2016 Spotlight Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the SPJ Spotlight Contest!

We hope you can join us at 5 p.m. May 21 at the Harrisburg Hilton for our awards ceremony.  It all takes place during the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association’s Press Conference. For details, see the conference website here.

Here are the winners, with judges’ comments.

Thanks again to Better BNC for sponsoring our contest!

And thank you to the Oklahoma, Florida, Ohio, Hawaii and Kentucky SPJ chapters for doing the judging!

Spotlight Award

FIRST PLACE

Jo Ciavaglia

Bucks County Courier Times

Loopholes in Child Protective Services Law

Great research and study. Important work in child welfare issues. Great job.

SECOND PLACE

Jo Ciavaglia and James McGinnis

Bucks County Courier Times

How Safe Are School Meals

Lots of good information and statistics. A lot of work went into this study. Great job.

THIRD PLACE

Craig R. McCoy, Angela Couloumbis and Mark Fazlollah

Philadelphia Inquirer

Grand Jury: Kane // How Kane Case // Sources: Kane curbed // Nursing homes fines // Suspicion and fear // Sources: Kane signed // Kanes office obtained // Judge: Kane let // Gov. Wolf calls // Strip clubs

Wow. This reads like a movie script. I couldn’t stop reading all the scandal. Great coverage!

Broadsheet Page Design – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Elizabeth Kane Jackson

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pilgrims’ Powerful Tale page – Elizabeth Kane Jackson

Beautiful to look at with tons of graphic elements that break up the page and grab attention.

SECOND PLACE

John Lehner

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Paris attacks Page Design – John Lehner

Powerful pictures, nice big headline and info boxes give this page its pop.

THIRD PLACE

Conor Foley

Scranton Times

Year in Review

A lot of work went into these entries. Great snappy boxes and lots of fantastic images.

Broadsheet Page Design – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Scott Drake and Sean Dorn

Philadelphia Gay News

Philadelphia Gay News: July 3, 2015

Tabloid Page Design – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Kevin Donlin

The Citizens’ Voice

In a word, this page can be described as: Epic. We have an image from behind of Pope Francis taken on the balcony of the US Capitol prepared to address the nation, under the banner: “HISTORIC” in all caps. The headline expresses the sheer magnitude of the importance of the event, “In momentous address to Congress, Pope Francis calls on leaders to end death penalty, embrace immigrants.” Kind of a big deal. Who wouldn’t pick up this issue?

SECOND PLACE

Rebecca Kivak

The Citizens’ Voice

Bold and brilliant. By far, the best use of color, spacing, and illustration to captivate readers so they pick up the tabloid. The illustration of a Pennsylvania license plate with the use of letters and numbers as symbols to spell out, “censored” for a story on banned terms for vanity plates is genius.

THIRD PLACE
Laura Boone

The Citizens’ Voice

Glorious use of vintage photo to capture the throwback context of WWII veteran memories of the end of the war. Highly effective. Best photo composition, by far.

Business and Labor Reporting – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Charles Schillinger and The Times-Tribune Staff

Scranton Times

Outlook 2015: How to Dream Big

Lots of planning, work, research and writing went into this project. Grand scale project that shares a ton of great stories.

SECOND PLACE

Vinny Vella

Philadelphia Daily News

TIME LONG EXPIRED

Important story. Good research and work. Well written.

THIRD PLACE

Alex Nixon

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mylan defends secretive land deal

Great investigation!

Commentary – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Ronnie Polaneczky

Philadelphia Daily News

Ronnie Polaneczky Columns

Strong and persuasive writing. Agree or disagree with anyone set of her reflections, it doesn’t change this fact: This is brilliant, insightful and consequential.

SECOND PLACE

Helen Ubinas

Philadelphia Daily News

Helen Ubinas Columns

Tough and focused on real life in the City of Brotherly Love, which needs brotherly and sisterly love more than ever. Well-done.

THIRD PLACE

Salena Zito

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Salena Zito Columns

A much-needed and compassionate voice for reason and tolerance in a time it seems there is less of each with each passing week.

Commentary – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Mark Segal

Philadelphia Gay News

Mark My Words

A glimpse of one man’s journey. Especially well-written was the final entry of his five, “Why should I marry?”

Editorial Writing – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Bob Pellegrino

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Bob Pellegrino Editorials

Outstanding persuasive writing and reasoning: Opposition to the PC police, focus on the oddness of state-sanctioned gaming combined with raids on private video games and Pentagon overspending. Good work.

SECOND PLACE

Josh Gohlke

Philadelphia Inquirer

Seen this one before // Kane should be removed // Kane’s addiction // Mixed messages // Justice Eakin should resign

This is fearless and hard-hitting editorial writing in the best tradition, regardless of one’s personal views on the merits or demerits of various judicial selection processes.

THIRD PLACE

Sandra Shea

Philadelphia Daily News

Sandra Shea Editorials

Strong local focus, emphasis on matters of concern to the community.

Editorial Writing – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Jen Colletta

Philadelphia Gay News

PGN Editorial

Enterprise Reporting – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Paula Ward, Kelly Mills and Julia Rendleman

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Irretrievably Broken series, parts I-V

Amazing, detailed, gripping coverage of a shocking murder. Unforgettable story. FIRST PLACE.

SECOND PLACE

Staff

Philadelphia Inquirer

The wreck of Train 188

Great team reporting and writing. In the end, the eight who died are at the center of the story. The photographs support the narrative. A fabulous piece of work.

THIRD PLACE

Mike Wereschagin

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Daily

Millions at stake: Non-Pa. horse owners win bulk of taxpayer subsidized purses

Why are taxpayers subsidizing horse racing purses? Should those subsidies continue? This story if the primer to understand the issue. Fair and balanced.

Enterprise Reporting – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Jeffrey Benzing and Eric Holmberg

PublicSource

State police vague on internal misconduct despite reforms

Great investigation. Lots of good fact-finding work about a problem every community has.

SECOND PLACE

Halle Stockton and Eric Holmberg

PublicSource

Excessive overtime at county-owned nursing homes

Sobering article about the challenges nurses face in working with the elderly. Great reporting, great investigation.

THIRD PLACE

Dennis B. Roddy and Patrick Doyle

Pittsburgh Magazine

Welcome to the New Pittsburgh/The Hill/Reimagined

Lots of great information and interviews!

Environmental Reporting – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Jennifer Wright

Philadelphia Daily News

TIME TO GO TINY?

Good mix of reporting on city environmental issues, trends and solutions.

SECOND PLACE

Olivia Goudy

Herald Standard

Taking aim at kids

Great trends piece that incorporates the outdoors and environment with youth issues.

THIRD PLACE

David Conti

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Ultimate fix for wastewater eludes gas industry

Important work. Thorough reporting. Nice job.

Feature Photography – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Chris Dolan

The Citizens’ Voice

Umbrella

SECOND PLACE

Emily Paine

Morning Call

Tips on Feeding Your Backyard Birds

THIRD PLACE
Guy Wathen

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Kiss

Feature Photography – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Laurence Kesterson

Swarthmore College Bulletin

Cold War Legacy

Beautiful color and composition!

