The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review dominated the competition among the state's largest newspapers in the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors contest, capturing a dozen writing and photography awards Wednesday.
The Trib won nine first-place honors - including the coveted awards for public service and investigative reporting - in 16 categories for newspapers with circulations over 75,000.
"To win one of the state's most prestigious journalism contests is always rewarding," said Frank Craig, editor of Trib Total Media newspapers. "It's a testament to the quality of our news staffs and their commitment to our readers. All of our editors and staff join in congratulating our winners."
Reporters Brad Bumsted, Debra Erdley and Mike Wereschagin won first place for public service and investigative reporting for their series, "Capitol Cash Grab," which exposed secret legislative dealings, including the middle-of-the-night pay raise lawmakers gave themselves last summer.
Reporter Carl Prine won first place in sports and enterprise reporting for his special project, "Bloody Sundays," which chronicled NFL players' injuries, the reasons behind them and the consequences players pay.
Columnist Eric Heyl won first place for an irreverent column about the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which was created to oversee casino gambling but that Heyl described as a regulatory body with little to regulate.
Editorial writer Gery Steighner also took top honors for his humorous take on Texans' voting to adopt a proposition designed to ban gay marriage but that, thanks to its wording, also banned marriage between a man and a woman.
Photographer Guy Wathen won three firsts for spot news, feature photography and personality portrait, and second place in sports photography.
Wereschagin and staff writer Michael Hasch took second place in the spot news reporting category for their story about a fatal towboat accident on the Ohio River in January 2005.
Betsy Hiel, the Trib's Middle East correspondent, won second place for a series of stories about Egypt.
Two photographers with other Trib Total Media newspapers took honors in the division for daily newspapers with circulations under 15,000.
Justin Guido, of the Leader Times in Kittanning, Armstrong County, won five first-place awards in the spot news, feature, sports, personality portrait and photo story categories. He also won second place for personality portrait, sweeping the category.
John F. Brothers, of the Daily Courier in Connellsville, Fayette County, won second place for spot news photography.
"Great job by everyone," said Trib Managing Editor Robert Fryer. "It's an honor to win awards, but at the end of the day, it's the readers who have benefited from outstanding journalism."
And the winners are ...
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review trounced its competitors in annual newspaper awards announced Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors. The Trib grabbed first place in nine of 16 editorial categories in the contest among the state's largest daily newspapers:
CIRCULATION OVER 75,000
Writing Sports reporting First: Carl Prine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , "Bloody Sundays" Second: Chuck Finder, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Webster v. NFL: a family's fight" Sports/Outdoors Column First: Rich Hoffman, Philadelphia Daily News, "'Cane-do spirit" Second: John Smallwood, Philadelphia Daily News, "Folding the race card" Editorial First: Gery Steighner, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , "They've banned marriage" Second: John Timpane, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Intelligent Design" Investigative Reporting First: Brad Bumsted, Debra Erdley and Mike Wereschagin, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , "Capitol cash grab" Second: James Tanfani, Tom Infield, Carrie Budoff, Edward Colimore and Drew Brown, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Waiting for armor" Spot News Reporting First: Don Hopey and Virginia Linn, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Towboat goes over dam; 3 dead, 1 missing in Ohio" Second: Michael Hasch, Mike Wereschagin, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , "Three die in barge wreck" General News Reporting First: David DeKok, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, "The fatal flaw in utility law changes" Second: Betsy Hiel, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , "Egypt series" Enterprise Reporting First: Carl Prine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , "Bloody Sundays" Second: Amy McConnell Schaarsmith, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Learning Curve" Business Writing First: Len Boselovic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Old country/new steel" Second: Gregory Karp, The Morning Call, Allentown, "Why we're obsessed with the price of gas" Feature Writing First: Ford Turner, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, "A family's curse" Second: Gary Rotstein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "A remarkable life, a remarkable death" Column First: Eric Heyl, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , "Gambling panel jobs strike the jackpot" Second: Dennis Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "He found joy in the journey" Public Service First: Brad Bumsted, Debra Erdley and Mike Wereschagin, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , "Capital Cash Grab" Second: Tim Darragh and Christopher Schnaars, The Morning Call, Allentown, "Recipe for trouble" Photos Spot News Photo First: Guy Wathen, Tribune-Review , "Meth" Second: Jim MacMillan, Philadelphia Daily News, "SWAT search"
