Welcome
President's Remarks Doug Mouton, WWL-TV
Master of Ceremony Tommy Tucker
Awards Presentation
Presentation of Scholarships
Raffl e Drawing
Lifetime Achievement Award Peggy Scott Laborde, WYES-TV
Lifetime Achievement Award John Snell, WVUE-TV
Special Awards Presentation
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! The Cannery, Renaissance Publishing and Roulaison Distilling Co.
to the 67th Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards
Gala. We are very happy to be back in Mid-City at The Cannery. Missy Aucoin and the sta at The Cannery have been incredible partners and we greatly appreciate their cooperation and support.
Our two Lifetime Achievement Awards recipients are New Orleans legends. Both Peggy Scott Laborde and John Snell have worked in the Nola market for more than 40 years, and in very di erent ways.
John is one of the most respected and trusted journalists in New Orleans television history. His environmental reporting since Hurricane Katrina has been incredibly important, groundbreaking work.
Peggy is the foremost chronicler of New Orleans cultural history. The documentaries and series she’s produced and hosted show o the city’s unique culture and lifestyle. Few PBS stations are so woven into their city’s DNA like WYES, and Peggy is at the forefront of that. Her work around Mardi Gras, food and entertainment is second to none. And both Peggy and John continue to perform at an extremely high level.
Thanks to everyone who entered our contest. It remains incredibly competitive. I know nobody likes finishing 2nd or 3rd, but the fact is, getting into the top 3 in this contest is an accomplishment.
I want to thank our volunteer Board of Directors for all their help and support. This event ends our current term on the Board. Eight of our 11 Board Members will be back for another two-year term. Thanks to our departing Board Members: Laura Jayne, Fletcher Mackel and former Press Club President Mark Schleifstein for everything they’ve done to make the club better.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, thanks for being here tonight. Have fun and enjoy the show.
Doug Mouton President
The Press Club of New Orleans
DOUG MOUTON is now in his 2nd stint as President of the Press Club of New Orleans. He was just elected to a new two-year term. He is the Sports Director at WWL-TV, just the third person to hold that job in the history of the station.
Mouton is a New Orleans native, raised in New Orleans East. He graduated from Brother Martin High School in Gentilly and the University of New Orleans. Doug’s television career began as an intern at WDSU, and his TV stops include KEVN-TV in Rapid City, South Dakota, KVHP-TV in Lake Charles, WEAR-TV in Pensacola and WGNO-TV back in New Orleans.
In 1957, nearly 100 journalists and public relations professionals gathered in modest quarters in the 200 block of Camp Street to organize the Press Club of New Orleans. The goal of the group was to promote and improve the field of journalism and its related professions through professional development. Today, Press Club activities include the professional, the educational and the social. The club’s 300-plus members represent every level of their fields.
2023-2025
Doug Mouton President WWL-TV
Kevin Mumphrey Vice-President Channel 13, St. Tammany Parish Public Schools
Larry Lovell Treasurer Larry Lovell PR
April Catarella Communications Chair Gambel Communications
Robert Witkowski Where Y'at Magazine
Fletcher Mackel WDSU-TV
Laura Jayne Loyola University
Mark Schleifstein The Times-Picayune
Jennifer Crockett DEVENEY
Nayita Wilson NVisions Communications & Consulting
Reine Dugas Bouton Renaissance Publishing
LIKE US on Facebook and follow us on X and Instagram @PressClubNOLA. Please use hashtag #nolapressclubawards.
2018-2021 Melanie Warner Spencer
2016-2018 Doug Mouton
2013-2016 Kevin Mumphrey
2010-2013 Christian Moises
2008-2010 Greg Shepperd
2006-2008 Rob Nelson
2003-2006 Dominic Massa
2001-2003 Belinda Hernandez
1999-2001 Matt Scallan
1998-1999 Rich Collins
1997-1998 Mark Schleifstein
1997 Sam Moore
1995-1997 Jeffrey Meitrodt
1994-1995 S. Lee Alexander
1992-1994 Kathy Finn
1990-1992 Mark Schleifstein
1989-1990 Kit Gorman
1988-1989 Bob Pavlovich
1986-1988 Warren Bell
1985-1986 Randy Callendar
1984-1985 Larry Lorenz
1983-1984 Joe Puglia
1982-1983 Clancy DuBos
1980-1982 Tom Bell
1979-1980 Hal Ledet
1977-1979 Ed Anderson
1976-1977 Guy King
1975-1976 Arnold Porsch
1973-1975 Clarence Doucet
1972-1973 Fritz Harsdorff
1970-1972 Jack Dempsey
1968-1970 Mike Lala
1967-1968 Bill Madden
1966-1967 Del Hall
1965-1966 Fritz Harsdorff
1964-1965 Emile Comar
1963-1964 Jerry Romig
1962-1963 Howard Jacobs
1961-1962 Bob Roesler
1960-1961 Alex Waller
1959-1960 Bill Madden
1958-1959 Emile Comar
1957-1958 Gabriel Gelb
EVERY DAY, thousands of New Orleanians choose to start their day with Tommy Tucker. For more than 13 years, Tommy has been the weekday Morning Drive Host on WWL Radio. It’s a job he calls his “dream job”, a chance to follow in the footsteps of his radio idols: Bob Ruby, David Tyree & Garland Robinette.
