It's not often that I use this space to put a spotlight on the accomplishments of our staff, but this is one time I'll make an exception. During two recent journalism contests, Rubber & Plastics News took home a half-dozen awards, evidence that we're doing our job of telling the news of the rubber and tire manufacturing industry.
In Press Club of Cleveland's All Ohio Excellence Awards, we won four honors. Miles Moore, our Washington-based reporter, took home second in the Trade Report category for his reporting on the International Trade Commission's investigation into dumping in the ESBR sector. News Editor Chris Sweeney took third in the same category for reporting on a long strike at Momentive's silicone factory in New York. In addition, Miles shared second in the Special Section/Package category with Bruce Davis for their coverage in sister publication Tire Business on import duties on truck/bus tires.
The Press Club of Cleveland also honored me with first place in the Personality Profile category for my story on Judit Puskas, the first female winner of the Charles Goodyear Medal, and third in Departments or Columns for my "Editor's Viewpoint."
In the Society of Professional Journalism's Ohio's Best Journalism contest, our publication's website, rubbernews.com, led by Online Editor Erin Pustay Beaven, took second place among Trade Publication Websites. Kyle Brown and myself also shared a second place award in Best Personality Profile for our package of stories on Rick Valeriote, RPN's 2017 Rubber Industry Executive of the Year.
There are a couple of things that make me proud about these honors. First, they were spread among the staff from our two veterans—Miles with more than four decades on the beat, and myself, a few months past my 30-year anniversary—to Chris, Erin and Kyle, all with five years or less at our publication.
Second, the work is indicative of the reporting we strive to produce in each issue of RPN, as well as each day on rubbernews.com. In recent issues, we've brought you an in-depth look on tight market conditions in the silicone industry; ongoing coverage on the trade wars; and a special report on Game Changing Technology, with a focus on the expected impact of the move toward electric and autonomous vehicles.
In this issue alone, Chris Sweeney delivered the most detailed look at Cooper Standard's plan to acquire two business units from Lauren International; Kyle Brown brought you a feature on the 90th anniversary of The Los Angeles Rubber Group; and Miles Moore reported on Tokai Carbon's impending purchase of Sid Richardson.
It's our job to keep you informed about the happenings in your industry, and one RPN has taken seriously since the late Ernie Zielasko—father of current RPN Publisher Dave Zielasko—founded the publication nearly 47 years ago. We know that you, our valued readers, deserve nothing less.
Meyer is editor of Rubber & Plastics News. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @bmeyerRPN.