SECOND PLACE

Kristina Serafini

Sewickley Herald

Retiring custodian

I love the composition of these photos.

THIRD PLACE

Laurence Kesterson

Swarthmore College Bulletin

First Collection

Nice use of light. It’s a lovely photo.

Feature Story -Daily

FIRST PLACE

Philadelphia Daily News

Jason Nark

MR. SANDMAN

A story that might be easily dismissed as “just some old guy who goes to the beach everyday.” That IS the topic, but there is much more beneath the surface, which is delicately sussed out for the reader. Sensitively written.

SECOND PLACE

Stephanie Farr

Philadelphia Daily News

MAGIC DRAGON

A story about an autistic boy whose art lifts not only his life, but those of others. The story is as magic as its subject.

THIRD PLACE

Chris Togneri

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Our Stories: Journeys That Tie Us Together

The devotion of a vet to his dog runs deep in this slice of life story which has the reader wishing that old dogs could live forever. Fabulous writing.

Feature Story – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Carrie Compton

Swarthmore College Bulletin

Freedom Fighters

SECOND PLACE

Lini Kadaba

Haverford Magazine

“Tracking the Eureka Factor”

THIRD PLACE

Sean Hamill

Pittsburgh Magazine

A Hill of a Ride

Headline – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Joe Berkery

Philadelphia Daily News

THE NEW FUROR

Given the photo chosen, this headline is spot on.

SECOND PLACE

Joe Berkery

Philadelphia Daily News

SHOT OF HEROINE

THIRD PLACE

Drew McQuade

Philadelphia Daily News

FROCK STAR

Health and Medical Reporting – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Barbara Laker

Philadelphia Daily News

Daily

SHOT OF HEROINE

SECOND PLACE

Stacey Burling

Philadelphia Inquirer

Listening to love

THIRD PLACE

Jessica Shelenberger

New Castle News

Jameson to close maternity center

Health and Medical Reporting – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Alexandra Kanik and Halle Stockton

PublicSource

Troubled kids, powerful drugs

Great example of in-depth research and reporting. Truly eye-opening story.

SECOND PLACE

Jennie Dorris and Patrick Doyle

Pittsburgh Magazine

48 Life-Changing Hours

Love the idea for this story and couldn’t stop reading it. Well-Done. Very creative idea.

THIRD PLACE

Lini S. Kadaba

EXEL Magazine/Drexel University

“Invented Here”

Nicely written and researched.

Web Use – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Staff

Philadelphia Inquirer

The Pope visit to Philadelphia 2015

SECOND PLACE

Carl Prine, Justin Merriman, Steve Segal, Randy Wright and Elizabeth Kane Jackson

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

American Coyotes

THIRD PLACE

Sam Kennedy, Donna Fisher and Craig Kackenmeister

Morning Call

Being Teen and Transgender

Web Use – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Natasha Khan (of PublicSource) and Reid Frazier (of The Allegheny Front)

PublicSource, The Allegheny Front

Two men. One coal-ash dump. No answers.

Nice reporting. I was hooked with your lede, and this is truly a fascinating story. Good job!

SECOND PLACE

Eric Holmberg, Alexandra Kanik

PublicSource

Allegheny County Tax Calculator

Great public service series. You took a complicated subject and made it easy to read. Great research!

THIRD PLACE

Laurence Kesterson

Swarthmore College Bulletin

Office Organizer

Fun and interesting video. I need one of these organizers! Keep up the creative work!

News Photography – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Butch Comegys

Scranton Times

Saying goodbye

Powerful and emotional image. The composition of the photo is phenomenal. This brought tears to my eyes.

SECOND PLACE

Jasmine Goldband

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Vigil

Perfect moment of the child wiping the mother’s tears. Lots of feeling in this photo.

THIRD PLACE

Stephanie Strasburg

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Chaos at Shooting

Powerful moment to capture. You can feel the drama and the anguish.

News Photography – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Scott Drake

Philadelphia Gay News

The marriage equality decision is announced

SECOND PLACE

Lillian DeDomenic

Penn-Trafford Star

All Aglow

THIRD PLACE

Lillian DeDomenic

Murrysville Star

All Eyes On Her

Online Breaking News – Daily

FIRST PLACE

James Halpin and Bob Kalinowski

The Citizens’ Voice

Selenski verdict

Great series of posts gave the impression, even months later, of “being there” in real time. A deft illustration of good journalism even within the constraints of twitter.

SECOND PLACE

Kat Bolus, Jon O’Connell, David Singleton and David Falchek

Scranton Times

Officer Down

THIRD PLACE

Robert Gillispie

Herald Standard

Police investigate after baby allegedly slips from nurses hands

Online Breaking News – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Jen Colletta and Scott Drake

Philadelphia Gay News

Marriage equality comes to America

Photo Story – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Justin Merriman

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

American Coyote

Fantastic journalism and hard-hitting photography. A lot of work, time and talent went into this photo story. Great job!

SECOND PLACE

Butch Comegys

Scranton Times

Downtown Inferno

Amazing captures of spot news and fire. Great humanity shown in the piece as well.

THIRD PLACE

Roberto M. Esquivel

Herald Standard

Climbing to learn leadership

My gosh, you must have been in some precarious spots to get these shots. Wonderful work!

Photo Story – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Lillian DeDomenic

Norwin Star

In Honor

Very touching piece of work.

SECOND PLACE

Laurence Kesterson

Swarthmore College Bulletin

Reference Librarians

Love, love, love the idea. Very clever and unique.

THIRD PLACE

Scott Drake

Philadelphia Gay News

Annual Reminder Days Celebration

Solid set of news photos!

Sports Photography – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Steven M. Falk

Philadelphia Daily News

“Hit By Pitch”

SECOND PLACE

Jason Farmer

Scranton Times

Clincher!

THIRD PLACE

Chris Dolan

The Citizens’ Voice

Selfie

Sports Photography – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Scott Drake

Philadelphia Gay News

Squeezed Out

Sports Reporting – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Bob Cohn, Jerry DiPaola and Travis Sawchik

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Crisis on the Court

SECOND PLACE

Bob Cohn, Jerry DiPaola and John Harris

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Roll of the Dice – A Two-Part Series

THIRD PLACE

Dick Jerardi

Philadelphia Daily News

‘YOU DON’T GET OVER IT’

Spot News Story – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Peter Smith

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pope celebrates brotherly love / Young pilgrims sidebar / In a meeting with sex abuse victims

SECOND PLACE

Brad Bumsted

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pa. AG Kane charged with crimes; governor urges her resignation

THIRD PLACE

Dan Majors and James O’Toole

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Elsie Hillman, Philanthropist / Elsie Hilliard Hillman, a philanthropist and GOP pillar / A stunning rise from volunteer to grande dame / What people are saying

Spot News Story – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Jen Colletta

Philadelphia Gay News

Kathryn Knott convicted in gay bashing

SECOND PLACE

Jen Colletta

Philadelphia Gay News

Kathryn Knott takes case to court

THIRD PLACE

Jen Colletta, Scott Drake and Sean Dorn

Philadelphia Gay News

Marriage equality comes to America

Best Overall Newspaper – Daily

FIRST PLACE

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Exceptional news, sports, lifestyle and other coverage, presented in a masterfully designed and lay out presentation. Expert use of photography and illustration. The content was well written and presented. Overall, the newspaper was reminiscent of the New York Times or Wall Street Journal. Well done.