Tommy has deep roots in New Orleans, which comes through the radio every day. He’s an Algiers native and proud West Banker. Tommy graduated from Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, then the University of New Orleans. He then set out on a 40-year radio career.
Tommy’s radio career began as Tom “Yeah You Right” on Q93, WQUE-FM in New Orleans. He then spent roughly a year at KKLZ -FM in Las Vegas. Tommy came back home to work at WCKW Radio.
In the early 90’s, Tommy moved to Kool 95.7, WKBU-FM. Kool 95.7 was an Oldies station at the time, and Tommy became the station’s star, and their Program Director. After Katrina hit, WWL Radio drafted Tommy from their sister station, to do New Talk on New Orleans’ most powerful and influential radio station.
Back in the early 90’s, Tommy was the on-camera announcer and sidekick on N.O. It Alls, WGNO’s legendary New Orleans game show. In his career, Tommy has worked a variety of formats: Classic Rock, Light Rock, Oldies, and now New Talk – where he has found his voice.
PEGGY SCOTT LABORDE has spent the last four decades chronicling New Orleans’ history, culture and lifestyle. She is the senior producer at WYES-TV, where she hosts and produces Steppin’ Out, New Orleans’ only weekly arts and entertainment discussion program, which is now in its 39th season.
A Suncoast regional Emmy award winner, Laborde has produced and hosted more than 30 documentaries focusing on the city’s history, food, music, culture and Carnival celebrations. As TV Guide once commented, “What Ken Burns was to the Civil War, Peggy Scott Laborde is to New Orleans – the uno cial TV-chronicler-in-chief.”
She has also produced documentaries for WYES on the history of the French Quarter, Uptown New Orleans, St. Charles Avenue, Canal Street, Bourbon Street, Lake Pontchartrain, the Mississippi River, City Park, Audubon Park and the New Orleans Fair Grounds. Her 2018 documentary New Orleans: The First 300 Years, produced for the city’s tricentennial, aired on public TV stations across the country. She is also the co-author of five books focusing on the city’s food, culture and history
Each Mardi Gras, she also serves as executive producer and host of WYES’ popular live broadcast of the Rex Ball and the Meeting of the Courts of Rex and Comus, the culminating event of the Carnival season.
Peggy is a New Orleans native and a University of New Orleans graduate. In earlier positions at WDSU and WLAE, she covered both the 1984 World’s Fair and the 1987 Papal visit, and went on to chronicle both in WYES documentaries. She is a board member of the City Park Improvement Association, the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival.
She is married to columnist and WYES’ Informed Source Producer/ Panelist Errol Laborde, who was the recipient of the 2016 Press Club of New Orleans Lifetime Achievement Award.
FOR 42 YEARS NOW, John Snell has been one of New Orleans’ most trusted and respected journalists. He says he was “lucky” to arrive at Mike Early’s WWL-TV back in 1983, and he’s been a fixture on the city’s televisions ever since. In 1994, he made the move to WVUE-TV and has been a major factor in helping FOX 8 become New Orleans’ #1 news station.
Snell grew up directly north of New Orleans, on a corn and soybean farm in the community of Tonica, Illinois. He began his career at WCIL-AM and FM while still a student at Southern Illinois University. He landed his first TV job as the Illinois Bureau Chief for WPSD-TV in Paducah, Kentucky. Two years later, Snell made the move to New Orleans.
John accepted the job in New Orleans on Halloween night in 1983, as WWL-TV's first dedicated nightside reporter. Two years later, he and Judy Storch became the weekend anchor team. In 1990, he replaced local legend Garland Robinette as Channel 4’s 6pm and 10pm anchor.
In 1994, John made the move across town, to become WVUE’s weeknight news anchor. Twelve years later, the powerhouse anchoring duo of Snell and Nancy Parker made the move together to mornings, establishing that show as first in the market. Then late last year, John moved back to nights at FOX 8.
During his entire career as an anchor, John has also been one of the city’s best reporters. His focus for years was largely on Politics and Business. Katrina changed that. He’s now one of the state’s best environmental reporters. Among his many awards, the one he’s proudest of came in 2012 with his first coastal documentary, “Disappearing Defenses”. The documentary explored obstacles and solutions to turning back the tide of erosion and won the Sigma Delta Chi national award for excellence, and a national Edward R. Murrow Award.
