FreshWater Cleveland was honored for its writing and photography by the Press Club of Cleveland during its 2024 All Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards ceremony on Friday, June 7 at House of Blues.

FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski, contributing editor Jo Donofrio, contributing editor Grant Segall, and contributing writer Matt Florjancic were honored at the event.

Perkoski took first place in the Multiple Photo Essay category for his photo essay, “Walking the #Streets: The best of #StreetsofCLE.” The judge wrote, “Very nice! Engaging, creative and composition was excellent”

Donofrio earned third place in the Neighborhood/Community News category for her news feature, “Service with a smile: Four generations have kept Gallucci’s Italian Foods going strong.” The judge’s comments read, “Good story and photo of both old and new.”

Both Segall and Florjancic were honored for their freelance writing in several Northeast Ohio publications.

Segall earned second place in the Best in Ohio: freelance writer category for three FreshWater stories, as well his work with “Crain’s Cleveland Business” and “The Land.” The FreshWater stories recognized included “Safe haven: 5,000 Ukrainians have arrived in NEO over the past year,”  “Welcome signs: Waypoint locations in the skies direct and amuse pilots,” and “Beyond football: The Cleveland-Pittsburgh rivalry has a history going beyond the NFL.”

The judge commented, “The writer attacks a variety of topics. Reporting from streets was especially evident in the Ukraine piece, which shared the personal stories of refugees and those giving them a place to stay.”

Florjancic received third place for his freelance work, which included four stories for FreshWater, as was well as his work for The Chronicle-Telegram, The Blade, and the Baldwin Wallace University Athletics website.

Florjancic’s FreshWater stories recognized were “Getting into the swing of things: Five Iron Golf brings unique blend of serious play, fun;” “Cleveland Habitat for Humanity launches 400 Home Initiative;” “Creating a buzz: Entrepreneur uses coffee, local celebrities to help end hunger in CLE;” and “New Larchmere Homes project is just one step in CHN's mission to ensure affordable housing for all.”

“I am so proud of the FreshWater team and the many great stories Grant, Jo, and Matt wrote last year,” says FreshWater owner and managing editor Karin Connelly Rice. “Bob’s photography is the catalyst that now only completes our features stories, his unique photo essays truly illustrate everyday life in Cleveland. I’m grateful to have such a talented and dedicated group of professionals sharing all that’s good in Cleveland.”