Greater Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists and Ohio’s Best Journalism recognize Soapbox for excellence in 2025

Journalists and their colleagues, friends and families gathered at Cincinnati Public Radio’s event space hosted by WVXU-FM last week for the annual Excellence In Journalism awards presentation. Highlights of the evening included inductions into the Cincinnati Journalism Hall of Fame for three broadcast journalists – John London, Jon Esther and Jack Helsel – plus writer and editor Kathy Doane. Additionally, three journalists received The Emil Dansker Award for Outstanding Achievement in Journalism including Amanda Boyd Walters, Hagit Limor and Duane Pohlman.

The 2026 Excellence in Journalism awards are presented by Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter. The SPJ awards programs recognize and honor the finest reporting for 2025 in local and regional media including radio, television, broadcasting, video, printed publications, digital publications, plus university and high schools.  

Soapbox writers were honored in four categories. To be honored for this recognition speaks volumes for how the quality of the work is viewed among peers. Entries were judged by journalists from the Florida and Southeast U.S. Pro Chapters.

Writer and Soapbox project editor David Holthaus was honored to receive the Camilla Warrick Award that honors journalists in any medium who use their professional role to make an impact on people in the community. It’s named for the late Cincinnati Enquirer and Post reporter and columnist, Camilla Warrick. Holthaus was recognized for his work on the Health Justice in Action series. Holthaus has also been recognized as the Cincy SPJ Best Overall Freelance Reporter for his reporting and writing.

Two Soapbox writers were finalists for the first time for their work on editorial feature stories. In the category Health/Medical/Science/Environmental Reporting, Steve Aust was a finalist for “Arc of Appalachia Has Acquired 14,000 Acres to Protect the Region’s Temperate Forest Biome Forever.” In the category Criminal/Social Justice Reporting, Lorie Baker was a finalist for “In a Place Built for Youth Confinement, This Space Offers Calm Release.”

The statewide Ohio Best Journalism contest, coordinated jointly by the SPJ Pro Chapters in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, has recognized the team of writer David Holthaus, photographer Natalie Grilli and editor Patrice Watson in first place for the Best Medical/Science/Health Care Reporting in Ohio for the series, “Health Justice in Action.”

Judges’ comments about the series included “this whole ‘Health Justice in Action’ series represents important work worthy of first place. The story “Living on the edge: Eviction takes a toll on the health of families,” was especially compelling, both for the presentation and the clear load of work that went on behind the scenes to get the story. Good job.”

Holthaus received second place for Best Business/Consumer Reporting for his writing for Realm Magazine and his story, “Immigrants Propel the Local Economy.” Read the story here. Realm is a publication of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

The team from Soapbox Cincinnati is honored to be recognized by both the Cincinnati SPJ Pro Chapter Excellence in Journalism and Ohio’s Best Journalism competitions. Congratulations to Steve Aust, Lorie Baker, Natalie Grilli and David Holthaus for their excellent work.

Soapbox Cincinnati and Issue Media Group are grateful for the ongoing support received from our readers and our underwriters. It keeps us motivated to produce stories using solutions journalism and narrative storytelling. We strive to provide reporting of underreported and underrepresented people, organizations, neighborhoods and initiatives in our community helping to transform our region for the 21^st century.