SECOND PLACE

Morning Call

Strong local news coverage by The Morning Call news team, particularly on the Easton development and Kane coverage, as well as good use of national news by AP and other outlets, and finally good columns and letters by local sources. Overall, a good issue.

THIRD PLACE

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Good coverage for news, sports, and lifestyle, although did rely a bit more than most on outside news outlets like AP and Reuters, even the Washington Post, LA Times, and Bloomberg News. The design and lay out were clean and reader/user friendly. The content was strong, and sufficiently diverse. A very good job.

Best Overall Newspaper – Non-Daily

FIRST PLACE

Staff

Philadelphia Gay News

 

2016 Spotlight Contest Opens for entries

We’re happy to announce the 2016 Spotlight Contest is up and open for entries.

The deadline for entries is March 7.

Once again, Better BNC has graciously agreed to sponsor our contest.

Journalists who lived in Pennsylvania in 2015 or whose work was published in Pennsylvania between Jan. 1, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2015, are invited to enter.

Online publications are welcome.

Winners will be notified in April as well as posted here.  We’ll be giving out framed awards during PNA’s Press Conference in Harrisburg May 21.

Download the instructions are here: Spotlight2016Instructions

Enter here:  BetterBNC

If you have any questions, feel free to call or e-mail our contest coordinator, Susan Schwartz, 570-752-3646, susan.schwartz@pressenterprise.net.

Here’s wishing everyone the best of luck.

Congratulations to the 2015 Spotlight Contest winners!

Congratulations to the winners of our 2015 Spotlight Contest! We hope to see you all at the awards ceremony at 5 p.m. May 30 in Gettysburg at the PNA Press Conference.

Our thanks to our sponsor, BetterBNC, and our judges, from SPJ’s Northwest Region.

Contact Contest Coordinator Susan Schwartz, susan.schwartz@pressenterprise.net, if you have any questions.

Spotlight Award

First Place

Bill Schackner and Mary Niederberger

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Education adviser’s role remains ambiguous/Corbett education adviser resigns/Tomalis probe demands continue/State’s email policy limits/Pa. eyes purchasing email/Post-Gazette sues state/Tomalis spent time in NYC/Audit of education advisers launched

Judges’ comments: What began as a tense public performance review of a well paid government official became a revealing deep dive into the integrity of government work and the importance of government transparency.

Second Place

Mike Wereschagin

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The Invisible Threat

Third Place

Jo Ciavaglia

Bucks County Courier Times

Megan’s Lawbreakers

Best Overall Newspaper – Daily

First Place

Tribune-Review Staff

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Second Place

The Times-Tribune Staff

Scranton Times

Third Place

Staff

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Best Overall Newspaper – Non-Daily

First Place

Staff

Central Penn Business Journal

Judges’ comments: The Central Penn Business Journal accomplishes depth through extensive reporting, creative angles, and coverage of important and ongoing issues.

Second Place

Staff

Philadelphia Weekly

Third Place

Brian Estadt, Daveen Rae Kurutz, Vince Townley, Robert Weible and Doug Gulasy

Murrysville Star

Broadsheet Page Design – Daily

Judges’ comments: Winning entries were set apart by clean, modern designs that made only deliberate use of drop shadows and other graphic frills, and also took coordinated advantage of bold headlines and strong photography.

First Place

Brendan West

Scranton Times

Cuffed

Judges’ comments: High-impact headline on an issue that deserves the treatment, paired with a powerful staff photo, well-done map graphic and reference to inside coverage all tied together with a clean, modern-looking layout.

Second Place

Anthony Conroy

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mayoral Transition: A legacy tarnished/A promise of a new page

Judges’ comments: Clean design and a solid centerpiece photo built around dueling stories effectively capture the essence of a political transition in visual terms.

Third Place

Matt Rosenberg

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mickelson’s missing piece

Judges’ comments: Very well done jump page design, making good use of multiple photos to help tell a compelling visual story.

Business and Labor Reporting – Daily

First Place

Len Boselovic

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Series: The P3 Dilemma / P3 Partnerships often fall short / Bridge initiative promises savings / States learn partnerships come with hazards

Judges’ comments: Excellent series. Reporter looked at public-private partnerships from many angles, examining the issues that have arisen in different projects and different states. Gave readers a lot to think about, and put it all in the context of PA’s ongoing P3 proposals.

Second Place

Don Russell

Philadelphia Daily News

A NICE CODE ONE

Judges’ comments: Very interesting. A look into a unique situation, gov’t regulations, conflict, and urban social life. A little bit of everything.

Third Place

Stephanie Farr

Philadelphia Daily News

HIGH COURT

Judges’ comments: Well put together process article. Brings up good questions.

Business and Labor Reporting – Non-Daily

First Place

Heather Stauffer

Central Penn Business Journal

How Martins got to Dubai: A favorable shipping equation helped

Judges’ comments: An interesting take on import-export relations with clean, efficient writing. Well done.

Second Place

Randy LoBasso

Philadelphia Weekly

When the Phillies Suck, the Working Man Suffers

Third Place

John Hilton

Central Penn Business Journal

Color success: Mechanicsburg couple’s growing business Caromal Colours includes design, paint

Commentary – Daily

First Place

Brian O’Neill

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Effort can be summed up in the “j” word / Sophie shrewdly summed up city / Mustache advocate / Corbett’s legislative attack is on the money / Becky Coger as a drive to put truck to good use

Judges’ comments: A breadth of topics written with witty skill, and the ability to turn a phrase better than any others in the field.

Second Place

Nafari Vanaski

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Nafari Vanaski Portfolio

Third Place

Tony Norman

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biggest gap in black kids learning / Silencing Abu Jamal / Eatery draws misdirected conflict / Lawyer’s blunt ad / Protests bring out the worst in some police

Commentary – Non-Daily

First Place

Josh Kruger

Philadelphia Weekly

The Uncomfortable Whole

Judges’ comments: Worthy topics, interesting reporting, and a unique voice make this column the best in its class. Well done.