CATEGORIES ARE LISTED IN PRESENTATION ORDER:
PRINT/WRITING Investigative Reporting
PRINT/WRITING Cover
PRINT/WRITING Education Reporting
PRINT/WRITING Business Reporting
TV VIDEOGRAPHY Sports Videography
TV VIDEOGRAPHY General News
COLLEGE JOURNALISM Written News Story
COLLEGE JOURNALISM Video News Story
TELEVISION Investigative Reporting
TELEVISION Education Reporting
TELEVISION Station Promotion
TELEVISION Environmental / Science Reporting
PUBLIC RELATIONS Public Affairs
PUBLIC RELATIONS Community Relations
PUBLIC RELATIONS Overall Campaign
TELEVISION Planned Event Coverage
TELEVISION Sports Special
TELEVISION Medical / Health Reporting
TELEVISION Lifestyle Reporting
RADIO Live Remote Broadcast
RADIO Cultural Broadcast
PRINT/WRITING Sports Column
PRINT/WRITING Layout Design
PRINT/WRITING Medical-Health Reporting
PRINT/WRITING Feature Reporting – Light Feature
PRINT/WRITING Feature Reporting –Serious Feature
DIGITAL Instagram
DIGITAL Podcast
DIGITAL Special Section
DIGITAL News Website
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY Portrait
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY News Photo
COLLEGE JOURNALISM Video Feature Story
COLLEGE JOURNALISM Written Feature Story
TV VIDEOGRAPHY Visual Storytelling
TV VIDEOGRAPHY Feature Videography
PRINT/WRITING Editorial
PRINT/WRITING Continuing Coverage
PRINT/WRITING General News Reporting
PRINT/WRITING Column
TELEVISION Sports Reporting
TELEVISION Public Affairs
TELEVISION On-Air Talent
TELEVISION Talk Show
TELEVISION Sports Show
DIGITAL Best Use of X (Twitter)
DIGITAL Best Blog
DIGITAL Best Use of Facebook
TELEVISION Governmental / Political Reporting
TELEVISION Breaking News Reporting
TELEVISION Continuing Coverage
TELEVISION Weathercast
RADIO General Excellence in Radio
TV VIDEOGRAPHY Video Editing
TV VIDEOGRAPHY Video Essay
PRINT/WRITING Sports Feature
PRINT/WRITING Lifestyle Reporting
PRINT/WRITING Critical Review
PRINT/WRITING Best Magazine
PRINT/WRITING Governmental –
Political Reporting
PRINT/WRITING Editorial Illustration
PRINT/WRITING Environmental – Science Reporting
PRINT/WRITING Breaking News Reporting
PUBLIC RELATIONS Social Media – Digital Influencers
PUBLIC RELATIONS Special Events
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY Multi-Photo Feature
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY Sports Photo
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY Feature Photo
TELEVISION General News Reporting
TELEVISION Feature Reporting
TELEVISION Documentary
TELEVISION Sportscast
TELEVISION Newscast
TO ORDER A DUPLICATE COPY of your first place trophy, please email Doug Mouton at dmouton@wwltv.com with the details. Duplicates will be available at Press Club cost. No names may be added or changed on awards.
The judges for this year’s competition are a diverse group. They are peers. They are professionals who gave a lot of their time because they know how important this contest is to the individuals who, likewise, took the time to enter it.
San Diego Press Club
Press Club of Southeast Texas (Beaumont)
Florida Press Club
San Francisco Press Club
Los Angeles Press Club
Idaho Press Club
The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh)
Milwaukee Press Club
The Press Club of Cleveland
Syracuse Press Club
Orange County Press Club
FOLLOWING TONIGHT’S PRESENTATION, go online for a complete list of winners and comments from the judges. Visit the Press Club of New Orleans’ website at PressClubNewOrleans.com.
