New York News Publishers Association

Awards for Excellence

2021 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2021 Awards for Excellence competition.

This year’s winners will be officially recognized at the Continuing Excellence Awards Banquet on a date to be determined.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers. Newspapers competed against one another in five circulation classes: Under 10,000; 10,000-24,999; 25,000-49,999; 50,000-75,000 and Over 75,000. Contest judges selected winners from 426 entries submitted by 22 New York State daily newspapers.

The judges were:

Ken Tingley, retired editor of The Post-Star, Glens Falls author of “The Last American Editor” and “The Last American Newspaper” and current publisher of “The Front Page” at kentingly.substack.com
Rik Stevens, former news editor for upstate Associated Press New York and Northern New England, and current editorial team leader for Bloomberg Intelligence.
Rob Brill, retired editor of the Times Union, Albany
Teresa Buckley, retired senior editor of the Times Union, Albany
Tom Callinan, retired news executive of the Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester

Awards were presented in each of twenty-three categories (see full category descriptions below).

Following is the list of winners:


	Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
Under 10,000	Distinguished Column Writing	Bob Seidenstein

	Cortland Standard
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
Under 10,000	Distinguished Editorial Writing	Todd R. McAdam

	The Citizen, Auburn
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
Under 10,000	Distinguished Sports Column Writing	Justin Ritzel
Under 10,000	Distinguished State Government Coverage	Robert Harding
Under 10,000	Distinguished Sports Photography	Kevin Rivoli
Under 10,000	Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation	Kevin Rivoli, Robert Harding

	The Daily News, Batavia
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
Under 10,000	Distinguished Sports Writing	Nate Rider
Under 10,000	Distinguished News Photography	Mark Gutman

	Highlands Current
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
Under 10,000	Distinguished Headline Writing	Michael Turton
Under 10,000	Distinguished Beat Reporting	Brian PJ Cronin
Under 10,000	Distinguished Business Reporting	Chip Rowe, Leonard Sparks, Jeff Simms, Brian PJ Cronin, Michael Turton
Under 10,000	Distinguished Community Service	Brian PJ Cronin
Under 10,000	Distinguished Page Design/Presentation	Pierce Strudler

	Finger Lakes Times, Geneva
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
Under 10,000	Distinguished News Supplement	Mike Cutillo, Louise Hoffman Broach, Mike Hibbard, Steve Buchiere, Davis Shaw, Abbey Sitterly, Susan Clark Porter, Spencer Tulis, Alan Brignall, Desiree Jacot
Under 10,000	Distinguished Live Sports Coverage	Pete Lambos
Under 10,000	Distinguished Sports Supplement	Pete Lambos, Nick Felice, Mary Beth Thorpe, Alan Brignall, Spencer Tulis
Under 10,000	Distinguished Online Photo Gallery	Spencer Tulis
Under 10,000	Distinguished Feature Photography	Spencer Tulis
Under 10,000	Distinguished Investigative Reporting	Spencer Tulis
Under 10,000	Distinguished Feature Supplement	Staff

	The Red Hook Daily Catch
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
Under 10,000	Distinguished Feature Writing	Patrick Grego

	Star Gazette, Elmira
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
Under 10,000	Distinguished Breaking News Coverage	Jeff Murray, Anthony Borrelli

	Press-Republican, Plattsburgh
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
Under 10,000	Distinguished State Government Coverage	Cara Chapman
Under 10,000	Distinguished Page Design/Presentation	Ben Rowe


	Press & Sun Bulletin, Binghamton
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Feature Writing	Katie Sullivan Borrelli
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Online Photo Gallery	Kate Collins

