Lincoln County News Editor Sherwood Olin congratulates Dominik Lobkowicz following the presentation of the Bob Drake Young Writer’s Award at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn Saturday, Oct. 18. (J.W. Oliver photo)
Lincoln County News senior reporter Dominik Lobkowicz received the Bob Drake Young Writer’s Award during the Maine Press Association’s annual conference at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn Saturday, Oct. 18.
The association gives the award to an employee of a member newspaper with fewer than two years of full-time experience as of the July deadline for nominations. The judges consider balance, imagination, thoroughness, and writing, among other qualities.
Lobkowicz, 29, of Waldoboro, covers the towns of Bremen, Jefferson, Nobleboro, Somerville, and Waldoboro for The Lincoln County News.
The Lincoln County News Editor Sherwood Olin and Deputy Editor J.W. Oliver nominated Lobkowicz for the award.
“Dominik Lobkowicz is the rare reporter who brings the total package,” Olin and Oliver said in the nomination letter. “He has impeccable character. He always treats subjects with respect, yet will fearlessly pursue any story.
“He effectively and efficiently covers a wide range of subjects, from a high-profile trial to a middle school play, a devastating fire to a Main Street art walk, an exciting new business to an annual town meeting.
“Dominik excels at spot news. Other reporters hesitate to take the head-on accident, the police standoff, the structure fire – Dominik aggressively pursues these stories.”
The letter specifically notes Lobkowicz’s strong coverage of his hometown of Waldoboro, a report about the effect of legislative redistricting on the county’s political landscape, and his ongoing series about issues at the new Jefferson Village School.
The newspaper’s editors also cited the work Lobkowicz does beyond the traditional role of a reporter.
“Because of Dominik’s problem-solving ability and unique skills, the newspaper often looks to him to take on responsibilities well outside the scope of his job description,” Olin and Oliver said. “For example, he assists with website administration and helps the newspaper comply with new state requirements for online publication of public notices.
“Dominik is the kind of reporter every newspaper needs in the 21st century news climate – hardworking, tech-savvy, and willing and able to take on a wide variety of challenges.”
Olin introduced Lobkowicz at the Maine Press Association conference.
“I am really proud of him,” Olin said. “This is a guy who comes in every day looking to do the best he can and he is always working to improve. Watching him develop as a reporter has been a fantastic experience for me.”
“I think it is a great choice by the MPA and well-deserved,” Olin said. “Dominik works very hard at his craft and I think it shows. I know the LCN is certainly a better paper because of his efforts.”
Commenting on the award Oct. 20, Lobkowicz said, “It means a lot to be recognized for my hard work for The Lincoln County News, but I couldn’t have done it without help.”
“Having essentially no formal education or experience in this field when I started, my editors, Sherwood Olin and J.W. Oliver, were instrumental in getting me on track with pursuing and writing the news,” Lobkowicz said. “Continual discussion and guidance from those two and many others along the way has really helped me get to where I am.”
“Personally, I have to thank my wife, Samantha deGroff, for supporting me and putting up with me these two years,” Lobkowicz said. “Like any reporter, my days often start early and end late, and leaving work at work can be tough. The stresses of the job have made her unending care and support all the more meaningful.”
The award bears the name of the late Robert G. “Bob” Drake, a longtime editor for the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel, 1985 Maine Press Association Journalist of the Year, and member of the Maine Press Association Hall of Fame.
Lobkowicz also captured seven individual awards for his work, including first-place honors for people photo, news photo, and scenic photo; second place for spot news photo; and third place for arts/lifestyle feature, news photo, and spot news photo.
Lobkowicz is a 2003 graduate of Medomak Valley High School and a 2007 graduate of Lycoming College in Williamsport, Penn. with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice.
The Lincoln County News hired Lobkowicz in September 2012 to cover the towns of Dresden, Edgecomb, Westport Island, Whitefield, and Wiscasset, and he transitioned to the newspaper’s Waldoboro desk roughly 11 months later.
Lobkowicz also works as a reserve officer for the Wiscasset Police Department.