PRINT/WRITING INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
Joseph Cranney
The Times-Picayune // “Broken City”
David Hammer, Ramon Vargas
WWL-TV // “Losing Faith: Ultimate Judgement”
Richard A. Webster
Verite News // “Changing Criminal Justice Policy under Landry”
PRINT/WRITING COVER
Tiffany Reding Amedeo
New Orleans Magazine // “Pots of Gold”
Adam Sambola
Slidell Magazine // “RedBean’s Taste of New Orleans, “Café du Monde”
Erin Theriot, Tina Girouard 64 Parishes // “The Visual Arts Issue – Fall 2024”
PRINT/WRITING EDUCATION REPORTING
Maria DiFelice
The Maroon // “Student Activists Face Unexpected Conduct Decisions following Encampment”
Marta Jewson
The Lens // “After HerkyJerky Process, Lafayette Academy may soon Open”
Safura Syed
Verite News // “School Board Candidates have Different Visions for the Future of Orleans Parish District”
PRINT/WRITING BUSINESS REPORTING
Larry Brook
Southern Jewish Life // “Stay and Shop: New Orleans Landmark Rubensteins
Celebrates a Century of Fine Clothing by Opening a Boutique Hotel”
Cynthea Corfah
Baton Rouge Business
Report // “How the South Louisiana Diamond Industry is Diversifying Options for Buyers”
Kimberley Singletary
Biz New Orleans Magazine // “Found Treasure”
TV VIDEOGRAPHY
SPORTS VIDEOGRAPHY
Whitney Hill
WVUE-TV // “It’s Like I’m in a 747 Cruisin’”
Jon Turnipseed
WVUE-TV // “Targeting Safety”
Steve Wolfram
WVUE-TV // “Blind Sailing”
TV VIDEOGRAPHY
GENERAL NEWS
Whitney Hill
WVUE-TV // “Bonfire Art for Papa Noel”
TJ Pipitone
WWL-TV // “Tape’s First Day”
Steve Wolfram
WVUE-TV // “Living Shoreline”
COLLEGE JOURNALISM
WRITTEN NEWS STORY
Lily Bordelon
The Maroon
“Protests Leave Two Student Ambassadors Unemployed”
Kloe Witt
The Maroon // “30 Hours of Encampment. Students Organize Protest on Tulane’s Lawn, 14 Arrested”
COLLEGE JOURNALISM
VIDEO NEWS STORY
Nicole Marino
LSU Tiger TV // “Drug Data Denial”
Nathan Messina
LSU Tiger TV // “Menhaden Madness”
Kloe Witt
Loyola Pack News // “Loyola Students go over 3 Weeks with no Hot Water”
TELEVISION INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
David Hammer, TJ Pipitone
WWL-TV // “Uncovering Christopher Tape”
Aubry Killion
WDSU-TV // “Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis”
Lee Zurik, Dannah Sauer, Jon Turnipseed
WVUE-TV // “Outside the Office”
TELEVISION EDUCATION REPORTING
Alyssa Curtis
WWL-TV // “Robotics Program at Juvenile Detention Center”
Tom Gregory, Eric Carle, Jr. WYES-TV // “Teaching the Teachers”
Chris Joseph
WVUE-TV // “Secret Settlement”
TELEVISION STATION PROMOTION
WDSU Creative Services
WDSU-TV // “WDSU Promotion”
WVUE Marketing Staff WVUE-TV // “Fox 8 Morning Edition”
WVUE Marketing Staff WVUE-TV // “Your Weather Authority Hurricane Francine”
TELEVISION
ENVIRONMENTAL / SCIENCE REPORTING
David Hammer, TJ Pipitone
WWL-TV // “The Man Who Beat BP”
Aubry Killion
WDSU-TV // “Sportsman’s Paradise Abandoned”
Cassie Schirm
WDSU-TV // “Grand Isle of Sale: A Paradise on the Brink”
PUBLIC RELATIONS
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
April Catarella
Gambel Communications // “Film Louisiana – Advocating for the Film Tax Incentive”
The Ehrhardt Group, Louisiana Automotive Dealers Association
The Ehrhardt Group // “Dealer Day at the Capitol: Driving Legislative Advocacy for Louisiana’s Auto Industry”
PUBLIC RELATIONS
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
The Ehrhardt Group “CCANO Therapeutic Family Services Campaign”
The Ehrhardt Group, Louisiana Automotive Dealers Association
“Put the Brakes on Litter”: Driving Environmental Awareness Through Louisiana’s Auto Dealerships”
Gambel Communications
“Junior League of New Orleans - Status of Women in New Orleans Study”
PUBLIC RELATIONS
OVERALL CAMPAIGN
Julia Bueno, Blythe Welch, Curtis Starks
