Nominations for Press Club of Toledo 2026 Touchstone Awards now open

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Categories span print and online, television, audio production and communications, with divisions for professionals and students

Nominations for the Press Club of Toledo’s annual Touchstone Awards are being accepted now through July 15. There are 20 categories spanning print and online, television, audio production and communications, with divisions for both professionals and students.

To be eligible for a 2026 Touchstone Award, the work must have been produced or published between May 15, 2025 and May 14, 2026. Nominations are judged by a panel of journalism professionals from outside the Toledo region.

Entry fees for Touchstone Award nominations are $10 for students, $25 for Press Club members and $75 for nonmembers. Nonmembers can also submit a nomination and become a first-time individual Press Club member for $50.

The Emerging News Media Professional Award honors an early-career news media professional who demonstrates integrity and a commitment to public service. Nominees must have fewer than five years of professional experience. Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of former Press Club presidents and board members. There is no entry fee for Emerging News Media Professional Award nominations.

Nomination forms for both the Touchstone Awards and the Emerging News Media Professional Award are available at toledopressclub.com.

The 2026 Touchstone Awards ceremony returns to the Valentine Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 10. The ceremony honors the best in local journalism and recognizes the achievements of area journalists and communications professionals from the past year.

The Touchstone Awards ceremony is also a fundraiser for the Press Club of Toledo’s scholarship fund. Two scholarships are awarded at the ceremony to students from Bowling Green State University and The University of Toledo who epitomize service and dedication to the profession of journalism. The scholarships are named in honor of two longtime Toledo Blade employees: Kurt G. Franck and Bernard F. Judy.

Tickets for the Touchstone Awards ceremony are on sale now at toledopressclub.com, with discounts for Press Club members, nominees and students. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

2026 Touchstone Community Award Nominations

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Each year, the Press Club of Toledo honors individuals and organizations for their service and contributions to the greater Toledo community as part of the Touchstone Awards. For 2026, the Press Club is opening up nominations to the public.

Who will you nominate for a Community Award?

Submit Your Nomination
  • Nominations are due by Tuesday, March 31.
  • The Press Club of Toledo Board of Trustees will review the nominations and make the final decision on this year’s honorees.
  • Winners will be notified in April 2026.
  • Awards will be presented this fall at the 2026 Touchstone Awards.
Community Award Categories

Lifetime Achievement Award
The award recognizes a lifetime’s worth of outstanding contributions to the community in all aspects to include business, public service, and philanthropy, etc.

Contributor Award
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the community, specifically someone who’s made a significant impact on the quality of life in Northwest Ohio over the past year.

Golden Touchstone
The award recognizes lifetime achievement in the field of journalism in Northwest Ohio.

Norm Cartwright Award
The Norm Cartwright Award, named after a founding member of the Press Club of Toledo, honors outstanding efforts to promote the Press Club’s principles.

Press Club of Toledo is Here for Good

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The Press Club of Toledo has partnered with Jūpmode for its 2026 Here for Good campaign. You can now grab a “Protect Local Journalism” T-shirt or crewneck. Not only will you look great, but you are also supporting local journalism and communications professionals. Jūpmode is donating $10 to $15 from every item sold back to the Press Club!

Order by March 22

Protect Local Journalism
Short-sleeved t-shirt: $20
Cotton/polyester blend
$10 from each sale are donated back to the Press Club.

Protect Local Journalism
Crewneck sweatshirt: $40
Cotton/polyester blend
$15 from each sale are donated back to the Press Club.

Meet the Media

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Join PRSA Northwest Ohio, AAF Toledo and The Press Club of Toledo for Meet the Media, an interactive panel discussion bringing together journalists, editors and media professionals with public relations and marketing practitioners for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at today’s media landscape.

When: Thursday, March 19: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: WGTE Public Media: 1270 S. Detroit Ave., Toledo, Ohio

Tickets:
$10 for members
$15 for nonmembers
Use promo code MEMBERS to receive your discount. Additional service fees apply.

Save Your Seat

Moderator: Jaden Jefferson
Panelists:

  • Sashem Brey: Anchor, 13abc
  • Logan Cooney: Audio Production Manager, FM 91 WGTE Public Media
  • Erin Holden: Editor, Toledo Free Press
  • Sophia Perricone: Anchor, WTOL 11
  • Rona Proudfoot: City Editor, The Blade
  • Riley Runnells: Program Manager, EPIC Toledo
  • Fletcher Word: Publisher, Sojourner’s Truth

Press Club of Toledo Announces New Leadership for 2026

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Marcus Harrison and Heather Schramm approved for one-year terms following January board meeting

The Press Club of Toledo has announced the election of new officers following its Jan. 14, 2026 board meeting. Marcus Harrison has been approved as president, and Heather Schramm has been approved as vice president. Both appointments are for one-year terms.

Harrison currently serves as director of marketing and communications at WGTE Public Media and brings more than two decades of experience in broadcast media, storytelling, and communications leadership. He previously served as the Press Club’s vice president, providing continuity and institutional knowledge as he steps into the president’s role.

