Joseph H. Edwards
Outdoor Writer of the Year

The Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation is calling for entries for the Joseph H. Edwards Outdoor Writer of the Year.

The award honors a writer whose published work exemplifies and captures Edwards' passion for the outdoors – from its majestic scenery to its abundant and varied wildlife and virtually all sports afield.

The winner will receive $500, a plaque and recognition as the Outdoor Writer of the Year during the OPA Mid-Winter Convention, Feb. 21-23, 2008, in Oklahoma City.

ENTRY CRITERIA:

ENTRIES MUST BE WRITTEN by a staff member of an OPA business member newspaper and MUST INCLUDE writer's name and newspaper name.

WRITERS MUST SUBMIT THREE TO SIX ARTICLES published between
DEC. 1, 2006, AND NOV. 30, 2007. Articles may be news stories, features, columns or sports stories that promote the outdoors (i.e., hunting, fishing, shooting, environmental conservation, wildlife management, etc.).

SUBMIT FULL-PAGE TEARSHEETS with articles to be judged prominently outlined.

MAIL ENTRIES TO: Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation, c/o Oklahoma Press Association, 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499.

DEADLINE: All entries must be postmarked by FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 2007.

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ABOUT JOSEPH H. EDWARDS

The Joseph H. Edwards Outdoor Writer of the Year Award was established to honor Joe Edwards, former publisher of the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise.
Joe Edwards, who was publisher of the Examiner-Enterprise from 1993 until his death on Nov. 11, 2006, had an unbridled passion for newspapers and the great outdoors.
He started his newspaper career with Donrey Media, predecessor of Stephens Media Group, at the Nevada Appeal in Carson City, Nev. In 1984, he was promoted to publisher of the Fort Bragg (Calif.) Advocate-News and Mendocino (Calif.) Beacon.
In 1989, he was named publisher of the Ukiah (Calif.) Daily Journal.
Edwards returned to his home state of Oklahoma in 1993 to accept the position of publisher at the Examiner-Enterprise and division manager for Donrey, overseeing newspapers in Claremore, Pawhuska, Blackwell, Henryetta and Okmulgee.
When Edwards wasn’t at the newspaper, he could be found hunting and exploring the wilderness areas of Western United States and Canada.
He went on annual big game hunts for deer, elk, mountain goat and bear in such diverse places as Montana, Wyoming, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.
Edwards chronicled in the Examiner-Enterprise many of his outdoor adventures in places ranging from the high desert of Nevada’s White Mountains to the rugged Canadian Rockies.
He also had a long association with the U.S. military. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard until his retirement in June 2002 with the rank of staff sergeant.
Prior to his newspaper career, Edwards led a rugged life including stints as a rodeo bull rider, boxer, miner and truck driver.