The Shawn M. Donnelly Center for Nonprofit Comm on Behalf of the Emma Bell Foundation // “Yellow School Safety Day Launch”
Christian Justrabo, Meredith Mendez, Frank Jabbia
St. Tammany Parish Public School // “The Champion Award - Recognizing Individuals and Groups Who Go Above and Beyond and Are True Champions for Students ”
Alicia Vial, Gambel Communications
Gambel Communications // “Seacrest Studios”
TELEVISION
PLANNED EVENT COVERAGE
Ian Kramar
WWL-TV // “Fat Tuesday on 4”
WVUE Staff
WVUE-TV // “Endymion Extravaganza”
Ron Yager, Jim Dotson, Ted Ochoa
WLAE-TV // “Arrivee”
TELEVISION
SPORTS SPECIAL
Doug Mouton, Adam Ney
WWL-TV // “Black & Gold Training Camp Special”
Doug Mouton, Adam Ney
WWL-TV // “Tigers on 4 Season Opening Special”
WVUE Sports Staff
WVUE-TV // “Draft Game Plan”
TELEVISION
MEDICAL /HEALTH REPORTING
Meg Farris, Adam Copus
WWL-TV // “Living to Death: The Cost of Medicine”
Sula Kim
WDSU-TV // “Chalmette Woman’s Selfless Act, Saved Her Best Friend’s Life”
Liz Reyes
WVUE-TV // “Thyroid Cancer Battle”
TELEVISION
LIFESTYLE REPORTING
Tom Gregory, Eric Carle Jr. YurView Louisiana // “Cook Off for the Coast”
John Snell
WVUE-TV // “Piano Man”
Gina Swanson, Drew McCallister
WDSU-TV // “Black Mardi Gras: Deeper Meaning of Mardi Gras”
RADIO
LIVE REMOTE BROADCAST
WWOZ Staff and Volunteers
WWOZ-FM // “WWOZ
Live Broadcast of 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival”
RADIO
CULTURAL BROADCAST
WWOZ Staff and Volunteers
WWOZ-FM // “WWOZ Fall 2024 Festing in Place”
PRINT/WRITING
SPORTS COLUMN
Richard Cuicchi
CrescityCitySports.com // “Baseball was the Name of the Game”
Les East
CrescentCitySports.com // “Les East’s Sports Columns”
Rod Walker
The Times-Picayune // “The Guy who Live the ‘No Call’”
PRINT/WRITING
LAYOUT DESIGN
Tiffany Reding Amedeo New Orleans Magazine // “BBQ”
Erin Theriot
64 Parishes // “Louisiana’s Old Live Oaks: StoryLaden Trees Anchor the Louisiana Landscape”
Erin Theriot
64 Parishes // “The Red River Valley: A Lens on North Louisiana”
PRINT/WRITING MEDICAL-HEALTH REPORTING
Drew Costley
Verite News // “For Most, Mardi Gras Means Fun. If You’re Sober, it can be a Different Story”
David Hammer
WWL-TV // “They Failed, then He Jumped”
Kim Singletary
New Orleans Magazine // “Stand and Deliver”
PRINT/WRITING FEATURE REPORTING –LIGHT FEATURE
Larry Brook
Southern Jewish Life // “Acrobatic Stars to New Orleans Recluses”
Bobbi-Jeanne Misick
Verite News // “‘It Brings Me Back to My Land’: Algiers Flea Market a Community Space for Growing Hispanic Population”
Kerri Westenberg
64 Parishes // “Building with Bagasse: A Marrero Company Found Sweet Success with Sugarcane Fiber until the Walls Tumbled Down”
PRINT/WRITING
FEATURE REPORTING –SERIOUS FEATURE
Glenn Chambers, Jr.
64 Parishes // “New Orleans as the Nexus of Power: American Empire, Bananas and the Crescent City”
Emily Hingle, Josh Danzig, Burke Bischoff Where Y’at Magazine “Love Richard (Simmons Last Interview)”
Katy Reckdahl
The Lens // “Fatman Set the Pace”
DIGITAL INSTAGRAM
Rob Krieger
WVUE-TV // “Reel Routes”
Kelly Massicot
New Orleans Magazine // “New Orleans Magazine NOSH”
WWOZ Staff
WWOZ-FM // “Irma Thomas Live at WWOZ”
DIGITAL PODCAST
Carolyne Heldman
The Lens // “Behind The Lens”
Ross Jackson
Tegna New Orleans // “Locked on Saints”
Kelly Massicot, Ashley McLellan New Orleans Magazine // Beyond the Grave
DIGITAL SPECIAL SECTION
WVUE Staff
WVUE-TV // “Outside the Office”
WWOZ Staff
WWOZ-FM // “Groovapedia”
WWOZ Staff
WWOZ-FM // “A Closer Walk: Interactive New Orleans Music History Map”
DIGITAL
NEWS WEBSITE
Staff
Biz New Orleans Magazine // “BizNewOrleans.com”
Verite News Staff Verite News // “VeriteNews.org”
WVUE Staff
WVUE-TV // “Fox8Live.com”
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY PORTRAIT
Romney Caruso, Robert
