Blade reporter honored for ‘Ugly Truth About Toledo’

Sept. 26--A Blade staff writer was recognized Thursday with a top distinction during the Press Club of Toledo's annual Touchstone Awards.

Janet Romaker, a longtime Blade reporter and editor, received the Touchstone excellence in journalism award in the daily print category for a series on local blight that ran under the banner "The Ugly Truth About Toledo." The reports also looked at efforts of other communities, most notably Baltimore, to stem the tide of abandoned buildings and vacant lots.

Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins, who campaigned last year to improve neighborhoods, balked at first and said that The Blade's reports created a "false perception" of the city. He later rolled out his T-Town Initiative neighborhood cleanup effort, and City Council created the Toledo Blight Authority.

The Touchstone Awards in journalism were judged by the Press Club of Los Angeles. Judges said the articles were "a searing and insightful call to save Toledo that is required reading for elected leaders and community activists, not just in Toledo but every American city facing decay."

Ms. Romaker, in accepting the award, said: "This is truly, truly an honor, not just to me, but all my editors who believed in me, that I could go from kind of the fluff stuff to a little bit more in depth and a little harder hitting, and I appreciated the opportunity immensely. Especially to Mr. Block," referring to Blade publisher and editor-in-chief John Robinson Block, "who also believed in me."

In the nondaily publication category, the Touchstone Award went to Kelly Kaczala and Melissa Burden of the Millbury-based Press Newspapers. In the broadcast category, judges selected WTVG-TV, Channel 13, as a Touchstone Award winner.

The excellence in journalism award in the student category went to Gina Todd of the University of Toledo. She later received a Bernard F. Judy scholarship, named for The Blade's late editor-in-chief, as did Samantha Rhodes, also of UT, and Linda Nelson of Bowling Green State University.

A panel of local judges selected the Press Club's Touchstone awards for community service, including the Contributor Award to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Toledo. The Touchstone Lifetime Achiever Award went to Dennis Johnson, president of Brooks Insurance, for his contributions as a business and civic leader and philanthropist.

The keynote speaker was Chrys Peterson, retired news anchor for WTOL-TV, Channel 11, who reflected on changes both in the news media and the ways people get their news. Later in the evening, Ms. Peterson was presented the 2014 Golden Touchstone Award for her award-winning journalism career and community activism.

Contact Mark Zaborney at: mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.

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