“Marcus has been an engaged, thoughtful leader on our board and a strong advocate for journalism in our community,” said Stephanie Elton, outgoing president of the Press Club of Toledo. “His experience in public media and his commitment to mentoring and storytelling make him exceptionally well suited to lead the Press Club in the year ahead.”

Schramm, the newly elected vice president, is an assignment editor at WTOL 11, where she has worked since 2011. She plays a critical leadership role in daily newsroom operations and is deeply committed to local journalism. Schramm also serves on the board of the Toledo School for the Arts and has previously held leadership roles with regional journalism organizations.

“I’m excited to see this leadership team step forward,” Elton said. “Heather brings a newsroom-first perspective and a deep understanding of what working journalists face every day. Together, Marcus and Heather represent the professionalism, curiosity, and community focus that define the Press Club of Toledo.”

The Press Club of Toledo is dedicated to supporting journalists, promoting ethical reporting, and fostering public understanding of the vital role a free press plays in a democratic society. For more information and to join the Press Club, visit toledopressclub.com.

Local Journalists, Emerging Talent, Community Leaders Honored at 2025 Touchstone Awards

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The Press Club of Toledo’s annual Touchstone Awards returned to the Valentine Theatre Thursday, Sept. 25, celebrating outstanding work in journalism and communications.

Nineteen trophies were presented in audio production, print/online, television, photojournalism and strategic communications categories, with divisions for both professionals and students.

The Press Club inducted four new community honorees into its distinguished ranks. The 2025 class includes Golden Touchstone winners Diane Larson and Paul Kwapich, Contributor Award recipient John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation and Lifetime Achievement Award winner Robert Smith.

New this year was the Emerging News Media Professional Award, recognizing a rising star who is making an impact in the community. Nominated by peers and selected by a panel of former Press Club board presidents, the inaugural award went to Emily Rippe-Desmond of Swell Magazine.

The evening concluded with the presentation of the club’s annual scholarships. The Kurt G. Franck Scholarship and Bernard F. Judy Scholarship honor students at the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University who demonstrate exceptional service and dedication to journalism. This year’s recipients are Asa Kridelbaugh (UToledo) and Allyson Ritchey (BGSU).

The 2025 Touchstone Awards were supported in part by WTOL, the Toledo Free Press and Strategy by Fisher.

2025 Touchstone Award Winners

Audio Production
Podcast – Arts and Entertainment: Lake Effect – Chris Peiffer, WGTE Public Media
Podcast – News/Opinion: Rethinking Jails + Justice: Podcast Series – Brad Creswell, WGTE Public Media
Radio: Opera Out of the Box – Brad Creswell, WGTE Public Media

Blog/Website
Toledo Jeep Fest – Kevin Cesarz and Whitney Rofkar, Thread Connected Marketing

Digital Video/TV
Arts and Entertainment: Magic of the Old West End – Shane Potgieter and Ray Miller, WGTE Public Media
Feature: Honor Flight June 2024 – Dan Cummins, WTOL
Hard News: Kei’Mani Latigue’s former teacher recalls concerns before 13-year old’s death – Michael Sandlin, WTOL
Sports: Lacrosse Twintuition – Yaw Bonsu, BCSN

Digital/Print
Arts and Entertainment: A love letter to Shawshank – Erin Holden, Toledo Free Press
Feature: Navigating a refugee settlement in Toledo – Stephen Zenner, Toledo Free Press
Hard News: Blade testing finds high levels of radioactivity in groundwater in Cold War town – Alexa York, Toledo Blade
Sports: Why Ginny Boggess’ success was always inevitable – Kyle Rowland, Toledo Blade

Photojournalism
Digital/Print: A mother reacts – Jeremy Wadsworth, Toledo Blade
Video: Fellowship Matters: Providing help to the streets – Joe Cromer, WTOL

Public Relations Campaign
#PRethics: Elevating Ethical Standards in PR – Jared Meade, Rayne Strategy Group

Social Media Campaign
Falcon Four – Lucas Kleimeyer, BG Falcon Media

Student
Digital/TV: Live & Loud: Leghorn – Carson DiSalvo, BG Falcon Media
Print/Online: Best of BG – Syed Ayaz Fatmi and Brandee Miller, BG Falcon Media
Radio or Podcast: STAFF MEETING: Off the Air – Outsider Music – Trip Floyd, WXUT

2025 Emerging News Media Professional
Emily Rippe-Desmond, Swell Magazine

2025 Scholarship Recipients
Kurt G. Franck Scholarship: Asa Kridelbaugh, University of Toledo
Bernard F. Judy Scholarship: Allyson Ritchey, Bowling Green State University

2025 Community Award Honorees
Contributor Award: John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation
Golden Touchstone: Paul Kwapich, WTOL
Golden Touchstone: Diane Larson, WTVG
Lifetime Achievement: Robert Smith, African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio