2015 with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish. As an undergraduate, Kate traveled extensively, building her portfolio through internships and jobs in Ecuador, Germany, Namibia and Rwanda, as well as a few back home in the United States. She is currently a projects coordinator for the Institute for International Journalism.

SPENCER McCROSSEN is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in integrated media with a communications minor and a social media certificate. He is currently looking to apply his skills in media to expand his horizons and apply them to real world experience. One day he hopes to inspire others with his work to understand and resonate with other perspectives and cultures.

A special thank you to the following people who served as contacts for the project or participated in planning:

JOHN ERICKSON, Dayton Daily News
CLAIRE FENRICH, Cleveland Plain Dealer
PHILLIP KAPLAN, Toledo Blade
PATTY MARCANO, Dayton Daily News
GEORGE RODRIGUE, Cleveland Plain Dealer
CONNIE SCHULTZ, Creators Syndicate
JEFF SUESS, Cincinnati Enquirer
BRUCE WINGES, Akron Beacon Journal