Second Place

John Hilton

Central Penn Business Journal

CPBJ Extra Blog – manufacturing and transportation

Third Place

Mark Segal

Philadelphia Gay News

Mark My Words

Editorial Writing – Daily

First Place

Guy Petroziello

Bucks County Courier Times

Another bad year for Pennsylvania

Second Place

Alan Kerr

The Intelligencer

Five Editorials

Editorial Writing – Non-Daily

First Place

Hope Stephan

Central Penn Business Journal

Let businesses make wage decisions; Corbett right to say legislators failed on budget; Milton S. Hershey legacy bittersweet; Copious chambers, EDCs cause confusion; Outsized union influence difficult to fathom

Second Place

Jen Colletta

Philadelphia Gay News

PGN Editorial

Third Place

Lisa Hostein

Jewish Exponent

“Embracing Change,” “A Supporting Role,” “Stark Reminders,” “Same Love, Same Rights,” and “Course Correction”

Enterprise Reporting – Daily

First Place

Mike Wereschagin

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The Invisible Threat

Second Place

Mark Roth

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Star attractions / What to expect / Earlier immigrants reshaped the region / Building his future / H-1B work visa / Obama’s executive action clouds / What survey says / About series

Third Place

Matt Assad and Pamela Lehman

Morning Call

The Flushing-Bethlehem Connection

Enterprise Reporting – Non-Daily

Judges’ comments: This category had some very strong projects. The winners stood out because they humanized very complex subjects. First Place was a heart breaker documenting greedy businesses exploiting a very vulnerable segment of the public.

First Place

Halle Stockton

PublicSource

Thousands of disabled workers in PA paid far below minimum wage

Judges’ comments: This project stood above all the rest because of it’s shock value. Great use of statistics and narrative to explore a social justice issue so few people are aware of. The whole package was put together very nicely. The writer dove deep to go beyond the statistics and report on the heart of matter.

Second Place

Eric Holmberg

PublicSource

Campaign Finance Coverage

Judges’ comments: This was an extremely important story dictated by diligent reporting. Excellent data visualization helped it move along. It was evident a lot of time was spent on tedious tasks that yielded powerful results.

Third Place

Jeffrey Benzing

PublicSource

Pennsylvania police fail to fingerprint thousands of suspected criminals

Judges’ comments: This project explored a strong subject, beautifully and simply. It is clear, easy to understand and well edited.

Environmental Reporting – Daily

Winning entries were distinguished by the clear familiarity of their reporters with regulatory systems and underlying science, as well as their ability to combine compelling individual stories with hard-hitting accountability journalism.

First Place

Carl Prine

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Water saga reveals holes in oversight

Judges’ comments: Detailed, focused piece of accountability journalism built on solid, in-house data analysis.

Second Place

Sean Hamill

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

State system for tracking compliance at well sites / Trial and error approach leaves wounds / Inspectors a key to Marcellus / A day in the life of a longtime DEP inspector

Judges’ comments: Solid, in-depth accountability work attacking a major issue from a variety of compelling angles.

Third Place

Brendan Gibbons

Scranton Times

CLOUD LOOMS OVER A LIFE SPENT HIDING FROM CHEMICALS

Judges’ comments: Compelling use of a powerful individual story to explore health risks around a timely environmental issue.

Environmental Reporting – Non-Daily

First Place

Lini Kadaba

Arcadia Magazine

“Racing to Save the Snapping Turtle”

Judges’ comments: The winning entry was set apart by the depth of its examination of the subject, as well the number of voices represented.

Second Place

Nicole Chynoweth

The Ligonier Echo

Tornado prompts Powdermill biodiversity experiment

Feature Photography – Daily

First Place

Steph Chambers

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Jumping frog

Judges’ comments: This photo instantly made the judge laugh, which is always a success. Great timing and a fun moment.

Second Place

Rick Kintzel

The Intelligencer

Selfie reflection

Judges’ comments: Second Place was also a fun and unique moment. Bravo to the photographer.

Third Place

Sean Stipp

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Freedom of the falls

Judges’ comments: This image just spoke of the fun that can be had with some warm weather and a cool stream. The moment was perfect and the sense of place made the judge feel as if he was there.

Feature Photography – Non-Daily

First Place

Jan Pakler

The Herald

Bride

Judges’ comments: This photo was the instant winner. A powerful moment that told a story. In fact, the judge wanted to know more about the bride and her late father.

Feature Story – Daily

First Place

Michael Fuoco and Mackenzie Carpenter

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A new, open life / Same path, different journeys / Understanding terminology / A march towards acceptance, education / Hospitals helping children with gender ID issues / Military vet prods a bureaucracy and helps create change

Judges’ comments: Good, thorough, respectful and humane treatment of a timely issue.

Second Place

Peter Smith

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Synagogues struggling in dying mill towns

Third Place

Peter Smith

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Grieving over pets becomes more common

Feature Story – Non-Daily

First Place

Molly Petrilla

The Pennsylvania Gazette

The Lightning Rod

Judges’ comments: An expert dance between issue and profile wove with wonderful writing.

Second Place

Randy LoBasso

Philadelphia Weekly

Divine Vision

Judges’ comments: Amazing narrative, leaving no stone unturned.

Third Place

Jeffrey Benzing, Natasha Khan, and Molly Duerig

PublicSource

Holly: One face of the national heroin crisis

Judges’ comments: Emotionally heavy, though with enough reporting to make this story three-dimensional and lasting.

Headline – Daily

First Place

Doug Darroch

Philadelphia Daily News

I SIT YOU NOT

Judges’ comments: A story about no time off on Sundays becomes irresistible with this play on words that has readers doing a double take.

Second Place

Joe Berkery

Philadelphia Daily News

THE GRIN REAPER

Judges’ comments: The unexpected use of the word grin is a perfect compliment to the subject of the story.

Third Place

Ron Davis

Scranton Times

Bye-bye, birdies

Judges’ comments: A succinct, entertaining way of capturing the article’s key point.

Headline – Non-Daily

First Place

Stephen H. Segal

Philadelphia Weekly

Raiders of the Lost Storage Room

Judges’ comments: Archaeology? A storage room? In the wrong headline writer’s hands, this article could sound tedious. Thanks to the witty headline, readers can’t resist finding out more about the adventure.

Second Place

Brian Estadt

The Times Express

HIPAA HIPAA HOORAY

Judges’ comments: This headline actually made me want to read a story about HIPPA, an act usually mentioned only in fine print.

Third Place

Stephen H. Segal

Philadelphia Weekly

It’s a Hanukkah Blasphemy, Brian Freedman

Judges’ comments: A fun headline that sets the tone for an entertaining first-person story.

Health and Medical Reporting – Daily

First Place

Luis Fabregas and Andrew Conte

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Patients die waiting as 1 in 5 kidneys rejected

Judges’ comments: A critical investigation that revealed maddening waste and unfairness in organ donation. This story clearly followed excellent reporting and data techniques and reveals a problem that affects so many in the U.S. Well done.

Second Place

Jo Ciavaglia

Bucks County Courier Times

Inmate deaths raises questions over detox protocols

Third Place

Natalie Bruzda

Herald Standard

Saving Sydney

Health and Medical Reporting – Non-Daily

First Place

Heather Stauffer

Central Penn Business Journal

Obamacare comes to mental health

Judges’ comments: An overview of an often under-reporting shortage of mental health professionals and the impact of the law. Great view into this battle with an eye on the future and the data. Well done.

