Newsmakers announced, Southeast Texas media honored at 34th Excellence in the Media Awards

The Press Club of Southeast Texas celebrated the 2024 work of its member's on Friday night, June 13, 2025, at the MCM Elegante Hotel in Beaumont.

The club also announced the 2024 Newsmaker of the Year on Friday night.

The Excellence in the Media Awards celebrates the hard work of hundreds of communication professionals from Southeast Texas.

MORE | Complete list of winners

Hundreds of winners were collectively honored with 242 awards announced throughout the evening.

A total of 559 entries were received for this year's contest which featured 79 individual categories.

There were 71 first place, 68 second place, 61 third place and 42 honorable mention awards handed out.

The 2024 Newsmaker of the Year was awarded to the husband-and-wife detective duo of Beaumont Police officers Aaron and Tina Lewallen.

They helped local investigators crack a decades-old murder case.

Mary Catherine Edwards, a beloved Beaumont teacher, was murdered back in 1995. Using genetic genealogy, the Lewallens helped Beaumont Police track down Clayton Foreman, who has since been convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. This story not only made local headlines. It was also a featured segment on the CBS program “48 Hours.”