C.J. Carnacchio, editor of the Oxford Leader, recently won seven more journalism awards from the Michigan Press Association (MPA).
The 38-year-old Oxford resident earned three awards for his writing and four for his photography work in the 2014 Better Newspaper Contest.
‘It’s always an honor to be recognized by your peers ? people who know and understand the job because they actually do it every day,? Carnacchio said. ‘I’d like to thank the Sherman family for their constant support and my wife, Connie, for always giving me everything I need to do my best at my job and in life. Without her, there would be no awards.?
Members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association judged a total 3,417 entries submitted by 119 Michigan newspapers
Papers compete in divisions based on circulation and whether they publish daily or weekly. The Leader competes in Weekly Class D, which includes newspapers and specialty publications with circulations under 4,000.
Out of 46 entries in the feature story category, Carnacchio placed both first and second.
He won first place for his April 24, 2013 story entitled ‘Triumph turns to terror for Oxford runner in Boston.? The article was about Oxford resident Stephanie Schreiber Bland’s experiences as a runner during the 2013 Boston Marathon terrorist bombings.
The judges called it a ‘detailed account of a terrible tragedy with the resiliency of the human spirit shining through at the end.?
Carnacchio earned second place for his Nov. 12, 2013 article ‘OMS students? cards touch 9/11 first-responder.?
The story was about a group of 28 Oxford Middle School seventh-graders in teacher Meredith Summer’s class who sent handmade cards to Jaime Hazan, a volunteer first-responder who worked at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.
‘Great connection between young students and their appreciation for a true 9/11 hero,? the judges wrote.
In the photo story category, Carnacchio again won both first and second place out of 22 entries. He received first place for his photo page entitled, ‘Lest we forget,? which featured images from Oxford’s 2013 Memorial Day observance.
‘Interesting visuals that represent many different aspects of the Memorial Day observance. Well composed photos,? the judges wrote.
Carnacchio received second place for ‘A doggone good cause,? a photo page chronicling the K-9 Stray Rescue League’s 2013 Wag and Walk fund-raiser.
‘Even published in black and white these photos have a lot of color,? the judges wrote. ‘Great angles and expressions, especially the dog frisking pic. Nice job.?
In the news photo category, Carnacchio scored another first place award for the Sept. 18, 2013 photo that accompanied his article ‘Therapy dog dies in crash.?
The photo depicts the scene of a traffic crash that claimed the life of Mitchell, a 10-year-old English springer spaniel who was a registered therapy dog and the canine companion of Oxford resident Jim Hughes.
‘This photo did the finest job of integrating great journalism with great technical photography,? the judges wrote. ‘The photographer sold this moment by framing the scene using the firefighter and truck.?
Carnacchio took third place in the feature photo category with his June 5, 2013 image ‘Soakin?.? It depicted students from Leonard Elementary getting sprayed by a fire hose during the school’s Field Day event.
‘Although both their eyes are closed, there is a lot of movement in the photograph. Fun pic,? the judges wrote.
Rounding out Carnacchio’s awards was an honorable mention he received in the enterprise reporting category for an Aug. 14, 2013 story entitled, ‘Single mom needs new home to gain independence, give family a future.?
Since joining the Leader in May 1999, Carnacchio has now won a total of 74 journalism awards for his writing and photography skills from the MPA, the Detroit Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Newspaper Association.