CHAMPAIGN – "Penny for Your Thoughts" host Jim Turpin has won The News-Gazette's Publisher's Award, given for a career of commitment and contribution to the company.

Turpin, who also co-hosts "Saturday Sportsline" on WDWS-AM, is former general manager of the station, which is owned by The News-Gazette Inc.

He received the award at the company's annual employee recognition dinner Jan. 30.

Also honored that night were four Employees of the Year:

– News-Gazette home delivery manager Josh Harmon.

– News-Gazette sports writer Marcus Jackson.

– WDWS operations manager Jim Lewis.

– News-Gazette marketing associate Erin Lippitz-Gelsthorpe.

In presenting the Publisher's Award, company President John R. Foreman said Turpin "does talk radio at its absolute finest. No shouting. No screaming. No preening. No preaching. No fawning. Serious, civilized discussion – sometimes in spite of those on the other end of the phone."

On both shows, Turpin "offers news, surfaces leads, breaks stories, shares scores, lands exclusive guests and, almost daily, lends critical support to many of the organizations, institutions and initiatives that make our community strong and vital," Foreman said.

This past year, Turpin broke the names of new University of Illinois trustees by bringing Gov. Pat Quinn on his show. He also devoted many hours to public call-ins for those directly involved in a police shooting investigation.

Turpin regularly brings policymakers on the show, "allowing the community to question them, challenge them, hold them accountable," Foreman said.

The show gives community members a chance to talk with one another, hear opposing views and discuss and debate the day's issues, he added.

Turpin, the longtime radio voice of the Illini, has hosted "Penny for Your Thoughts" for nearly 30 years.

He joins previous recipients of the Publisher's Award, including Loren Tate, Steve Farruggia, Fred Richards, Tom Kacich, Floyd Bundy and Jim Rossow.

In announcing Employee of the Year awards, Foreman said that when The News-Gazette converted from afternoon to morning publication last year, no job was more important or challenging than Josh Harmon's job.

"This young man worked tirelessly for weeks before and weeks after the actual conversion, demonstrating genuine leadership and modeling the sort of commitment he expected from others," Foreman said.

He said Circulation Director Pete Jones compared Harmon to "a bulldog."

"He refused to lower delivery requirements throughout our changes," Jones said. "And, in fact, complaints from customers actually decreased as delivery costs were reduced."

Sports writer Marcus Jackson stands out not only as a writer, but also represents The News-Gazette on four radio programs, Foreman said.

Jackson makes frequent appearances on a Sunday morning television show and contributes material to all The News-Gazette's Web sites.

"He can do it all," Sports Editor Jim Rossow wrote of Jackson. "Writing, video, podcasts, radio, TV ... there's not a medium he hasn't tried."

Jackson joined The News-Gazette as an intern, Foreman said. He praised Jackson's patience, commitment, flexibility and talent in working his way to where he wanted to be.

Jim Lewis, who is not only WDWS operations manager but also one of its new afternoon talk show hosts, was described as "a multi, multi-tasker."

"He can do anything and everything in this building," a co-worker said. "He is exceptionally versatile."

In nominating Lewis, a colleague said: "I don't know any other man who can work with salespeople (and) clients, manage the commercial schedule, manage employee schedules, program live, local and syndicated programming, run his own on-air show and keep his sanity."

He was also praised for bringing poise and good nature to a demanding job.

Erin Lippitz-Gelsthorpe was praised for her involvement in company initiatives, including the N2 innovations group, The Pulse magazine and the "agency" concept of serving advertisers.

"When people want to try new initiatives, they seek her out to be involved," Foreman said. "She is professional, positive, talented, conscientious and reliable. She demonstrates good judgment when solving problems, and she's a great ambassador for our company."

Although she was hired as a graphic artist, "she is also a very capable copywriter, photographer, production manager, magazine delivery person, event planner and salesperson," said her supervisor, Amy George.