Local journalists earn 12 PA NewsMedia Keystone Awards

          Five Town and Country journalists were among the winners of the annual Pennsylvania NewsMedia Keystone Awards. The newspaper's 12 awards were included in the June 1 announcement that reflects the efforts of journalism in Pennsylvania in 2022.

Town and Country News jounalist award winners, seated,left to right, Steve Pestrock, and Larry Roeder.  Standing, left to right, Bradley Schlegel, Ernie Quatrani, and Bob Esposito.

            The Professional Keystone Media Awards reinforce excellence by individuals in the news media profession by recognizing journalism that consistently provides relevance, integrity, and initiative in serving readers and audiences, and faithfully fulfills its First Amendment rights/responsibilities.

            Further, the Keystone Media Awards stimulate journalists to improve their craft and ultimately improve their community.

            More than 2,600 entries were received from 139 state news organizations. Entries in 53 regular categories and 12 specialty categories across seven circulation and four broadcast divisions were judged by journalists in Michigan.

            Staff Writer Bradley Schlegel won first and second place in the Breaking News category.  His report, headlined "Prep Time Issues Snag UPSD Teachers Negotiations" was awarded first place and his item headlined "Mother Blames UPSD Board for Daughter's Assault" was awarded second place.

              He also was awarded first place in the Sports Beat Reporting category for his report headlined "Moments of Brilliance Lift Tribe Girls to PAC Title."  Schlegel was honored in 2022, 2021, and 2020 for his reporting in the Investigative Reporting category.

            Graphics editor and photographer Bob Esposito was awarded first place in the Breaking News Photo (Vehicles Burning) and News Event Photo (235 Seniors Graduate in Upper Perk Community) categories.  He also was awarded an honorable mention in the Breaking News Category (Resident Transported to Hospital Following Upper Hanover Fire) and Sports Feature Photo (Landrey DeLillo, Jess Traynor, and Regan Fiorito console each other) categories.

            This is the fourth year in a row that Esposito has earned an award in the Breaking News category.

            Editor Larry Roeder swept the Editorial category earning all three awards with first place for "15 Minutes," Second Place for "A Reminder to Us All", and Honorable Mention for "Your Conclusion not Theirs."  Roeder earned two of three awards in the Editorial category last year and this marks the fourth successive year that Roeder has garnered at least one award in the Editorial Category.

            Correspondent and copy editor Ernie Quatrani received a second-place honor in the News Beat category for his reporting on Marlborough Township.  The articles penned by Quatrani and weighed by the judges included news items that contained the future of Camp Delmont, the Planning Commission's opposition to a proposed quarry, a museum project mired in semantics and technicalities, the township's 2023 budget, official's approval of beaver removal at Lake Skymount, and other related township news.

            Photographer Steve Pestrock, was awarded Second Place in the Breaking News Photo category for his photo of a building fire in Red Hill.  Pestrock was awarded first place and second place for Breaking News Photos in 2022."

            The Town and Country was one of 88 newspapers to have their content added to PA Connections - Real News from Real Communities publication again in 2022.  The publication is produced by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association and distributed to state elected officials as a testament to the commitment of the news organizations to the community. 

            "We have a hard-working staff who is dedicated to keeping our communities informed.  They have an intense work-ethic and there is a gratification that comes from a job well-done," Roeder said. "But the real benefit is the state-wide recognition something like this brings to the communities we cover."

            The annual contest is open to the editorial staff and regular contributors of Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association member organizations and wire services who are in good standing, as well as non-member Pennsylvania news organizations that meet certain criteria.  Associated Press member news organizations are eligible to enter the contest as well.

            The awards will be presented during the Keystone Media Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 1 in Harrisburg.