Witkowski, Josh Danzig
Where Y’at Magazine // “Charlie Gabriel”
Matthew Hinton
USA Today Network // “No White Flags”
MJ Mastrogiovanni
WWOZ-FM // “Buffalo Hunters Big Chief Spoon”
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
NEWS PHOTO
Matthew Hinton
Associated Press New Orleans “Dancing Graduate”
Matthew Hinton
Associated Press New Orleans “Hurricane Playground”
Eloise Pickering
The Maroon // “Pro-Palestine Encampment Persists into the Night on Tulane’s Front Lawn”
COLLEGE JOURNALISM
VIDEO FEATURE STORY
Patricia Caputo
LSU Tiger TV // “The Price for Passion”
Christian Gladney
LSU Tiger TV // “Trace Young: Athlete & Influencer”
James Hufnagel
Loyola University // “Growing Up with Mardi Gras”
COLLEGE JOURNALISM
WRITTEN FEATURE STORY
Taylor Falgout
The Maroon // “The Love and Labor behind Handmade Costumes”
Eloise Pickering, Mark Michel
The Maroon // “President Cole Responds to Student Criticism”
TV VIDEOGRAPHY
VISUAL STORYTELLING
Adam Copus
WWL-TV // “Blood on Board”
Jon Turnipseed
WVUE-TV // “Attention to the Details”
Jon Turnipseed
WVUE-TV // “Postponed Progress”
TV VIDEOGRAPHY
FEATURE VIDEOGRAPHY
Dave McNamara
WVUE-TV // “Heart of Louisiana: Cypress Photography”
Steve Wolfram
WVUE-TV // “Piano Man”
WWOZ Staff
WWOZ-FM // “The Lady who Makes the Clouds Sing: Miss Calliope”
PRINT/WRITING EDITORIAL
Deborah G. Plant
The Lens // “No Longer ‘Half Slave, Half Free’”
Staff the Maroon, Aaron Covin
The Maroon // “Dear President Cole, its Time to Step in”
John Stanton
Gambit // “Not Our Enemy: New Orleans is Waging a War on the Poor and Small Businesses but Ignoring the Wealthy”
PRINT/WRITING CONTINUING COVERAGE
Drew Costley
Verite News // “Issues
Effecting Trans Louisianians”
David Hammer
WWL-TV // “Trouble at City Hall”
Verite News Staff Verite News // “Tulane Protests”
PRINT/WRITING GENERAL NEWS REPORTING
John Gray
Verite News // “Gov. Jeff Landry’s Encampment Sweeps Cause Ripple Effects in New Orleans’ Unhoused Population”
Arielle Robinson
Verite News // “New Orleans Resident Defaces Pro-Palestine Mural on North Claiborne Avenue”
Ramon Antonio Vargas
The Guardian // “A Catholic Priest Accused of Misconduct was Suspended in Texas. Why did New Orleans let him Preach?”
PRINT/WRITING COLUMN
John Case
Slidell Magazine // “The Storyteller”
Rien Fertel
The Times-Picayune // “Books”
Keith Twitchell
Biz New Orleans Magazine // “Entrepreneur”
TELEVISION SPORTS REPORTING
Garland Gillen
WVUE-TV // “Perfect Pair”
Rob Krieger
WVUE-TV // “Targeting Safety”
Rob Masson
WVUE-TV // “Blind Sailing”
TELEVISION Public Affairs
Marcia Kavanaugh, Lenny Delbert Sr.
WYES-TV // “Challenges & Opportunities: Restoring the Louisiana Coast”
Marcia Kavanaugh, Errol Laborde
WYES-TV // “Informed Sources 40th Anniversary Special”
Ian Kramar
WWL-TV // “The Hurricane Special”
TELEVISION ON-AIR TALENT
Garland Gillen WVUE-TV
Jonah Gilmore
WDSU-TV
Malik Mingo WWL-TV
TELEVISION TALK SHOW
Great Day Staff WWL-TV // “Great Day Louisiana”
Peggy Scott Laborde
WYES-TV // “Steppin’ Out”
Shelby Latino, Ashanti Bailey
WVUE-TV // “Nola Now”
TELEVISION SPORTS SHOW
Ricardo LeCompte
WWL-TV // “4th Down Friday”
Fletcher Mackel, Sharief Ishaq, Kendall Duncan WDSU-TV // “WDSU Game On”
Doug Mouton, Adam Ney WWL-TV // “4th Down on 4”
DIGITAL BEST USE OF X (TWITTER)
Garland Gillen
WVUE-TV // “Louisiana College Football: All Access, All Season”
Seth Lewis
WWL-TV // “Best Nola Sports Moments”
Fletcher Mackel
WDSU-TV // “Fletcher Mackel Coverage on X of Olympian Kristen Nuss”
DIGITAL Best Blog
Molly Cleaver, Terri Simon, Nick Weldon
The Historic New Orleans Collection // “First Draft”
Les East CrescentCitySports.com // “Les East’s Sports Blog”
Penn Iarocci
St. Charles Avenue // “Shop Talk”
DIGITAL BEST USE OF FACEBOOK
Andres Fuentes