Second Place

Lini Kadaba

Drexel EXEL Magazine

“Special Report: Autism Research Update”

Third Place

Joseph Deinlein

Central Penn Business Journal

While others merge, Hanover Hospital remains independent and likes it that way

Web Use – Daily

First Place

Staff

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Odysseys

Judges’ comments: Outstanding entry that grabs you from the get go. Eye catching use of interactive elements, such as the globe and full size video and stories that follow. A truly original experience.

Second Place

Laura Schneiderman, Marylynne Pitz, Daniel Marsula, Zachary Tanner and Julia Rendleman

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Miss Frick

Judges’ comments: Another strong entry that pushed the boundaries of the online news experience. Great use of sounds and imagery to lead the reader on a journey back in time.

Third Place

Melissa Daniels, Jasmine Goldband, Melanie Wass, Guy Wathen and Lisa Fuqua

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The Great War and the Steel City

Judges’ comments: A very strong use of historical elements woven into a modern storytelling experience. Reporting is excellent, as are visual assets.

Web Use – Non-Daily

First Place

PW Staff

Philadelphia Weekly

PhillyNow.com blog

Judges’ comments: Solid and strong entry that combines both visual and editorial elements in a dynamic, effective design. Great use of images and space to allow the reader to make their way through areas of interest. Gorgeous.

Second Place

Eric Holmberg, Alexandra Kanik, Andrew McGill and Laura Schneiderman

PublicSource

Price of the Prize

Judges’ comments: Fantastic, multi-faceted entry that really involves the reader in deciphering the data and making informed decisions. The use of geocoding is inspired, as is the ability for other publications to use the app for their stories.

Third Place

Deborah Hirsh

Jewish Exponent

http://www.jewishexponent.com

Judges’ comments: Nicely laid out entry with many useful elements and a lot of thought given to reader engagement. Tight focus.

News Photography – Daily

First Place

Ed Hille

Philadelphia Inquirer

In The Pursuit Of Happiness

Captured a beautiful moment that spoke volumes about the story.

Second Place

Guy Wathen

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Police brutality protest

Click through the link to view photo online. This photo captured the emotion of the protesters perfectly.

Third Place

Stephanie Strasburg

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Rail cars dangle above river

Judges’ comments: The kids in the photo add an additional element to this already compelling image.

News Photography – Non-Daily

First Place

Lillian DeDomenic

Murrysville Star

Standing FR Strong

Second Place

Amy Spangler

Central Penn Business Journal

Fire & Ice

Third Place

Lillian DeDomenic

Norwin Star

Carnival Fun

Online Breaking News – Daily

First Place

The Times-Tribune Staff

Scranton Times

Cuffed

Judges’ comments: Comprehensive coverage of a major event, shows how much this paper owned this story, which became national. It’s apparent an amazing amount of resources went into this coverage, which made it the go-to place for readers to find out more about this event.

Photo Story – Daily

First Place

Michael Henninger

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

An identity to call their own

Judges’ comments: A remarkably human story. These photos demonstrate skill in composition and trust of the subjects. Wonderfully done.

Second Place

Michael Henninger

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Same sex couples tie the knot

Third Place

Butch Comegys and Michael J. Mullen

Scranton Times

Burying Cpl. Dickson

Photo Story – Non-Daily

First Place

Scott Drake

Philadelphia Gay News

Philly Pride 2014

Sports Photography – Daily

Strong, layered pictorial sense (1), a painful moment well captured (2) and scene-setting peak jubilation (3) brought these three images to the top of a pack of a large selection of sports images. These photos stood out because of the “risk” associated with making them.

First Place

Jimmy May

Press Enterprise

Tigers trounce Indians

Second Place

Peter Diana

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A very ugly finish in hockey

Third Place

Jimmy May

Press Enterprise

Party Central

Sports Photography – Non-Daily

First Place

Kyle Cassidy

Philadelphia Weekly

Broad Street Run

Judges’ comments: A well planned, clean cover image takes the first (and only) place spot.

Sports Reporting – Daily

First Place

Brady McCollough

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The evolution of Mario Lemieux

Judges’ comments: I enjoyed the depth you were allowed to write a story showing hockey fans a look inside the career of one of the sports’ best. It also included plenty of images that also aided in showing the fan what Mario Lemieux has done in the past three decades.

Second Place

Jerry DiPaola

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

At last, Pitt freshman finds a home

Third Place

Michael Sanserino, Sam Werner and Mark Dent

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Do colleges drop the ball

Sports Reporting – Non-Daily

First Place

Randy LoBasso

Philadelphia Weekly

Why We Run

Judge’s comments: This is one of those times where a first-person point of view helps make the story much more enjoyable. I wouldn’t say I’m a runner, but from my few experiences, I can relate with the author of this peace in many ways. It informs and entertains.

Second Place

Michael Sadowski

Central Penn Business Journal

When the game ends

Judge’s comments: I like how this story was informative and shows those who found success and those who struggled. It’s a good reminder for student-athletes to keep in mind when preparing for college.

Spot News Story – Daily

First Place

The Times-Tribune Staff

Scranton Times

Cuffed

Judges’ comments: Winning entry selected for its depth of original reporting on deadline. Comprehensive coverage of multiple angles, voices.

Second Place

Tribune-Review staff

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

School knife fright

Spot News Story – Non-Daily

First Place

Jen Colletta, Angela Thomas, Scott Drake and Sean Dorn

Philadelphia Gay News

Pennsylvania says ‘I do’

Judges’ comments: The winning entry was selected for depth of original reporting and number of voices represented.

Second Place

Jen Colletta and Sarah Blazucki

Philadelphia Gay News

City mourns LGBT director Gloria Casarez

Third Place

Deborah Brehun

The Ligonier Echo

Brotherhood bids farewell to Perryopolis police officer

Tabloid Page Design – Daily

First Place

Ben Howard

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

First Night: Pittsburgh rings in the New Year with 150 Downtown events

Judge’s comments: Mesmerizingly clever. I couldn’t pull my eyes away. Nice use of color. All the elements worked together to create a striking image.

Second Place

Amy Raudenbush

Philadelphia Daily News

DREAD OF WINTER

Third Place

Daniel Marsula

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Birdman

Tabloid Page Design – Daily

First Place

Ben Howard

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

First Night: Pittsburgh rings in the New Year with 150 Downtown events

Judge’s comments: Mesmerizingly clever. I couldn’t pull my eyes away. Nice use of color. All the elements worked together to create a striking image.

Second Place

Amy Raudenbush

Philadelphia Daily News

DREAD OF WINTER

Third Place

Daniel Marsula

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Birdman

Tabloid Page Design – Daily

First Place

Kathryn Morton

Central Penn Business Journal

Top 100

Judges’ comments: An absolute blast to encounter an interactive element in an analog format. Kudos for creativity and informative design.

Second Place

Kathryn Morton

Central Penn Business Journal

Future Doses

Third Place

Stephen H. Segal and Kyle Cassidy

Philadelphia Weekly

Melvin Van Peebles is Still a Badass

2015 Spotlight Awards Open

Hello, folks!