	The Journal News, White Plains
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Breaking News Coverage	Steve Lieberman, Peter Kramer, Nancy Cutler, John Meore, Peter Carr
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Live Sports Coverage	Stephen Haynes
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Investigative Reporting	Mark Lungariello, Gary Stern, Tiffany Cusaac-Smith, David McKay Wilson, Jonathan Bandler
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Beat Reporting	Gary Stern
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Sports Writing	Josh Thomson, Peter Carr, Mark Vergari
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Sports Column Writing	Nancy Haggerty
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Column Writing	David McKay Wilson
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Community Service	Diana Dombrowski, Asher Stockler, Katelyn Cordero, Jonathan Bandler, Lana Bellamy, Seth Harrison and Pat Oehler
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished News Photography	Seth Harrison
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Feature Photography	Frank Beccerra Jr.
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Sports Photography	Frank Beccerra Jr.
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation	Journal News and USA TODAY Network New York Staff

	The Post Star, Glens Falls
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Online Blog	Greg Brownell
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Editorial Writing	Will Doolittle

	Poughkeepsie Journal
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Business Reporting	Saba Ali

	Times Herald-Record, Middletown
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
10,000 – 24,999	Distinguished Headline Writing	Beth Kalet


	The Daily Gazette, Schenectady
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Feature Writing	John Cropley
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Sports Column Writing	Mike MacAdam
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Editorial Writing	Mark Mahoney
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Page Design/Presentation	John Thorpe
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Sports Writing	Adam Shinder
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Community Service	Indiana Nash, Shenandoah Briere, Ashley Onyon, Cailin Brown, Lianne Webster-Kim

	Staten Island Advance
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Investigative Reporting	Kyle Lawson
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished News Photography	Jason Paderon
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation	Alexandra Salmieri
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Column Writing	Pamela Silvestri
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Feature Photography	Jason Paderon
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Beat Reporting	Annalise Knudson
25,000 – 49,999	Distinguished Breaking News Coverage	Staff

	The Post-Standard, Syracuse
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Sports Writing	Nate Mink
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Business Reporting	Rick Moriarty
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished State Government Coverage	Tim Knauss
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Sports Supplement	Jackie Domin, Hank Domin
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Editorial Writing	Marie Morelli
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Community Service	Marnie Eisenstadt
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Feature Writing	Marnie Eisenstadt
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Beat Reporting	James T. Mulder
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Investigative Reporting	James T. Mulder, Michelle Breidenbach

	Syracuse.com
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation	Christa Lemczak, N. Scott Trimble


	Times Union, Albany
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Headline Writing	Gregory Dayton
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished News Photography	Staff
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Sports Photography	Lori Van Buren
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Feature Photography	Lori Van Buren
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Page Design/Presentation	Gregory Dayton
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Feature Supplement	Staff
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Online Blog	Kristi Barlette
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Breaking News Coverage	Staff
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished News Supplement	Staff
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Column Writing	Chris Churchill
50,000 – 75,000	Distinguished Online Photo Gallery	Will Waldron


	Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
75,000 – and over	Distinguished State Government Coverage	David Robinson
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Feature Writing	Marcia Greenwood
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Community Service	Caroline Johnson, Marili Vaca, Mathew Leonard
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation	Gary Craig, Ray Soto, William Austin, Alan Davies, Mara Corbett, Stephen Beard, Mathew Leonard, Annette Meade, Tina McIntyre-Yee, Shawn Dowd
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Investigative Reporting	Sarah Taddeo, Georgie Silvarole

	Newsday, Long Island
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Sports Photography	J. Conrad Williams Jr.
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Feature Photography	Thomas A. Ferrara
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Online Photo Gallery	Thomas A. Ferrara
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Business Reporting	James T. Madore
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Beat Reporting	Sarina Trangle

	Buffalo News
Circulation Class	Category	Winners
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Column Writing	Sean Kirst
75,000 – and over	Distinguished News Photography	Derek Gee
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Feature Supplement	Toni Ruberto, Terry Lew, Andrew Galarneau, Susan Martin, Jeff Miers, Be Tsujimoto, Geoff Nason, Mike Connelly, Cathaleen Curtiss, Derek Gee
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Page Design/Presentation	Terry Lew
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Column Writing	Mike Harrington
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Breaking News Coverage	Maki Becker, Tom Precious, Jerry Zremski, Bob McCarthy,
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Editorial Writing	Kevin Walter
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Live Sports Coverage	Jay Skurski, Jason Wolf, Mark Gaughan, Vic Carucci, Maki Becker, James P. McCoy
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Sports Writing	Jason Wolf
75,000 – and over	Distinguished Sports Supplement	Vic Carucci, Mark Gaughan, Jay Skurski, Jason Wolf, Harry Scull, James P. McCoy, Mark Mulville, Terry Lew, Josh Barnett

Click here for a PDF file of the official press release announcing the 2021 Awards for Excellence winners.