WVUE-TV // “Hurricane Francine Coverage in Spanish”
WWOZ Staff
WWOZ-FM // “2024-25
Second Line Parade Schedule Announcement”
WWOZ Staff
WWOZ-FM // “Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival”
TELEVISION GOVERNMENTAL / POLITICAL REPORTING
Meg Gatto
WVUE-TV // “Sinful Situation: Housing Horrors”
David Hammer, TJ Pipitone
WWL-TV // “Coroner Confrontation”
Cassie Schirm
WDSU-TV // “WDSU Presses for Answers in Response to Loranger Murders”
TELEVISION BREAKING NEWS REPORTING
Jonah Gilmore, Matthew Demeester
WDSU-TV // “Hurricane Francine: Lifesaving Water Rescue”
David Hammer, TJ Pipitone
WWL-TV // “Indictment: Public Official One”
WVUE Staff
WVUE-TV // “Severe Weather Outbreak”
TELEVISION CONTINUING COVERAGE
Travers Mackel
WDSU-TV // “Lights Out in Nola”
Lee Zurik, Dannah Sauer, Jon Turnipseed
WVUE-TV // “Outside the Office”
Lee Zurik, Dannah Sauer, Jon Turnipseed
WVUE-TV // “Swiped”
TELEVISION WEATHERCAST
Zack Fradella WVUE-TV
Chris Franklin WWL-TV
Payton Malone WWL-TV
RADIO GENERAL EXCELLENCE IN RADIO
WWOZ Staff and Volunteers
WWOZ-FM
TV VIDEOGRAPHY VIDEO EDITING
Adam Copus
WWL-TV // “All I Remember is Hitting that Ground”
Tom Gregory
YurView Louisiana // “Father Harry’s Dream & Legacy”
Jon Turnipseed
WVUE-TV // Battling for New Orleans
TV VIDEOGRAPHY VIDEO ESSAY
Whitney Hill
WVUE-TV // “Kicks the Season Off”
Whitney Hill
WVUE-TV // “Train Garden”
Rhett Sharpe, Kevin Mumphrey St. Tammany Parish Public Schools // “Student Actor Dreams Big after National Shakespeare Win”
PRINT/WRITING SPORTS FEATURE
Cynthea Corfah Essense // “Flau’Jae Calls the Play”
Les East
Crescent City Sports // “McNeese, Will Wade Both Got What They Were Looking for”
Rod Walker
The Times-Picayune // “Meet Samyra: She’s Got Game, a Voice (as you Heard at Saints Game) and over a Million TikTok Followers”
PRINT/WRITING LIFESTYLE REPORTING
Nicholas Paskert
The Historic New Orleans Collection // “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Pilé et Piron”
Chuck Perkins
The Lens // “From Back-aTown to St. Charles, on Foot”
Kevin Rabalais, Reine Dugas, Sarah E.G. Majeste Louisiana Life // “Dames de Perlage”
PRINT/WRITING CRITICAL REVIEW
Rien Fertel
The Times-Picayune // “‘Pearce Oysters’ Pulls No Punches on Family Drama”
Lucie Monk Carter
64 Parishes // “What More do you Need? ‘The Precipice’, the 2024 Documentary Film of the Year, Documents the Pointe-au-Chien Tribe’s Fight for Federal Recognition”
Alan Smason
Crescent City Jewish News // “Jewish Songwriting Couples are Focus of ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’”
PRINT/WRITING BEST MAGAZINE
Reine Dugas, Sarah Majeste Louisiana Life
Josh-Wade Ferguson, Alexandra Kennon-Shahin 64 Parishes
Arthur Hardy, David Johnson
2025 Arthur Hardy’s Mardi Gras Guide
PRINT/WRITING GOVERNMENTAL –POLITICAL REPORTING
Drew Costley
Verite News // “St. John the Baptist Parish President Faces Perjury Allegation”
David Hammer
WWL-TV // “The Insider”
David Hammer
WWL-TV // “Trouble at City Hall”
PRINT/WRITING EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION
Mizani Ball
The Lens // “Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice to end contract with troubled Jackson Parish jail”
David Johnson, Arthur Hardy
Arthur Hardy’s Mardi Gras Guide // “The Mardi Gras Tree”
Robert Witkowski, Josh Danzig
Where Y’at Magazine // “A Journey through Jazz”
PRINT/WRITING ENVIRONMENTAL –SCIENCE REPORTING
Drew Costley
Verite News // “Homegrown Singer uses her Fame to Fight for Environmental Justice”
Delaney Dryfoos
The Lens // “At the Mouth of the Mississippi, Louisiana Bears the Burden of Upstream Runoff. Why Doesn’t it Push for Solutions?”
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune // “This Iconic Louisiana Island Chain is Disappearing. Can a Plan to Restore much of it Work?”
