America’s best weekly is once again the state’s best weekly as well. As announced late last week by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation, the New Pittsburgh Courier has won nine awards for its division in the 2014 PNA Foundation’s Newspaper of the Year Award and has also been named its Newspaper of the Year for weeklies.
The PNA Newspaper of the Year contest recognizes the outstanding work of both multi-day and weekly Pennsylvania news media organizations and gives them the opportunity to showcase the efforts of their entire staff.
“The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation is delighted to recognize the New Pittsburgh Courier as 2014 Newspaper of the Year for weeklies. This is the first time in the 25-year history of the Newspaper of the Year contest that the New Pittsburgh Courier has received this honor,” said Melinda Condon, executive director of the PNA Foundation and vice president of Contract Management at the PNA.
“From news excellence and presentation to photography to special sections to community service, this award highlights the entire staff for their exemplary efforts throughout a year of publishing both in print and online,” he said, “The New Pittsburgh Courier’s win is even more impressive when you consider the other Pennsylvania weeklies who entered and the excellent work being done across the state. We join the fortunate readers of Pittsburgh as well as the paper’s news media colleagues across Pennsylvania in applauding the New Pittsburgh Courier.”
Along with being named Newspaper of the Year for weeklies, the Courier won first place in the categories of News Excellence, Advertising Excellence, News Presentation Excellence, Special Section, Promotion and Community Service, as well as second place in the Editorial & Commentary Excellence, Best Use of Photography and Diversity categories.
This is the third year the Courier has received awards in its division of the competition. In 2013 they won awards in five categories and four in 2011. The Courier has also placed in the PNA’s Keystone Press Awards competition.
“This is a great Courier team accomplishment and I am proud of their commitment to excellence with these awards,” said Rod Doss, New Pittsburgh Courier editor and publisher.
The PNA Foundation is an independent, nonprofit corporation that provides its members with the training and resources needed to develop the next generation of readers and journalists, while educating the public on the importance of the First Amendment and the role of the free press.
The awards will be presented on Nov. 7 at a special brunch during the PNA Annual Convention to be held in Pittsburgh at the Omni William Penn Hotel.
(Reprinted from Courier Oct. 15-21, 2014 edition.)
