CityBeat Music Editor Mike Breen for the second straight year has won the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists statewide contest for Best Rock and Roll Commentary. The Central Ohio SPJ chapter this week recognized work from all across Ohio, with CityBeat’s entries falling into the "Less than 75,000 Circulation" category.
Breen also won first place this year for his music writing entered into the local SPJ chapter’s annual awards.
CityBeat also won first place for Best Website and placed second in the Best Weekly Newspaper category. CityBeat eagerly anticipates finding out what [expletive] publication won first place and intends to mail its leaders a sarcastic token of congratulations once we figure out who they are.
Breen’s body of work included an essay on the Afghan Whigs’ relevance to his life during struggles with drugs and alcohol (“My Dark Passenger,” issue of Oct. 17), a review of the Music of Change exhibit at the Freedom Center ("Power of Music Celebrated in 'Music of Change'," issue of Aug. 8) and a review of local band Foxy Shazam’s new album and release show (“Foxy Goes to 'Church',” issue of Jan. 18).
CityBeat’s Best of Cincinnati Issue (issue of March 28) won second in the Best Special Section category, and two investigative stories were also recognized.
Staff Writer German Lopez’s investigation into the failures of Ohio’s prison privatization plan (“Liberty for Sale,” issue of Sept. 19) won second place for Best Criminal Justice Reporting, and CityBeat Editor Danny Cross was runner up in the Best Investigative Reporting category for his uncovering of how Western & Southern Financial Group could have purchased the Anna Louise Inn long before entering into a dirty legal battle that ultimately forced the nonprofit to give up its building ("Surrounded by Skycrapers," issue of Aug. 15).
The awards will be presented at the annual Ohio SPJ ceremony at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on Oct. 5.