Matter News takes home six awards in statewide journalism contests

Matter News won a trio of awards in the Ohio’s Best Journalism contest, the results of which were announced today, in addition to three awards received from the All-Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards during a reception that took place earlier this month.

In the Ohio’s Best Journalism contest presented by the Society of Professional Journalists, Matter News placed first in Investigative Reporting for Andy Downing’s April 2025 look into a former longtime Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center employee investigated by the university for sexual misconduct.

Matter also placed first in Best Editorial/Criticism Writing for “What the drug war leaves behind,” by Jack Shuler, and second in Best News Story for our coverage of the detention of Mohan Karki, a Columbus man taken into custody by ICE in April 2025 and deported in January.

In the All-Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards presented by the Cleveland Press Club, Matter News placed second in Crime and Justice Reporting for this account of a Lancaster native who said she was molested as a child by a fellow parishioner at Faith Memorial Church. Matter also placed second in Review/Criticism for this take on Nick Cave’s May 2025 concert at Palace Theatre, and third in Arts & Entertainment writing for this look at a pair of July 2025 exhibitions at Urban Arts Space.