Annual celebration honoring Northwest Ohio journalism, communications and community leadership takes place Sept. 10 at WGTE Public Media
The Press Club of Toledo has announced the community award honorees for the 2026 Touchstone Awards and opened ticket sales for the annual celebration recognizing excellence in journalism, communications and service to the Northwest Ohio community. The event is also one of the Press Club’s major fundraisers for its scholarship program, helping provide financial support to area students pursuing careers in journalism and communications.
The 2026 Touchstone Awards will take place Thursday, Sept. 10, from 5–9 p.m. at WGTE Public Media, located at 1270 S. Detroit Ave. in Toledo. The evening will bring together journalists, communications professionals, students and community leaders for an evening of networking, recognition and celebration.
“The Touchstone Awards are about more than recognizing excellence in journalism and communications. They’re about bringing our community together to celebrate the people and organizations making a difference,” said Marcus Harrison, board president of the Press Club of Toledo. “We hope people will join us for an evening of connection and recognition while helping support the next generation of journalists and communicators through the Press Club’s scholarship program.”
The 2026 Touchstone Awards will recognize excellence in 20 categories spanning print and online journalism, television, audio production and communications, with divisions for professionals and students. The ceremony also will recognize the 2026 Emerging News Media Professional, an award honoring an early-career news media professional who demonstrates integrity and a commitment to public service.
2026 Community Award Honorees
Each year, the Press Club of Toledo honors individuals and organizations for their service and contributions to the greater Toledo community. This year’s community award honorees are:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Tom Troy, The Blade
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the community through business, public service, philanthropy and other areas of community leadership.
Contributor Awards: Christina Rodriguez and Grand Lodge Food Pantry
The Contributor Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the community, particularly those that make a significant impact on the quality of life in Northwest Ohio.
Golden Touchstone: Dan Cummins, WTOL 11
The Golden Touchstone recognizes lifetime achievement in the field of journalism in Northwest Ohio.
Norm Cartwright Award: Shaun Hegarty, 13abc
Named for Press Club of Toledo founding member Norm Cartwright, the award honors outstanding efforts to promote the Press Club’s principles.
“Each of this year’s community award honorees represents an important part of the work that makes our region stronger, from a lifetime dedicated to journalism to innovative storytelling, community service and a commitment to keeping our community informed,” Harrison said. “The Press Club looks forward to recognizing Tom Troy, Christina Rodriguez, the Grand Lodge Food Pantry, Dan Cummins and Shaun Hegarty for the impact they have made in our community and in their respective fields at this year’s ceremony.”
Supporting the Next Generation
The Touchstone Awards are one of the Press Club of Toledo’s major fundraisers for its scholarship program, which provides financial assistance to area students pursuing careers in journalism, communications and related fields.
The Press Club awards the Kurt G. Franck and Bernard F. Judy Scholarships annually to students from the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University who demonstrate service and dedication to the journalism profession.
“The Touchstone Awards give us the opportunity to celebrate the people doing important work in journalism and communications while investing in those who will carry the profession forward,” Harrison said. “When people attend the Touchstones, they’re helping make it possible for the Press Club to provide scholarships and create opportunities for the next generation.”
Tickets and Event Information
Tickets for the 2026 Touchstone Awards are available now at press-club-of-toledo.square.site. Tickets are $45 for nominees and students, $75 for Press Club members and $100 for nonmembers. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
For more information about the 2026 Touchstone Awards, visit toledopressclub.com.
The 2026 Touchstone Awards are supported in part by SSOE Group.