Subject Categories
(Note: Print and digital content is eligible for entry in all categories, except in categories 18-20, which are reserved for online-only content, and categories 21-23, which are reserved for newspaper supplement and/or specialty publication content.)

Distinguished Breaking News Coverage
Submissions should demonstrate effective newspaper response to deadline demands. Submissions may consist of a single story or a group of stories by one or more reporters relating to the same event. Submissions should demonstrate clarity, thoroughness, balance, and aggressiveness in the coverage of local spot news.
Distinguished Live Sports Coverage
Submissions should demonstrate effective newspaper response to deadline demands as related to live sporting events. Submissions may consist of a single story or a group of stories by one or more reporters relating to the same event. Submissions should demonstrate clarity, thoroughness, balance, and aggressiveness in the coverage of local live sports.
Distinguished Investigative Reporting
Submissions should demonstrate thorough, thoughtful, fair, and resourceful reporting of local stories that reveal corruption or malfeasance or inherent flaws in the functioning of society's institutions, and/or stories that effectively measure the performance of those institutions against their stated missions. Submissions may consist of a single story or a group of stories by one or more reporters relating to the same event.
Distinguished Business Reporting
Submissions should demonstrate effective newspaper coverage of business and the economy, skillful investigative reporting and excellence in writing style, editing, display and other pertinent criteria. The subject matter should deal primarily with how business and economic events relate to individuals and the newspaper's community. In this category, a submission may be one or more articles from the same edition relating to the same story, or a series of articles on a common subject running on different days.
Distinguished Beat Reporting
Submissions should demonstrate sustained and knowledgeable coverage of a particular subject or activity of local interest. Submissions should be a series of no more than five reports on the same subject or activity by the same writer.
Distinguished Editorial Writing
Submissions should demonstrate a genuine concern for local community problems; courage in taking a position regardless of the popular view and/or against own self-interest; originality of viewpoint and style; and other pertinent criteria. Each submission must be a local editorial. One or more editorials by the same writer on the same subject may be submitted to this category.
Distinguished Feature Writing
Submissions should showcase good writing in non-deadline situations. Submissions may include personality profiles, trend stories, narratives and general features. Submissions should demonstrate style, originality and the ability to make readers laugh, cry or feel. Submissions may consist of a single story or a series of stories from one or more editions relating to the same subject.
Distinguished Sports Writing
Submissions should demonstrate effective coverage of the people, institutions or trends in the local sports community employing thorough, thoughtful, fair, and resourceful reporting as well as quality writing. Submissions may consist of a single story or a group of stories by one or more reporters relating to the same topic.
Distinguished Column Writing
Submissions should demonstrate originality, insight, wit, the capacity to illuminate character, and the capacity to enhance the reader's understanding of persons and events in the community served by the newspaper. Submissions may be a single column or a body of work by the same writer up to a maximum of five columns.
Distinguished Sports Column Writing
Submissions should demonstrate originality, insight, wit, the capacity to illuminate character, and the capacity to enhance the reader’s understanding of persons and events in local or national sports. Submissions may be a single body of work by the same writer up to a maximum of five columns.
Distinguished Headline Writing
Submissions should demonstrate clarity, creativity, and the capacity to distill and capture the essence of the story. Single submissions only will be accepted in this category.
Distinguished Community Service
Submissions (in this category a submission may be a series of articles and/or editorials on a common subject) should demonstrate effort and effect on the part of the local newspaper toward the improvement of the community served, as well as an effort on the newspaper’s part to engage the community through both traditional and new media.
Distinguished State Government Coverage
Submissions should demonstrate effective newspaper coverage of state government as manifested in service to the community; skillful investigative reporting and excellence in writing style, editing, display, and other pertinent criteria. The subject matter should deal primarily with an aspect of state government - the legislature, executive branch, a specific state agency, etc. - and how it relates to the community. In this category, a submission may be one or more articles from the same edition relating to the same story, or a series of articles on a common subject running on different days.
