Limestone Post contributors won eight awards, including six first-place honors, in the “Best in Indiana” Journalism Contest, hosted by the Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The honors were announced in Carmel on May 2, 2025, acknowledging journalistic achievements from newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and student news outlets across the state.
LP writers Dason Anderson, Christina Avery, Laurie D. Borman, Michael G. Glab, Rebecca Hill, Anne Kibbler, and Haley Miller were among the winners. Their “SPJ” awards came in categories that reflect LP’s range of local coverage: Environmental Reporting, Medical or Science Reporting, Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting, Arts and Entertainment Writing, and Coverage of Social Justice Issues.
The awards also show Limestone Post’s commitment to working with other news outlets and the impact their collaboration can have on a community. In the past year, LP has partnered with WFHB Community Radio, the Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism at IU, Southern Indiana Business Report, and Jeremy Hogan of The Bloomingtonian.
Limestone Post partners WFHB and the Arnolt Center each won first place for articles in the series Deep Dive: WFHB & Limestone Post Investigate.
The Herald-Times, WFIU, WTIU, Bloom, and the Indiana Daily Student each took home multiple honors at this year’s SPJs. The outstanding work done by student journalists across the state gives hope for the future of a free press.
The list of winners in every division and category shows that Indiana has many dedicated and outstanding journalists and news outlets, despite growing news deserts in the state, especially in rural areas. And these are a major concern, especially when First Amendment freedoms are being threatened and journalists are under attack. It is more important than ever to support local news outlets.
Awards Won by Limestone Post Contributors in the Print And Digital Division
1st Place
(l-r) Kade Young and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider of the WFHB News Department | Photo by Indiana Professional Chapter of SPJ
Christina Avery, Haley Miller, Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, and Kade Young
“‘Patchwork’ of Aid for Food Insecurity Doesn’t Address Its Cause”
Category: Non-Deadline Story or Series
Outlets: WFHB and Limestone Post
Judge’s comment: Nice, in-depth work in all of these entries. It’s good to see that community journalism still has the bandwidth for in-depth journalism.
Dason Anderson
“The Art of Totality: Celestial Celebrations in the Hoosier State” and “Antique Machinery Club Keeps Tractors — and History — Alive”
Category: Arts and Entertainment Writing
Rebecca Hill
“The Harmful Consequences of Indiana’s Badly Written Abortion Ban”
Category: Medical or Science Reporting
Judge’s comment: I was instantly drawn into Rebecca’s story with her ability to weave a single specific narrative into the overarching story. Going further, her ability to fully research all the important aspects and perspectives of this complex story is exquisite. This is all-around a well-researched and well-written story.
Anne Kibbler
“What’s at Stake in the Debate Over Indiana’s Wetlands?”
Category: Environmental Reporting
Haley Miller
“Dying Well: Chaplain Offers ‘Perfect Place’ to Have a ‘Good Death’”
Category: Personality Profile
Judge’s comment: Captivating lede, great use of quotes, excellent scene setting. Just an amazing read from start to finish.
Brookelyn Lambright, Karl Templeton, and Brenna Polovina; photos by Olivia Bianco
“Resilience Amid Hardship: Refugees Find Challenges, Opportunities in Bloomington”
Category: Coverage of Social Justice Issues
Outlets: Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism and Limestone Post
Judge’s comment: The struggles of refugees settling in Bloomington and the groups that extend help to the newcomers are highlighted in this story. Comments from a wide range of sources, including an Afghan couple who fled their home country after the Taliban took control, helped make the entry a winner.
3rd Place
Laurie D. Borman and Carol Johnson
“How Orange T-shirts Helped Revive Gaming in French Lick”
Category: Business or Consumer Affairs Reporting
Outlets: Southern Indiana Business Report and Limestone Post
Michael G. Glab
“Celebrating Monroe Lake’s 60th Anniversary”
Category: Arts and Entertainment Writing
