WWN’s local news reporting and photography is being celebrated with awards from a statewide journalism organization.
The Hoosier State Press Association’s 2025 Journalism Conference and Awards Luncheon recognized the Wayne County publication’s work across five different categories on Sept. 19.
WWN’s Millicent Martin Emery, Dan Harney and Chris Hardie won first place for best sports news or feature coverage for their October 2024 work covering allegations of gender discrimination raised by the Richmond High School girls volleyball team against school officials.
WWN photographer Joshua Smith won second place for best general news photo after capturing a special moment during Christmas in Centerville in December 2024.
The entire WWN reporting staff was celebrated for its coverage of the 2024 solar eclipse with a third-place win in the news coverage under deadline pressure category.
Millicent Martin Emery was recognized again for her August 2024 article on the Starr Historic District again being placed on Indiana Landmarks’ “10 Most Endangered” list, with a third-place win in the news coverage without deadline pressure category.
The WWN’s online presence again garnered recognition with a third-place win in the best website category, the third year in a row that WesternWayneNews.com has been honored by HSPA.
All of the awards were given in WWN’s division of non-daily papers in Indiana with circulation greater than 1,500.
“Our small, hard-working team is so grateful to have our work recognized at the state level in this way,” said Chris Hardie, publisher of the Western Wayne News. “We thank HSPA for providing a chance to celebrate the important work that so many journalists and newspapers across Indiana are doing to keep our communities informed.”
A version of this article will appear in the September 24 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.