Feature Photo First: Guy Wathen, Tribune-Review , "Prayer for the Pope" Second: Peter Tobia, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Surreal thing" Sports Photo First: Joe Hermitt, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, "Penn State's big picture" Second: Guy Wathen, Tribune-Review , "27th season" Personality Portrait First: Guy Wathen, Tribune-Review , "Ashley" Second: Joe Hermitt, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, "Coach of the year" Photo Story First: John Beale, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "A remarkable life, a remarkable death" Second: Maratha Rial, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Polio's final chapter" CIRCULATION 30,000-75,000
Writing Sports reporting First: Frank Bodani, York Daily Record, "Appalachian Trail thru-hike" Second: Chad Umble, Lancaster New Era, "Just rewards" Sports/Outdoors Column First: Ed Laubach, The Express-Times, Easton, "Chaney's oversight: collateral damage" Second: Phil Gianficaro, Reading Eagle, "Thanks, Dad, for a life full of baseball and love" Editorial First: Guy Petroziello, Bucks County Courier Times, Levittown, "Scathing report" Second: Jean LaCoe, Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, "Lawmakers themselves keep pay issue alive" Investigative Reporting First: Jack Brubaker, Lancaster New Era, "A pattern of error" Second: Ed Palattelle, Erie Times-News, "Garvey era ends" Spot News Reporting First: Tom Fontaine and Bill Vidonic, Beaver County Times, "A bad day in Aliquippa" Second: James Haggerty and Stacy Brown, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, "Everhart heist worth millions" General News Reporting First: Christopher J. Kelly, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, "On the road to Iraq" Second: Staff, Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, "Sherwood controversy" Enterprise Reporting First: Lauri Lebo, York Daily Record, "Holding on to Hunter" Second: Jo Ciavaglia, Bucks County Courier Times, Levittown, "The miracle of Christina" Business Writing First: Dave Janoski, Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, "Koz package" Second: Sharon Smith, York Daily Record, "Manufacturing at a crossroads" Feature Writing First: April Johnston, Beaver County Times, "Passages" Second: Mary Beth Schweigert, Lancaster New Era, "Pain, then coping" Column First: Gil Spencer, Delaware County Daily Times, Primos, "A proud young patriot, too soon gone" Second: John Mullane, Bucks County Courier Times, Levittown, "Maj. Hartness returns from war" Public Service First: Lauri Lebo, Michelle Starr, Mike Argento, Tom Joyce, Teresa McMinn, Rick Lee and James McClure, York Daily Record, "Dover intelligent design case" Second: Staff, Lancaster New Era, "The midnight pay-jacking" Photos Spot News Photo First: Ron Romanski, Reading Eagle, "Deer breaks into a supermarket" Second: Rick Kintzel, The Intelligencer, Doylestown, "Funeral for a Marine" Feature Photo First: Rick Kintzel, The Intelligencer, Doylestown, "Jello rain" Second: Richard Hertzler, Lancaster New Era, "All creatures great and small" Sports Photo First: S. John Wilkin, Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, "Golf frustration" Second: Andrew P. Blackburn, Lancaster New Era, "Touchdown flip" Personality Portrait First: Aimee Dilger, Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, "Muddy cowboy" Second: Rob Engelhardt, Erie Times-News, "Blowin' in the wind" Photo Story First: Jason Plotkin, York Daily Record, "Holding on to Hunter" Second: Richard Hertzler, Lancaster New Era, "Closing the gates" CIRCULATION 15,000-29,999
Writing Sports reporting First: Steven Moore, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, "Small schools dash for cash" Second: Tim Hare and Brian Westfall, Press Enterprise, Bloomsburg, "Behind the scenes" Sports/Outdoors Column First: Tim Hare, Press Enterprise, Bloomsburg, "Last-place finishers felt like champs, too" Second: Kayleen Cubbal, New Castle News, "Board games" Editorial First: Michael Olszak, New Castle News, "Nothing to hide?" Second: Paul Baker, Lebanon Daily News, "When ex-lovers become terrorists" Investigative Reporting First: Karen Schaffner, Jim Smith, Shari Berg and Kim Paskorz, Butler Eagle, "Hidden terror" Second: Michael Lestser, Press Enterprise, Bloomsburg, "Hazards at safety light" Spot News Reporting First: Michael Lester, Press