The 2015 Spotlight Contest, which recognizes the best journalism in Pennsylvania, regardless of newspaper size, is now open for entries!

You should be getting a flyer in the mail with the entry form.  But if you can’t wait, you can also download the forms and instructions here!

2015 Spotlight Contest

If you have questions, feel free to contact Contest Coordinator Susan Schwartz at susan.schwartz@pressenterprise.net, 570-752-3646.

Good luck!

 

Widener Law offers free Supreme Court media preview

Hi, all — Widener asked us to pass word about this free session for reporters.

Widener Law’s U.S. Supreme Court media preview is opportunity to question professors about upcoming cases.

Join us at no cost!

Widener Law’s popular faculty/media Supreme Court preview is back this fall with the valuable opportunity for reporters to question professors about cases of interest the court will be hearing in its new term. We will have seven professors present a variety of cases and take your questions. Topics range from dishonest jurors, to free speech and threats on the internet, to pregnancy discrimination, to income taxes for those who live in one state but work in another, and more.

This is a free event and you can watch and listen from your desk. The 2014 preview will be done “webinar” style using Adobe Connect on:

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. EDT

The preview is organized in a spirit of public service by the Public Relations Office. It is intended to assist journalists in identifying pending cases that may have news value for their organizations, and in the process provide expert sources to question now or call on for future reporting. We also welcome participation from students, alumni and the community.

Mark your calendar and plan to click on law.widener.edu/supremecourt2014 the day of the webinar. There is no need to pre-register and we don’t collect lots of personal information about you.

We’ll send a reminder with the link closer to the event, but if you want even more personal attention just email mallen@mail.widener.edu

and Public Relations Officer Mary Allen will make sure your needs are covered.

Feel free to share this invitation with others you think might be interested and we hope you can join us next week. Bring your questions!

We’re pleased to announce the results of the 2014 Spotlight Awards! Congratulations to all the winners!

If you have any corrections or questions, contact contest coordinator Susan Schwartz at susan.schwartz@pressenterprise.net, 570-752-3646.

Awards will be given out during the Spotlight Awards reception at 5 p.m. May 31 during the Pennsylvania Press Conference. Information about the conference may be found here.

We’d also like to thank our contest sponsor, the Better Newspaper Contest, for its help in moving the Spotlight Contest online.

SPOTLIGHT AWARD

Judges’ Category Comment:

The journalists in Pennsylvania are doing some amazing work, both traditional and untraditional. While in some cases it’s painstaking connection of the dots, other prize-winning stories showed determination to document dishonesty and bias at the digital level. And all of the coverage showed attention to multi-media presentation and accessibility. Every news organization in this field can be proud of their best work.

First Place

Andrew Conte and Luis Fabregas

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Donor Dilemma

Second Place

Craig R. McCoy

Philadelphia Inquirer

McCaffery Investigation

Third Place

Michael N. Price and Kristina Scala

Daily Local News

The Coatesville Crisis

BEST OVERALL NEWSPAPER, DAILY

First Place

Tribune-Review Staff

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

A substantial, well-rounded print edition with many features relevant and important to the community The inside of the paper is more local than the front page would indicate. The layout is sophisticated and reader friendly. Great, engaging sports section.

Second Place

The Times-Tribune Staff

Scranton Times

Third Place

Staff

The Citizens’ Voice

BEST OVERALL NEWSPAPER, NON-DAILY

First Place

Staff

Philadelphia Weekly

Stunning, eye-catching cover design fronts a publication with in-depth coverage of the area’s entertainment scene. Cover stories are in-depth and pair nicely with the user-friendly listings.

Second Place

Staff

Central Penn Business Journal

The in-depth Top 100 issue was very impressive.

Third Place

Brian Estadt, Kyle Lawson, Mike Love and Mike Orfanopoulos

Times Express

Three editions

HEADLINE, DAILY

First Place

Joe Berkery

Philadelphia Daily News

BIG BONG THEORY

Second Place

Ed Weiner

Philadelphia Daily News

LIFE OF THE POTTY

Third Place

Kevin Donlin

The Citizens’ Voice

A lack of buzz

HEADLINE, NON-DAILY

First Place

Sheena Lester

Philadelphia Weekly

Hell No We Won’t Grow

Second Place

Stephen H. Segal

Philadelphia Weekly

The Desperate Days of Brick & Mortar

Third Place

Stephen H. Segal

Philadelphia Weekly

Inconvenient Conservatives

TABLOID PAGE DESIGN, DAILY

Judges’ Category Comment:

Difficult to choose narrow down the winners here, with an honorable mention going to the Eating Clockwise page (love that headline) and the 82 page for the Pirates’ winning season as the best of the rest.

First Place

Amy Raudenbush

Philadelphia Daily News

MR. HIDE

Great noir/comic book-type illustration that creates intrigue along with the headline. Makes me want to turn inside the section to find out what this is about.

Second Place

Melanie Wass

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

And Now There Are 2

Nice use of multiple elements without looking cluttered. Good selection of photos for impact

Third Place

Michael Sisak, Alysha Davis and Dave Janoski

The Citizens’ Voice

The

First

Nice use of typography for impact. Clean layout with an effective use of the photo.

Honorable Mention

Jon Snyder

Philadelphia Daily News

Eating Clockwise

TABLOID PAGE DESIGN, NON-DAILY

First Place

Stephen H. Segal

Philadelphia Weekly

DJ Jazzy Jeff

Typography has a sense of motion that goes well with the cover image and also integrates well with the mast.

Second Place

Stephen H. Segal

Philadelphia Weekly

Married.

Provocative cover image that makes an instant statement.

Third Place

Kathryn Morton

Central Penn Business Journal

Marketplace Opens Oct. 1.

BROADSHEET PAGE DESIGN, DAILY

First Place

Kevin Burkett

Philadelphia Inquirer

Navigating the Affordable Care Act

Really useful display of information on a very complex subject. Easy-to-read format.

Second Place

Tom Raski

Buck County Courier Times

Stacey Hurt (December 6, 2013)

Powerful layout and design choices for a very tough subject.

Third Place

Cynthia Greer

Philadelphia Inquirer

1-11-13 D1

Great illustrations that don’t detract from the readability of the piece.

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY, DAILY

First Place

Jason Bridge

Valley News Dispatch

A Higher Calling

Love this.

