SIDNEY — The Hardin-Houston Local School District has named Alexandra Newman and Melanie Speicher of the Sidney Daily News to the Ohio School Boards Association 2015 Media Honor Roll.
The Media Honor Roll recognizes media representatives statewide for fair and balanced reporting of news about public schools. Media representatives from more than 100 Ohio newspapers and radio and television stations were honored by their local school districts.
Speicher joined the Sidney Daily News as a reporter in 2000. A graduate of Ohio University, she currently holds the position of news editor.
Newman, a May 2015 graduate of Ohio University, is a reporter for the Sidney Daily News and has been on staff since graduation in May. Besides reporting, Newman also assists with managing the newspaper’s social media sites.
“We are very pleased that two of our journalists have been honored by the Hardin-Houston School District and the Ohio School Boards Association. Both Melanie and Alexandra work diligently to provide our Shelby County communities with local news that matters to readers,” said Sidney Daily News Editor Susan Hartley. “Covering news about our schools is an important part of our job and allows us to showcase the dedicated educators and students within our county’s school districts.”
Criteria for selection by a school district includes the media representative’s efforts to get to know the superintendent, board president and district mission and goals; report school news in a fair, accurate and balanced manner; give a high profile to positive news about schools; visit the schools; and maintain a policy of “no surprises” by sharing information with school officials.
“OSBA is pleased that so many school districts around the state participated in the 2015 Media Honor Roll program,” said OSBA Executive Director Richard Lewis. “OSBA joins those districts in congratulating the honorees and thanking them for fairly and accurately reporting on the successes of students, teachers and school boards, as well as conveying the many challenges they face.”
OSBA sends personalized certificates to school board to help them honor reporters, editors and news outlets. OSBA also recognizes the honorees in its Journal magazine and on its website.
In its 60th year, OSBA leads the way to educational excellence by serving Ohio’s public school board members and the diverse districts they represent through superior service, unwavering advocacy and creative solutions, OSBA officials said.
