Tom Wearing earns accolades for reporting in 2021
TRI-CITY AREA — The Tri-City Times was the proud recipient of awards in the 2021 Michigan Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.
In the results released on March 17, staff writer Tom Wearing took first place in two categories.
Wearing’s story featuring local students enrolled in the Lapeer County Ed Tech Center’s building trades program took the top spot in ‘Government/Education News’ category in the TCT’s circulation category for weekly newspapers.
His was one of 31 entries in that category.
Wearing also took first place for ‘Enterprise Reporting’ for his series of stories about the city commission’s consideration to disband the Imlay City Police Department. City commissioners eventually decided to not pursue that proposal.
His entry was one of 19 in that category.
The intent of the competition is to inspire “all journalists to produce their best work, which in turn, nurtures stronger communities,” the press association said in a release.
Members of the Arkansas Press Association reviewed 2,909 entries submitted by 96 Michigan newspapers and individual members.
“It’s clear the huge amount of work our collective newsrooms are doing all over the state to serve their communities.
Covering our beats is crucial work that supports the democratic process in each community in Michigan; it’s work that supports the spirit of each community we serve. We have wonderful examples here of the tremendous talent we have in our state. These recent years have been difficult, but we will look back on these times with pride for all the positive impact we’re having on our readers,” said Paul J. Heidbreder, Michigan Press Association President and Publisher of the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
