Daily Herald wins 12 Associated Press awards, including public service

The Daily Herald garnered the top prize for public service as well as 11 other awards in the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors competition Thursday.

The first-place award in public service for large-circulation newspapers went to Marie Wilson and Jessica Cilella for “Heroin in the Suburbs,” a yearlong series examining the rise of heroin abuse and its impact on the families affected by it.

The judges said “an enormous time and effort went into this series and the community is better for it.”

The Daily Herald also received two other first-place awards.

One went to Burt Constable for best column or blog. Judges said Constable “finds wonderful stories that showcase his ability to connect to the community and relate incredible personal stories to the readership in print and online.”

Another went to Mike Riopell, Tim Broderick and Travis Siebrass for the online presentation of “We Were Almost Home,” the story that chronicled the day when now-U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth's helicopter was shot down in Iraq 10 years ago.

“Everything meshed well — the videos, the photos and the timeline, all around a compelling story,” the judges said.

The Daily Herald also was recognized with four second-place awards:

•Dann Gire won in the entertainment category for “Thumbs up: Ebert documentary a revealing, personal portrait.”

•George LeClaire won for portrait photography for “Living with floods.”

•Joe Lewnard was honored in sports feature photography for “Goal!”

•Marni Pyke was honored in feature writing for “Flight 232 Remembered”

The Daily Herald also received five third-place awards:

•The Daily Herald was recognized for general excellence as one of the best newspapers in the state.

•Mark Black was recognized in sports action photography for “High jumper.”

•Broderick was honored for the graphic “Troubled path.”

•Don Friske was honored for headline writing.

•Barry Rozner was recognized for sports columns.

Editor John Lampinen accepted the awards during the Illinois AP Media Editors annual meeting at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Normal.

“We're gratified by this recognition,” Lampinen said, “and we believe it's a reflection of our commitment to the community. I'm so proud of our hardworking team of suburban journalists.”