By Deba Uwadiae

The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus (LWVMC) has announced the award of Democracy in Action to the professional journalists in the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association (OLCA), for their dedication to nonpartisan reporting on State of Ohio governmental issues.

“The 2022 Democracy In Action Awards event on May 12, will honor the crucial role of strong and steadfast local journalism in amplifying democracy and civic engagement in the central Ohio community,” said the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus (LWVMC).

“The League recognizes the distinct power of local journalism, and this year’s honorees consistently provide accurate, factual, fair, and complete information to the public about the democratic process through their efforts.”

Also, Lee Leonard will receive a lifetime achievement award for his reporting at the Ohio Statehouse for The Columbus Dispatch. Lee Leonard reported on the Ohio Statehouse for 37 years, 22 for United Press International and 15 for The Columbus Dispatch.

The event will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2022, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the WOSU Public Media Headquarters, 1800 N. Pearl Street, Columbus, 43201. Tickets will be available through the League’s website: www.lwvcols.org

Past winners of the Democracy in Action award include Mary Lazarus, John Fisher, Chuck White, Herb Asher, JoAnn Davidson, Robert Duncan, Bob and Dorothy Teater, Cynthia Cecil Lazarus, Rev. Leon Troy, Fred Andrle, Mike Curtain, Matt Habash, Senator John and Annie Glenn, Betty Montgomery, Yvette McGee Brown, Joseph Mas, Columbus Metro Parks, the Statehouse News Bureau, Sara Neikirk, Justice Thomas Moyer, Hugh Dorrian, Janet Jackson, Ted Celeste, and Amy Klaben.

Democracy In Action is the League’s highest honor and is given in recognition for outstanding participation in civic affairs. Honorees embody, as does the League, a strong belief that our democratic system of government works best when citizens are active and informed.

Deba Uwadiae of the New Americans magazine is a member of the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association.