Durant Democrat editor, writer and photographer Matt Swearengin was inducted into the Oklahoma Press Association’s Quarter Century Club during the recent OPA convention in downtown Oklahoma City.
Swearengin has a total of 28 years in the newspaper industry.
He began his newspaper career in 1996 at the Bryan County Star, a paper that his parents owned back in the 1970s. He moved to the Durant Democrat the next year to work as a writer and photographer. He eventually became editor in 2008 and then purchased the newspaper from Graystone Media in 2020.
Although Swearengin sold the Democrat last year, he continues to work as editor since writing and photography are his real loves. He is also a contributor for The Madill Record.
Veteran sports writer Kevin Farr received a first-place award in sports writing for his story on the retirement of Silo baseball coach Billy Jack Bowen.
A contest judge wrote, “Well written and the comprehensive statistics in the story make it feel so much more important.”
Swearengin received second place in news writing for his story on the dedication of the Deputy Jarid Taylor Memorial Highway.
“Nice quotes from numerous sources throughout,” a judge wrote. “Stinger quote at the end exceptional.”
Swearengin also earned a secondplace award in news photography for his photo of the Durant High School Class of 2023 graduation.
“I love the headline,” a judge wrote. “It captures this picture so well. The colors are vibrant. A great photo.”