Second Place

David Maialetti

Philadelphia Daily News

Zen Moment

Great use of color

Third Place

Erica Hilliard Dietz

Valley News Dispatch

Fun in the Sun

Great use of shadows

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY, NON -DAILY

First Place

Kristina Serafini

Sewickley Herald

Back to school

Nice use of reflections

Second Place

J.R. Blackwell

Philadelphia Weekly

Kickstarted

Fun

Third Place

Laurence Kesterson

Swarthmore College Bulletin

Boat Builder

NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY, DAILY

First Place

Kim Weimer

Bucks County Courier Times

Gun Rally Draws From Both Sides

Second Place

Mark Moran

The Citizens’ Voice

Drug Arrest

Third Place

Eric Felack

Valley News Dispatch

Tragedy Averted

NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY, NON-DAILY

First Place

Scott A. Drake

Philadelphia Gay News

Exposure for Closure

Second Place

Lillian DeDomenic

Times Express

CANorah Lighting

Third Place

Lillian DeDomenic

Murrysville Star

Game Face

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY, DAILY

First Place

Andrew Krech

The Citizens’ Voice

Dust Devil

This is fantastic.

Second Place

Yong Kim

Philadelphia Daily News

Snow Machine

Love the colors

Third Place

Erica Hilliard Dietz

Valley News Dispatch

Showdown Set

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY, NON-DAILY

First Place

Laurence Kesterson

Swarthmore College Bulletin

Flying Trapeze

PHOTO STORY, DAILY

First Place

Stephanie Strasburg

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

End of a Record-Setting Streak

Second Place

Sean Stipp

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Bridge Day

Third Place

Jake Stevens

Scranton Times

A Veteran’s Mission

PHOTO STORY, NON-DAILY

First Place

Randy LoBasso and J.R. Blackwell

Philadelphia Weekly

Get Schooled

Second Place

Lillian DeDomenic and Alisa Jacobson

Murrysville Star

Gladiator Rock ‘n Run

Third Place

Kristina Serafini

Sewickley Herald

Success Already

BUSINESS AND LABOR REPORTING, DAILY

First Place

Luis Fabregas and Andrew Conte

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Donor Dilemma

A classic example of the kind of public watchdog reporting that this country needs more of as newspapers struggle to compete in the new digitally driven marketplace. Bravo!

Second Place

The Times-Tribune Staff and Charles Schillinger

Scranton Times

Outlook 2013

The Times-Tribune should be commended for this ambitious and sweeping approach to an important issue at a time when growing income inequality imperils the American Dream.

Third Place

Crissa Shoemaker-DeBree

The Intelligencer

Made in the USA

A creative, smart package that illuminates a pressing question about the future of American competitiveness.

SPORTS REPORTING, DAILY

Judges’ Category Comment:

Lots of excellent entries that made it tough to judge. Another half dozen were a hair away from the Top 3.

First Place

John Harris

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Declining Diversity

Excellent story. It told me things I didn’t know. Informative, well-sourced, well-written. A very appealing presentation enhanced the package.

Second Place

Ralph N. Paulk

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“’Fiscal Cliff’ Deal Steers Big Breaks To NASCAR”

Well-reported and timely. This story amply illustrates how the business of sports and government has intertwined. This one was among several strong entries that were somewhat similar. Glad to see the newspaper’s eds put this on the front page.

Third Place

Donnie Collins and The Times-Tribune Staff

Scranton Times

Heading Home

Excellent special section that covers all the bases. Collins’ story on Crain an especially fun read.

SPORTS REPORTING, NON-DAILY

First Place

Max Ufberg

Philadelphia Weekly

The Big Jump: Here Come the 87ers

Ni e look at not only individual development , but also that of the new team.

Second Place

Heather Stauffer

Central Penn Business Journal

Teeing up success

Interesting look at the impact of a major tournament beyond the golf course.

Third Place

Max Ufberg

Philadelphia Weekly

Fantasy Football

Detailed look at fantasy football — pros and cons,

EDITORIAL WRITING, DAILY

First Place

Cynthia Burton

Philadelphia Inquirer

Portfolio

Second Place

Alan Wallace

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Alan Wallace Portfolio

Third Place

Josh Gohlke

Philadelphia Inquirer

Portfolio

EDITORIAL WRITING, NON-DAILY

First Place

Hope Stephan

Central Penn Business Journal

Portfolio

Second Place

Jen Colletta

Philadelphia Gay News

PGN editorial

HEALTH AND MEDICAL REPORTING, DAILY

First Place

Luis Fabregas and Andrew Conte

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Donor Dilemma

Second Place

Michael Vitez

Philadelphia Inquirer

Chain of Life

Third Place

Tim Darragh

Morning Call

Obamacare

HEALTH AND MEDICAL REPORTING, DAILY

First Place

Jennifer Clare Burke

Philadelphia Weekly

The Obamacare Surprise

Second Place

Heather Stauffer

Central Penn Business Journal

Health Systems Here Rush to Form Alliances – But Not With Each Other

Third Place

Randy LoBasso

Philadelphia Weekly

Food stamp funds are about to get cut. Twice.

FEATURE STORY, DAILY

First Place

Mike Newall

Philadelphia Inquirer

Almost Justice: The Beau Zabel Murder

Best use of narrative in breaking out of news mode to find a novelistic style that suits the subject and draws us into its world. Not just a solid report, but a good read.

Second Place

Lini Kadaba

Philadelphia Inquirer

“To Be Young, Black and Safe”

Successful stories about issues are tough to do. Writer employs an excellent treatment that humanizes and illustrates safety issues for blacks and allows understanding for non-blacks.

Third Place

David Singleton

Scranton Times

“Witness to Infamy”

Fascinating story despite revisiting one of the most over-done subjects in journalism history. Solid lead followed by arresting quotes from witness. Engaging even for non-baby boomers.

FEATURE STORY, NON-DAILY

First Place

Randy LoBasso

Philadelphia Weekly

Mixed Signals

Second Place

Eric San Juan

Philadelphia Weekly

After the Waters

Third Place

Sherri Kimmel

Swarthmore College Bulletin

Of Fame and Fortune

Fascinating portrayal of James Michenor’s legacy and the strong attitudes about diversity at the basis of his work.

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING, DAILY

First Place

Laura Legere

Scranton Times

Testing the Waters

This was an excellent, balanced job reviewing complex material on a crucial new issue. It pointed out serious transparency issues with a government agency.

Second Place

Sandy Bauers

Philadelphia Inquirer

Rising Sea At The Door

Great human detail on what’s being lost, and many expert voices on what’s happening. Graphic elements also excellent.

Third Place

Romy Varghese

Bloomberg News

Bat-Killing Fungal Disease Has U.S. Lumber Firms Fighting States

This is an issue that has frequently been covered by media but in a piecemeal fashion. This article clearly sets out the whole scope of the problem and the competing points of view.

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING, NON-DAILY

First Place

Daveen Rae Kurutz

Murrysville Star

15 Spills Over 3 Months

Story is well-balanced and presents a mystery — how do board officials not know about this problem?

Second Place

Tim Stuhldreher

Central Penn Business Journal

Midstate Firm Bell & Evans Joins Those Opposing Perdue Soybean Facility

Clearly shows an important local controversy over an industry that could have both environmental problems and benefits.

SPOT NEWS STORY, DAILY

Judges’ Category Comment:

The entries all demonstrated excellent journalism. The three winners, however, were heads and shoulders above the pack by virtue of the outstanding reporting of the spot news and the analysis and background information provided.

