Tag 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.

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

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

Touchstone Awards ceremony returns to the Valentine Theatre Thursday, Sept. 25

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The Press Club of Toledo will celebrate the best in local journalism this fall when it hosts the 2025 Touchstone Awards at the Valentine Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 25. The ceremony marks 27 years of honoring area journalists and communications professionals.

Touchstone Nominations

To be eligible for a 2025 Touchstone Award, work must have been produced or published between May 15, 2024, and May 14, 2025. There are 20 categories across print and online, television, audio production and communications. Nominations will be judged by a panel of journalism professionals from outside the Toledo region.

Touchstone nomination fees 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 member for $50.

The 2025 ceremony will debut an Emerging News Media Professional Award. The award recognizes new voices in journalism who exemplify integrity and public service. Nominees must have fewer than five years of professional news media experience. Submissions for this award will be judged by a panel of past Press Club presidents and former board members.

Nominations for Touchstone and Emerging News Media Professional awards will be accepted between May 15 and July 15. Visit toledopressclub.com for the online nomination forms.

Community Award Winners

In addition to recognizing excellence in journalism and communications, the Press Club of Toledo honors individuals and organizations for their service and contributions to the greater Toledo community. The 2025 honorees are:

  • Robert Smith, founder of the African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the community in business, public service and philanthropy.
  • Diane Larson, retired 13abc news anchor and journalist, and Paul Kwapich, retired WTOL photojournalist, will each receive the Golden Touchstone Award, recognizing lifetime achievement in journalism in Northwest Ohio.
  • The John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation will receive the Contributor Award, honoring outstanding contributions to the community, specifically significant impacts on quality of life in Northwest Ohio over the past year.

Press Club Scholarships

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

  • Kurt G. Franck, a former executive editor, general manager and vice president at The Blade and Block Communications Inc., who passed away in 2024. Franck was also a former Press Club board member and strong supporter of the club.
  • Bernard F. Judy, a career journalist who served The Blade for more than 40 years, including as editor-in-chief before retiring in 1989. Judy was also a Press Club founder and board member.

Tickets for the 2025 Touchstone Awards are on sale now at toledopressclub.com, with discounts available for Press Club members, nominees and students.

An Evening of Connection, Collaboration and Celebration at AAF Toledo’s Holiday Networking Event

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The Dec. 9 mixer with Toledo’s creative community features holiday vendors, a raffle in support of the Cherry Street Mission and a cashless bar

Toledo, Ohio — Toledo’s creative community is invited for an evening of festive networking and connection-building at the Merry Mixer @ TolHouse, presented by the American Advertising Federation–Toledo (AAF Toledo). The event is set to take place on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 6 – 10 p.m. at TolHouse, a private social club that caters to the vibrant, city-dwelling creative and entrepreneurial class.

“The Merry Mixer @ TolHouse promises to be an unparalleled experience, bringing together those in the marketing, communications, media and creative fields,” said Valerie Thompson, president of AAF Toledo’s board of governors and owner of Leap Graphics.

Featuring networking opportunities with various creative and media representatives, guests can also immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere with unique holiday vendors, featuring Toledo Soap Co., vintage clothier Muddy Rags and artist Duane Ackley, and participate in a raffle that supports the Cherry Street Mission. Holiday beverages will be available for purchase and light appetizers will be provided. Please note that TolHouse accepts debit and credit cards only. The event is cashless.

AAF Toledo has partnered with the following influential organizations on the event: Film Toledo, The Juice 107.3, Toledo Creatives, Press Club of Toledo, The Sojourner’s Truth, The Stalwart Magazine and the Toledo City Paper.

“The Merry Mixer @ TolHouse is more than just a networking event,” Thompson added. “It’s a celebration of the season, a platform for collaboration and an opportunity to support a worthy cause. Join us for an evening of connection, creativity and community spirit.”

Merry Mixer @ TolHouse tickets are $20 and are on sale now at eventbrite.com. For more information, visit aaftoledo.org or @aaftoledo.

Ribs and Roast: Larry Boyer

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Ribs and Roast is back!

Save the date for February 11, 2016 — the Press Club of Toledo will be hosting Ribs and Roast 2.0, a roast of Larry Boyer.

Ribs and Roast 2.0

As a long-time Press Club member and community banker, Larry is the perfect person to help the Press Club of Toledo bring back the Ribs and Roast tradition. Join us at The Premier on February 11 for this special event. The Press Club will be offering some of our favorites for your dining pleasure, including the famous Broadcaster Sandwich and the Club’s Original Chili. We will of course have our favorite cocktails for your enjoyment as well, including Neil Carmean’s famous margaritas!

Since this is such a memorable tradition for the Press Club of Toledo, we will have videos of past Ribs and Roasts to share with attendees—there will be quite a few laughs! So save the date for Ribs and Roast 2.0! We will be sharing more details as we get closer to the event, so stay tuned!

Ribs and Roast