PRINT/WRITING
BREAKING NEWS REPORTING
Delaney Dryfoos
The Lens // “Greenfield Terminal Terminated”
Alan Smason
Crescent City Jewish News // “Police Remove Illegal Pro-Palestinian Encampment on Tulane Campus”
Ramon Antonio Vargas, David Hammer
The Guardian, WWL-TV // “New Orleans Clergy Abuse: Details Emerge after Retired Priest Admits to Kidnapping and Child Rape”
PUBLIC RELATIONS
SOCIAL MEDIA – DIGITAL INFLUENCERS
The Ehrhardt Group
The Ehrhardt Group // “GLAC Social Media Campaign”
Gambel Communications
Gambel Communications // “Louisiana Children’s Museum Taylor Swift Campaign”
Larry Lovell
Larry Lovell PR // “Lanier & Associates – Consulting Engineers Celebrate 50 Years”
PUBLIC RELATIONS
SPECIAL EVENTS
Gambel Communications
Gambel Communications // “LASPCA Carnival”
Gambel Communications
Gambel Communications // “United Way of Southeast Louisiana Verizon Partnership”
Annie Matherne
Gambel Communications // “Cook-off for the Coast”
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
MULTI-PHOTO FEATURE
Ben Depp
64 Parishes // “Looking Down on Creation: Ben Depp is the Documentary Photographer of the Year”
Sophia Germer
The Times-Picayune // “Kids Conquer Fears to Pet and Ride Horses at Exceptionality Awareness Event”
Jess Kearney
New Orleans Magazine // “The Lost Art of the Dinner Party”
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
SPORTS PHOTO
Matthew Hinton
Associated Press New Orleans // “Missed Touchdown Reception Reaction”
Matthew Hinton
Associated Press New Orleans // “Tongue Wagging Three-Pointer”
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
FEATURE PHOTO
Sophia Germer
The Times-Picayune // “Big Chief Shaka on St. Joseph's Night”
Matthew Hinton
Associated Press New Orleans // “Festive Trombone”
MJ Mastrogiovanni
WWOZ-FM // “Baby Dolls at Scene Boosters Second Line Parade”
TELEVISION
GENERAL NEWS REPORTING
Aubry Killion
WDSU-TV // “She Wasn’t Just a Number”
Rob Krieger
WVUE-TV // “Postponed Progress”
Rob Krieger
WVUE-TV // “Supplying a High”
TELEVISION
FEATURE REPORTING
Meg Farris, Adam Copus
WWL-TV // “Reuniting the Children of Katrina”
Meg Farris, Ricknise Riggins
WWL-TV // “She will Never Take her First Steps”
Whitney Miller, Robin Widner
WWL-TV // “Unlikely Friendship: Eric Paulsen and Juvenile”
TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY
David Hammer, TJ Pipitone
WWL-TV // “Losing Faith: Preying from the Pulpit”
Ron Yager, Jim Dotson, Sean O’Malley
WLAE-TV // “Blue – The Life and Art of George Rodrigue”
Lee Zurik, Dannah Sauer, Jon Turnipseed
WVUE-TV // “Outside the Office”
TELEVISION SPORTSCAST
Ricardo LeCompte
WWL-TV
Seth Lewis
WWL-TV
Doug Mouton
WWL-TV
TELEVISION NEWSCAST
Ian Kramar
WWL-TV // “WWL Louisiana News”
Erin Peytral
WVUE-TV // “FOX 8 News at 5pm”
Nicole Via Y Rada
WDSU-TV // “Magazine Street Building Collapse Newscast”
Billy Rainey Memorial Award
Honoring the first-place winner in print breaking news reporting
Ashton Phelps, Sr. Memorial Award
Honoring the first-place winner in editorial writing
Hal Ledet Print Photography Award
Honoring the best of first-place winners in still photography
President’s Videography Award
Honoring the best of first-place winners in television videography
Alex Waller Memorial Award
Honoring the best of first-place winners in print reporting
Jim Metcalf Memorial Award
Honoring the best of first-place winners in broadcast reporting
The Renaissance Foundation Scholarship
The Press Club of New Orleans Scholarship
The Press Club inaugurated its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992. Presentation of this award is aimed at honoring individuals who not only have demonstrated the utmost in professionalism throughout their careers but have also made significant contributions to the community in the process.
2024 Eric Paulsen & Ro Brown
2022 Nancy Parker & Walt Handelsman
2019 Joe Duke & Frank Donze
2018 Clancy DuBos & Renette Dejoie-Hall
2017 Bruce Nolan & Margaret Orr
2016 Bill Capo & Errol Laborde
2015 John Pope & SallyAnn Roberts
2014 Ed Daniels & Ted Jackson
2013 Bob Breck & Bill Curl
2012 Lynne Jensen & Norman Robinson
2011 Jim Henderson & Mark Schleifstein
2010 Byron Hughey & Angus Lind
2009 Dan Milham & Walt Philbin
2008 Press Club’s 50th Anniversary
2007 Ashton Phelps Jr.
2006 Special award honoring Alec Gifford’s 50 years in broadcasting
2005 Ed Anderson & Richard Angelico
2004 William M. Metcalf Jr. & Willie P. Wilson Jr.
2003 Bob and Jan Carr & Buddy Diliberto
2002 Ronnie Virgets & Jack Wardlaw
2001 Angela Hill & Larry Lorenz
2000 Peter Finney & Terry Flettrich Rohe
1999 Bill Elder & Betty Guillaud
1998 Maury Magill & Dave Snyder
1997 Charles “Pie” Dufour & Phil Johnson
1996 Walter Greaves Cowan & Alec Gifford
1995 Nash Roberts & Bob Roesler
1994 J. Michael Early
1993 Iris Kelso & Wayne Mack
