Category Archives: Events

Press Club of Toledo Announces 2026 Touchstone Community Award Honorees; Tickets Now on Sale

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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.

More Time to Submit:Touchstone Awards Entry Deadline Extended

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Good news! We’ve extended the deadline to submit entries for the Touchstone Awards to Wednesday, July 22.

Whether your best work appeared in print, digital, broadcast, audio, photojournalism or public relations, there’s still time to have it recognized among the region’s best in journalism and communications.

Complete your entry here:
2026 Touchstone Awards Entry Form

Join us as we celebrate the best in local journalism and communications at the 2026 Touchstone Awards on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 5–9 p.m. at WGTE Public Media.

Spotlight: Emerging News Media Professional Award

Help us recognize the next generation of outstanding journalists and communications professionals. The Emerging News Media Professional Award honors an early-career professional who has demonstrated exceptional talent, professionalism and promise.

Know someone who deserves the recognition? We encourage you to submit a nomination before the deadline.

Learn more and nominate:
2026 Emerging News Media Professional

Emerging News Media Professional nominations are free to submit.

Before You Submit

Please remember:

  • Complete an entry form for each submission.
  • Include a brief description of the entry and any information you’d like the judges to consider.
  • Entries will be judged by a panel of journalism professionals from outside the Toledo region.
  • Eligible work must have been produced or published between May 15, 2025 and May 14, 2026.
  • Entries may not have been submitted for previous Touchstone Award consideration.
  • Review the full list of categories, including journalism, public relations and student divisions.

How to Submit

  1. Complete this entry form for each nomination.
  2. Pay your entry fees online or by mail (Press Club of Toledo, P.O. Box 2469, Toledo, Ohio 43606).

Entry Fees

$10 — Students
$25 — Press Club of Toledo members
$50 — One submission plus a new Press Club membership
$75 — Nonmembers

The 2026 Touchstone Awards are supported in part by SSOE Group.

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.

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

Ready for the 2025 Touchstone Awards? Here’s What to Know

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The Press Club of Toledo can’t wait to celebrate with you at the 2025 Touchstone Awards on Thursday, Sept. 25! Here’s everything you need to know for a fun night out.

Venue
The Valentine Theatre
410 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604

Parking
North Superior Street lot – $5 cash per car, directly across from the theatre entrance.
Street parking – Free after 6 p.m. on surrounding streets.

Tickets
Still need tickets? There’s time! Discounts are available for students, nominees and Press Club members. Your evening awaits.

Check-In
Advance tickets: Stop at the welcome table in the theatre lobby and give the name on your ticket confirmation email. No paper ticket needed.
Day-of tickets: Scan the QR code signs at the entrance to purchase digitally and show your confirmation email for entry.

Evening Line-Up
5:30 p.m. – Doors open for gourmet grazing, a cash bar with a variety of beverages for purchase and plenty of mingling.
6:30 p.m. – Awards ceremony begins in The Grand Lobby.

Raffle Fun
Support the Press Club’s scholarship fund and take a chance on great prizes. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and can be purchased with cash at the raffle table or digitally by scanning the QR code signs. Winners are drawn during the program. Must be present to win.

Honoring Our 2025 Community Award Winners
Robert Smith – Lifetime Achievement Award for exceptional contributions to business, public service and philanthropy.
Diane Larson and Paul Kwapich – Golden Touchstone Awards for lifetime excellence in Northwest Ohio journalism.
John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation – Contributor Award for significant impact on quality of life in Northwest Ohio.

Thanks to Our Sponsors
A heartfelt thank you to WTOL, the Toledo Free Press and Strategy by Fisher for making the 2025 Touchstone Awards possible.

April 17, 2025 – Meet the Press Event

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PRSA – Northwest Ohio Chapter, Press Club Toledo, and AAF Toledo are partnering to host a Meet the Press panel discussion with local media talent. This event will provide attendees with valuable insights on how to best pitch stories and connect with local journalists. The discussion will feature prominent local media professionals who will share their expertise on what makes a compelling story and the best practices for building relationships with journalists. The event will be hosted by Communica on Thursday, April 17, starting at Noon.

Networking will begin at 11:30 AM, giving attendees the chance to connect with other professionals in PR, sales, marketing, and media before the panel discussion begins. This event is ideal for public relations professionals, marketers, business owners, and anyone interested in learning how to effectively engage with local media.

https://www.ticketleap.events/…/meet-the-press-1105928160