First Place

Staff

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“Baffling Behavior” – Chief Nate Harper Charged

An exceptional piece of reporting. You answer any and all questions about Harper, the office and what lies ahead.

Second Place

Staff

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Flash Floods Wash Out Region

Outstanding job of covering a natural disaster. Reporting goes beyond the rain and looks at residents, impact on the areas hit and extensive background.

Third Place

Inquirer Staff

Philadelphia Inquirer

6 Dead in Collapse

Excellent reporting. Great job covering all angles of the collapse in addition to digging up the information about the contractor.

SPOT NEWS STORY, NON-DAILY

First Place

Jen Colletta

Philadelphia Gay News

Pa Couples Sue For Marriage Equality

Second Place

Heather Stauffer

Central Penn Business Journal

Geisinger: Holy Spirit Is Different From Other Deals

Third Place

Daveen Rae Kurutz

Murrysville Star

After Complaints, District Stifles A “Howl”

Writing about a public challenge to Allen Ginsburg’s classic poem by parents of local high school students is difficult to place objectively in context, but Daveen Rae Kurutz manages to navigate an issue that is often opaque.

COMMENTARY, DAILY

Judges’ Category Comment:

Readers in this state are incredibly blessed when it comes to writers in this category. The decision was extremely difficult.

First Place

Trudy Rubin

Philadelphia Inquirer

Portfolio

The commentary on not winning the Nobel was outstanding. These columns show that great research in the field, whether abroad or in the neighborhoods, pays off.

Second Place

Helen Ubiñas

Philadelphia Daily News

Portfolio

Through the subjects and the writer’s own voice, the emotions played well.

Third Place

Stu Bykofsky

Philadelphia Daily News

Columns

Again, the emotions are evoked well in these finely crafted columns.

COMMENTARY, NON-DAILY

Judges’ Category Comment:

Impressive work!

First Place

Josh Kruger

Philadelphia Weekly

The Uncomfortable Whole

Mesmerizing. Not just an unusual point of view, but excellent writing, too.

Second Place

Randy LoBasso

Philadelphia Weekly

Purplevania

Very tight writing. Obviously researched well.

Third Place

Mark Segal

Philadelphia Gay News

Mark My Words

Nice chunks of social commentary stirred into a broth of history.

ENTERPRISE REPORTING, DAILY

First Place

David Gambacorta and Barbara Laker

Philadelphia Daily News

UNDER THE GUN

Well-written examination of the hows and whys of urban gun violence that captures the sorrow and strength of those left behind and even the humanity of those who inflict the pain.

Second Place

The Bucks County Courier Times Staff

Buck County Courier Times

Heroin: It’s Time For The Talk

Comprehensive exploration of the impact of the heroin epidemic on one region, complete with survival tips, warning signs and community dialogue. A glowing example of public service journalism.

Third Place

Daily News Staff

Philadelphia Daily News

FORGOTTEN

Courageous and heartfelt series about our shameful disregard for the lives of young black men. The Daily News should be commended for initiating the conversation and forcing its readers to face an uncomfortable truth.

ENTERPRISE REPORTING, NON-DAILY

First Place

Victoria Brownworth

Philadelphia Gay News

Victims Of The Night: Stories Of Trans Sex Workers

Thoughtful re-telling of stories and lives of which most are not aware. Hopefully, this series will serve as a catalyst for the intervention, which this reporting shows is so desperately needed.

Second Place

Daveen Rae Kurutz

Murrysville Star

Holding Their Breath

Some stories are made great by their compelling subject matter. This story is made great by deep reporting, an eye for context and crisp writing.

Third Place

Halle Stockton

PublicSource

As Pa Ages, State Examines Guardianships And Abuse

Compelling look at some of the cracks in government bureaucracy, the real lives that often fall between them and the insurmountable pain that follows. This is a story that should spark action.

ONLINE BREAKING NEWS, DAILY

First Place

Borys Krawczeniuk, Ted Baird and The Times-Tribune Staff

Scranton Times

POTUS (and VPOTUS) Visit

Second Place

Staff

Pocono Record

Ross Township Shooting Coverage Aug. 6, 2013

ONLINE BREAKING NEWS, NON-DAILY

First Place

Angela Thomas

Philadelphia Gay News

Giovanni’s Room to be Sold

Second Place

Angela Thomas

Philadelphia Gay News

City Council Passes LGBT Equality Bill,

First in the Nation

Third Place

Jason Scott

Central Penn Business Journal

Watsontown Trucking Company Buys Capitol View Commerce Center

WEB USE, DAILY

First Place

Stephanie Strasburg

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

End of the Streak

Excellent photos and insight into a town, community and a team. The intro could have been tighter, but the beautiful photos and story drew us in and by the end we were hooked.

Second Place

Melanie Wass, David Conti and Lisa Fuqua

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“The News Jolted You Where?” — JFK Anniversary

Great use of multimedia in this package: Enjoyed the use of video, java script expanding front pages and links to related coverage.

Third Place

Robert Kandel

Philadelphia Inquirer

Crime In Philadelphia

Lots of good information presented in multiple ways. Some more useful than others. We wish the data was tied to a larger story giving context.

WEB USE, NON- DAILY

First Place

Staff

Jewish Exponent

http://www.jewishexponent.com

Fun, clean, easy-to-navigate design. Enjoyed the calendar and ability for readers to submit events. The Mazel Tov section is great.

Second Place

Laurence Kesterson

Swarthmore College Bulletin

The Joys of Juggling (video)

Charming video piece. Very entertaining.

Third Place

PW Staff

Philadelphia Weekly

PhillyNow.com

Clean layout and design. Navigation and category names could be clearer and better defined. Enjoyed the comment bubbles on the homepage.

Register for the 2014 Region 1 Conference

By Rebecca Baker | January 26th, 2014

The 2014 Region 1 Conference in Boston, Mass. is now open for registration.

This year’s event, organized by the New England Pro Chapter of SPJ, will bring together professional and student journalists from Maine to Pennsylvania for two days of professional development and networking from April 25-26 at Boston University. It is guaranteed to be exciting and informative event — not to mention an investment in your career.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Byte Back! Doing Great Journalism in the Digital Age” and will include programs on investigative reporting, cross-disciplinary journalism, ethics, high-tech newsgathering, personal branding, legal issues for journalists and much, much more.

An opening night reception will be held at The Castle, a gorgeous Tudor Revival mansion on the BU campus, where legendary broadcast journalist Carole Simpson will share her thoughts on the present and future states of journalism.

On Saturday, we’ll take a break from programming to have a delicious lunch in BU’s elegant Trustee Ballroom, where we’ll honor the best collegiate journalism in the region at the annual Mark of Excellence Awards ceremony.

Getting to Boston is easy. In addition to Amtrak, Megabus.com is offering free rides from their locations to Boston for those coming from long distances. There are also discounted rates at several local hotels.

We’re expecting a sold-out event, so reserve your place before they’re all out! For details on the SPJ Region 1 Spring Conference and to register, visit spjr1c.org.