Oklahoma SPJ Annual Awards - 2007 winners

Oklahoma SPJ chapter honors outstanding state journalists

•Contact: Joy Jenkins, contest coordinator
•(918) 398-3330
•contest@oklahomaspj.org

The Oklahoma Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists recognized the state's top journalists at its annual awards banquet Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tulsa.

The more than 1,100 entries were judged by journalists from four out-of-state SPJ chapters.

Awards were presented in newspaper, television, radio, magazines, Web site and public relations.

Presenters were Kristin Dickerson, emcee, a morning reporter for KTUL News Channel 8 in Tulsa; Heidi Rambo Centrella, managing editor of OKC Business; and Scott Gurian, news director for KGOU.

Retired Tulsa World sports editor Phil Parrish was honored with SPJ's Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Joe Worley, executive editor of the Tulsa World.

A native of Chicago and a graduate of The University of Tulsa, Parrish became editor of the Tulsa County News even before receiving his journalism degree. He later served as sports editor at the Lawton Morning Press and The Norman Transcript before joining the Tulsa World's staff in 1959.

He became the World's executive sports editor in 1967. And in 1993, he became sports editor.

As a sports reporter in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Parrish was especially well-known for his insightful coverage of wrestling. Many coaches and players from that time period still credit him with encouraging the growth of the sport across Oklahoma. He's received awards from the Oklahoma Coaches Association, and was named the National Wrestling Sportswriter of the Year.

Parrish retired in 2002.

Tulsa World Projects Editor Ziva Branstetter presented the First Amendment Award to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission and executive director Marilyn Hughes succeeded in requiring electronic reporting by elected officials who receive more than $20,000 in campaign contributions, despite several efforts by lawmakers to defeat legislation over the past decade. This allowed the public for the first time to sort records electronically and get a clear picture of campaign contributions and spending.

In 1996, the commission approved a rule requiring electronic filing by those undertaking statewide races. However, lawmakers rejected those rules a year later. The commission, however, passed another rule in 2005. Again, the Legislature rejected those rules. Gov. Brad Henry vetoed the Legislature's action, so the rules became law.

When the Legislature convened in 2006, the Senate passed a resolution to rescind the rules, and the House approved it. The media became aware of what was happening and wrote stories about the attempt.

The bill had to return to the Senate because of a House amendment attached to it. After the publicity, Senate leadership decided it would not be a good political move to disapprove it. Hughes said the governor had indicated he would veto the action again.

The current legislation also sets a threshold of $20,000 in contributions before a candidate has to file a report. Hughes and her six staff members, however, have spent many hours entering into the computer system all of the reports under the threshold. Those staff members are general counsel Rebecca Adams; investigator/auditor Darey Roberts; principal assistant Patti Bryant; information systems administrator Martin Miller; information systems specialist Janice Gafford; and administrative technician Ed Orr.

Oklahoma SPJ President Scott Cooper presented the Journalism Teacher of the Year award to Darla Tresner. Tresner has served as publications adviser for Bartlesville High School since 1981. supervising a program producing two student newspapers, a weekly page in the local newspaper and two yearbooks and in some years, a magazine, radio program, cable television program and freelance advertising/public relations firm.

In 1995, the student newspaper received the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown, and throughout the past 25 years, publications have garnered repeated first-place and medalist awards from the CSPA, First Class and All-American awards from the National Scholastic Press Association, Gallup and first-place awards from Quill and Scroll, All-Southern awards from the Southern Interscholastic Press Association, Sweepstakes and All-Oklahoman honors from Oklahoma Scholastic Media/OIPA and state championship titles from Northeastern State University.

Tresner also has been honored with the 2000 Al Neuharth Free Spirit Award, the 1995 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Interscholastic Press Association, the 1994 Journalism Education Association Medal of Merit and the 1992 Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Distinguished Adviser. Tresner also has conducted workshops specializing in editorial leadership and beginning advising at many national conventions and authored "A Survival Guide for Editors," which was purchased by Jostens for publication.

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