Distinguished Page Design/Presentation
Submissions should demonstrate strong visual appeal, style and originality; and should enhance the written content, making it easy to understand or navigate. Submissions may be a single page or a body of work designed by the same person, up to a maximum of three examples. If submitting a series, up to three days' editions may be included.
Distinguished News Photography
Submissions should demonstrate news value, timeliness, communicative effectiveness, and skill as shown in composition and technical quality. A submission may be one or more photographs from one or more editions relating to the same news event.
Distinguished Feature Photography
Submissions should demonstrate imagination in the handling of feature subjects; communicative effectiveness; appeal to reader interest; and skill in composition, technical quality, and cropping. A submission may be one or more photographs from one or more editions relating to the same feature subject.
Distinguished Sports Photography
Submissions should sharply capture the drama inherent in human athletic competition and draw the reader's eye to peak action, capturing the moment and communicating it on an emotional level with a high degree of technical skill, composition and quality. A submission may be one or more photographs from one or more editions relating to the same subject.
Distinguished Online Photo Gallery
Submissions should consist of a series of photographs which appeared on a newspaper’s website in a single gallery. Submissions should enhance the story to which the gallery is attached, while demonstrating the highest standards of photojournalism.
Distinguished Online Blog
Submissions should demonstrate timeliness, originality, insight, reader interaction and the capacity to enhance the reader's understanding of persons and events in the community served by the newspaper. Submissions may be a single day's blog entry or entries, or a series of blog entries over the course of the year by the same writer, with a maximum of ten entries.
Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation
Submissions should demonstrate work that incorporates distinguished journalistic storytelling via media other than the print format. Submissions may consist of web-based interactive graphics and displays, videos, photo galleries and audio slideshows, or any combination of all of these elements. Creativity, ease-of-use for the website visitor, impact on the community and overall technical execution will be among factors considered by the judges.
Distinguished News Supplement
Submissions should demonstrate imaginative layout and design; creative use of headlines; solid, staff-written articles; and high-quality photos relating to a breaking news event. Submissions should also demonstrate knowledge of and connection with the newspaper’s community, and must contain primarily locally-produced content. Submissions may be one example of a regularly-produced weekly supplement, or a one-time supplement or publication.
Distinguished Sports Supplement
Submissions should demonstrate imaginative layout and design; creative use of headlines; solid, staff-written articles; and high-quality photos relating to a local or national sporting event. Submissions should also demonstrate knowledge of and connection with the newspaper’s community, and must contain primarily locally-produced content. Submissions may be one example of a regularly-produced weekly supplement, or a one-time supplement or publication.
Distinguished Feature Supplement
Submissions should demonstrate imaginative layout and design; creative use of headlines; solid, staff-written articles; and high-quality photos relating to a common feature. Submissions should also demonstrate knowledge of and connection with the newspaper’s community, and must contain primarily locally-produced content. Submissions may be one example of a regularly-produced weekly supplement, or a one-time supplement or publication.

Archived 2020 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2020 Awards for Excellence competition. Due to COVID-19 our traditional awards banquet was again cancelled.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers. Contest judges selected winners from 388 entries submitted by 20 New York State daily newspapers.

For the complete list of winners, download the 2020 contest's press release via the link below:

2020 Contest Press Release

Archived 2019 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2019 Awards for Excellence competition. Due to COVID-19 our traditional awards banquet was cancelled.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers. Contest judges selected winners from 358 entries submitted by 19 New York State daily newspapers.

For the complete list of winners, download the 2019 contest's press release via the link below:

2019 Contest Press Release

Archived 2018 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2018 Awards for Excellence competition. This year’s winners were officially recognized at the 2019 Continuing Excellence Banquet and Reception on Wednesday, July 17 at the Hearst Media Center at 645 Albany Shaker Road, Albany.