The Society for Professional Journalists Oklahoma Pro Chapter will honor the state's finest journalism work at its annual Excellence in Journalism Awards celebration on September 18, 2025, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Big Friendly, 1737 Spoke St, Oklahoma City, OK 73108.
The come-and-go event will feature the awards announcement at 6:30 p.m., recognizing exceptional reporting, writing, photography, radio, television, public relations and multimedia storytelling that has informed and served Oklahoma communities throughout the past year.
"These awards celebrate the vital role journalism plays in our democracy and highlight the outstanding work being produced by journalists and communications professionals across Oklahoma," said Jerry Goodwin], president of the SPJ Oklahoma Pro Chapter. "We're excited to gather as a community to recognize excellence and foster connections among media professionals."
The celebration invites all journalists, communications professionals, and supporters of quality journalism to attend. The casual atmosphere encourages networking and relationship-building among Oklahoma's media community.
A cash bar will be available throughout the evening, with food available for purchase. No advance registration is required for this open event.
The event is free to attend.
For more information about the Excellence in Journalism Awards, contact Vice President Heide Brandes at heide@heidewrites.com. The following people and organizations have received an award in this year’s contest.
Names & Publications (in alphabetical order)
Adam Cohen - OMRF
Adam Pursch - KOKH
AJ Stegall - Curbside Chronicle
Alexandra Sharfman - KOKH
Andrea Hancock - NonDoc Media
Anna Heigh - OMRF
Anna Pope - KOSU
Anne Brockman - TulsaPeople
Annelise Stephenson - OU Health
Anusha Fathepure - Oklahoma Daily (Univ. of Oklahoma)
Ashley Guerrero - TulsaPeople
Ashlynd Huffman - The Frontier
Basil Childers - Oklahoma Eagle
Ben Abrams - KWGS-FM
Bennett Brinkman - NonDoc Media
Beth Wallis - StateImpact Oklahoma
Blake Douglas - NonDoc Media
Bobby Ross Jr. - Christian Chronicle
Brianna Bailey - The Frontier / KOSU Radio and The Frontier
Cait Kelley - KOSU
Casey Maxwell - OMRF
Chad Hunter - Cherokee Phoenix - Newsp A
Charlie Price - Price Lang Consulting
Cherokee Phoenix - Cherokee Phoenix - Newsp A
Chris Thompson - Price Lang Consulting / okschoolreadiness.org
Colby Daniels - KOKH
Connie Cronley - TulsaPeople
Conor Dardis - OMRF
Curbside Staff - Curbside Chronicle
D. Sean Rowley - Cherokee Phoenix
Deborah Shaar - KGOU - Radio
Dick Pryor - KGOU - Radio
Dylan Goforth - The Frontier
Edna Espino - OU Health
Elizabeth Caldwell - KWGS-FM
Emily Lang - Price Lang Consulting
Fiorella Zoll - Price Lang Consulting
Focus: Black Oklahoma Staff - KOSU
Garron Rose - NonDoc Media
Gary Lee - Oklahoma Eagle
Ghost Cat - Price Lang Consulting
Graycen Wheeler - KOSU
Greg Bollinger - TulsaPeople
Hannah France - KGOU - Radio
Heather Warlick - Oklahoma Watch
Heide Brandes - NonDoc Media / Cowboys & Indians / OU Health
Isaac Korstjens - KFOR-TV
Jackson Adair - Curbside Chronicle
James Finck - Southwest Ledger
Jennifer Palmer - Oklahoma Watch
Jenny Lee - OMRF
Jillian Taylor - StateImpact Oklahoma
Jim Johnson - KGOU - Radio
Jon Trudgeon - okschoolreadiness.org
Joseph Ross - KFOR-TV
Julie Jones - Gaylord News
Kathy Damrill - KOKH
Kate Miller - OMRF
Kayden Anderson - Gaylord News
Kayla Branch - The Frontier
Kelly Wray - Duncan Banner
KOSU Staff - KOSU
Kyletta Ray - Southwest Ledger
Lionel Ramos - KOSU
Logan Layden - KGOU - Radio
Madeline Crawford - TulsaPeople
Mark Dreadfulwater - Cherokee Phoenix
Marissa Perez - Curbside Chronicle
Matt Patterson - NonDoc Media
Max Bryan - KWGS-FM
Micah Fletcher - Cherokee Phoenix
Michael Cross - KOSU
Michael Duncan - NonDoc Media
Michelle Pollard - TulsaPeople
Miguel Rios - Curbside Chronicle
Mikala Novitsky - Price Lang Consulting
Mike W. Ray - Southwest Ledger
Mindy Ragan Wood - Southwest Ledger
Nathan Poppe - Curbside Chronicle
Neva Hill - KOSU
News 9 Team - News 9
Nyk Daniels - KGOU - Radio
Oklahoma Watch Staff - Oklahoma Watch
Paul Monies - Oklahoma Watch
Peggy Dodd - Oklahoma Daily (Univ. of Oklahoma)
Rachel Hopkin - KGOU - Radio
Ross D. Johnson - Oklahoma Eagle
Ruby Topalian - Oklahoma Watch
Ryan Kiesel - KOSU
Sam Levrault - Oklahoma Eagle
Sam Washburn - Curbside Chronicle
Sarah Liese - KOSU
Scott Noland - KOKH
Scott O'Daniel - Price Lang Consulting
Shawn Ashley - KGOU - Radio
Sierra Pfeifer - KOSU
Southwest Ledger Staff - Southwest Ledger
Spencer Humphrey - KFOR-TV
Staff - TulsaPeople
Stacie Boston - Cherokee Phoenix - Newsp A
Susan Parks-Schlepp - Price Lang Consulting / okschoolreadiness.org
Sutton Spinner - Oklahoma Daily (Univ. of Oklahoma)
Sydni Nasada - Curbside Chronicle
T.J. Eckert - KOKH
The Frontier - The Frontier
The Oklahoma Eagle - Oklahoma Eagle
Tim Landes - TulsaPeople
Todd Clark - Curbside Chronicle
Tony Thornton - OMRF
Tres Savage - NonDoc Media
Tristan Loveless - NonDoc Media
Tyler Talley - This Land
Umer Bilal - Gaylord News
Vallery Brown - OU Health
Victoria Anderson - Gaylord News
Wendy Suares - KOKH
Will Chavez - Cherokee Phoenix
Willie Gillespie - Oklahoma Daily (Univ. of Oklahoma)
Zach Boblitt - KWGS-FM
Total: 105 unique individuals and teams
2025 Oklahoma SPJ Contest
The Society for Professional Journalists is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty. The Oklahoma Pro Chapter serves journalists and communications professionals throughout the state, promoting ethical journalism practices, press freedom, and professional development opportunities.