Enterprise, Bloomsburg, "Berwick Flatiron burns" Second: R. Jonathan Tuleya and Jason Kotowski, Daily Local News, West Chester, "Family of 4 found dead" General News Reporting First: Erin Nissley, Mike Joseph and Adam Smeltz, Centre Daily Times, State College, "District attorney disappears" Second: Jim Smith and Tom Victoria, Butler Eagle, "Torture slaying" Enterprise Reporting First: Michael Lester, Press Enterprise, Bloomsburg, "Born too soon" Second: Erin Nissley, Chris Rosenblum and Nichole Dobo, Centre Daily Times, State College, "Firefighters sound alarm; burned out" Business Writing First: Mike Josesph and Jennifer Thomas, Centre Daily Times, State College, "County weathers economic storm" Second: Brian McCullough, Sarah Moran and Gretchen Metz, Daily Local News, West Chester, "House rules: Chester County real estate boom" Feature Writing First: Chris Rosenblum, Centre Daily Times, State College, "Hiding from the light" Second: Tim Hare, Press Enterprise, Bloomsburg, "Sports persons of the year" Column First: Gordon Glantz, The Times Herald, Norristown, "Saying Shalom to a real survivor: Second: Marc Charisse, The Evening Sun, Hanover, "Another O.J. moment" Public Service First: Nancy March, The Mercury, Pottstown, "Sending a message to Harrisburg" Second: Pete Bosak, Chris Rosenblum, Erin Nissley, Nichole Dobo and Lara Brenckle, Centre Daily Times, State College, "Financial woes of volunteer fire company" Photos Spot News Photo First: Daniel Creighton, The Mercury, Pottstown, "Police look for answers in murder" Second: Chris Stanley, The Reporter, Lansdale, "Marine laid to rest" Feature Photo First: William B. Hughes, Press Enterprise, Bloomsburg, "Christmas angels" Second: James Robinson, The Evening Sun, Hanover, "The dawn of a new day" Sports Photo First: Kenneth R. Brooks, Herald-Standard, Uniontown, "Best foot forward" Second: Jason Farmer, Pocono Record, Stroudsburg, "Flipped out" Personality Portrait First: Andrew Craft, The Evening Sun, Hanover, "Reflective rehearsal" Second: William B. Hughes, Press Enterprise, Bloomsburg, "Dairy cattle judging" Photo Story First: Tim Gruber, The Evening Sun, Hanover, "In from the cold" Second: Mark Nance, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, "Special times" CIRCULATION BELOW 15,000
Writing Sports Reporting First: Brian Bianca, The Sentinel, Carlisle, "Public vs. private" Second: Toni Fitzgerald, The Sentinel, Carlisle, "Jess Radonovich - horsing around" Sports/Outdoors Column First: Jimmy Johnson, The Sentinel, Lewistown, "Sleepless night at tent city" Second: Liz Bittle, Gettysburg Times, "Teeter funds new spot at William & Mary" Editorial First: Denny Bonavita, The Courier-Express, DuBois, "Pay raise should be revisited and debated in public" Second: Patricia Matson, The Phoenix, Phoenixville, "Affordable housing needed in area" Investigative Reporting First: Scot Pitzer and Matt Major, Gettysburg Times, "Gettysburg gamble" Second: Donald R. Serfass, Times News, Lehighton, "The fight against toxic dumping" Spot News Reporting First: Courtney Crissey and Lana Muthler, The Express, Lock Haven, "Heroes return" Second: Lana Muthler, The Express, Lock Haven, "Fire destroys city home" General News Reporting First: Mike Schreiber, Sandra Rhodes, Marcie Schellhamner, Fran DeLancy, Tammarrah Miles and Merrill Gonzalez, The Bradford Era, "Hazel Hurst native injured in Iraq" Second: Aaron Cahall, The Daily Review, Towanda, "Athens soldier killed in the line of duty in Iraq" Enterprise Reporting First: John Hilton, The Sentinel, Carlisle, "Teen suicide" Second: Scot Pitzer and Matt Major, Gettysburg Times, "Gettysburg gamble" Business Writing First: John Hilton, The Sentinel, Carlisle, "Housing market boom" Second: Eric Harkreader, The Sentinel, Carlisle, "Trading tastes" Feature Writing First: Scot A. Pitzer, Gettysburg Times, "Amid dark and danger - carriers deliver" Second: Tiffany Pakkala, The Sentinel, Carlisle, "Case closed" Column First: Carol Talley, The Sentinel, Carlisle, "Miracle of birth meets horrors of life" Second: Donald R. Serfass, Times News, Lehighton, "Cooking without character" Public Service First: Kristin Wilson, Carol Talley, John Hilton and David Blymire, The Sentinel, Carlisle, "Carlisle Barracks" Second: Donald R. Serfass, Times News, Lehighton, "The fight against toxic dumping" Photos Spot News Photo First: Justin Guido, Leader Times , Kittanning, "Heated debate" Second: John F. Brothers, Daily Courier , Connellsville, "Owner's brother found inside burned structure" Feature Photo First: Justin Guido, Leader Times , Kittanning, "Sneaking a peek" Second: Roger Vogel, Daily American, Somerset, "Where does the music come from?" Sports Photo First: Justin Guido, Leader Times , Kittanning, "Close but no championship" Second: Michael Bupp, The Sentinel, Carlisle, "Rodeo Fall" Personality Portrait First: Justin Guido, Leader Times , Kittanning, "Cat eyes" Second: Justin Guido, Leader Times , Kittanning, "Cooking up kicks" Photo Story First: Justin Guido, Leader Times , Kittanning, "Rodeo" Second: Buffy Boyer, The Sentinel, Lewistown, "Ag education tour"
