WARREN — Six Tribune Chronicle staffers are finalists for nine statewide journalism awards in this year’s Ohio Associated Press Media Editors’ newspaper contest.

Fifty-six daily newspapers submitted 1,630 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories, features, editorials, columns, graphics and photos from 2019.

The Tribune Chronicle participates in Division IV, for daily newspapers with circulations ranging from 19,000 to 59,999. Entries in that division were judged by editors from The Grand Haven (Michigan) Tribune.

Tribune Chronicle journalists named as finalists in categories analyzing overall bodies of work included reporter Renee Fox for best news writer and Editor Brenda J. Linert for best editorial writer. The newsroom staff was named a finalist in the Best Public Service category for its Community Stars program, which honors volunteers all across Trumbull County.

Sports writer John Vargo is a finalist for two awards in the best sports enterprise category for a story about athletes who are confined to wheelchairs and a behind-the-scenes series on the Youngstown State University men’s basketball team as it played in the Detroit area last February.

Business writer Ron Selak is a finalist in the best explanatory reporting category for his story on the legalization of marijuana and also is a finalist in the best enterprise reporting category for his coverage of the closure of the General Motors Lordstown plant.

Chief photographer Mike Semple is a finalist for his feature photo “Reflection on Life,” and paginator / copy editor Laura McDonough is a finalist in the best full-page design category for her page “Gifts for Bookworms” in December.

The contest finalists were announced Friday. First-, second- and third-place finishes will be announced during the annual awards banquet May 9 in Columbus. The General Excellence, Hall of Fame, Rising Star and First Amendment winners also will be announced at the meeting.

The Associated Press is a not-for-profit news cooperative representing 1,300 newspapers and 5,000 broadcast stations in the United States.