Local journalists among PA NewsMedia Keystone Award winners

            Four Town and Country newspaper journalists were among the winners of the annual Pennsylvania NewsMedia Keystone Awards.  The award recipients were announced on April 29 and reflect the efforts of journalism in Pennsylvania in 2021.

            More than 2,500 entries were received from 100 state news organizations.  Entries in 53 regular categories and 12 specialty categories across seven circulation and four broadcast divisions were judged by journalists in Virginia.

Left to right, Bradley Schlegel, Steve Pestrock, Larry Roeder, and Bob Esposito

            Staff Writer Bradley Schlegel won First Place for Investigative Reporting for his story "East Greenville Mayor Refuses to Release Aggregated Police Report." He also took the top award in the category in 2021 and 2020.

            Photographer Steve Pestrock, won Second Place for Breaking News Photo "Auto in Creek."  

            Photographer Bob Esposito won First Place for Sports Action Photo, "Sliding into Home," and Honorable Mention for Breaking News Photo, "A Cooling Breeze."  It is the third year in a row that Esposito has won in the Breaking News Photo category.

            Editor Larry Roeder took Second Place for three editorials on Crime and Divisiveness (A Breakdown Comes With Consequences, Learn and Make it Better, and Choose the Proper Battlefield) and Honorable Mention for three editorials on Political Discourse (Whataboutism, Who will Bring it Back?, and It's Not Too Early).  It is the third successive year that Roeder has garnered at least one award in the Editorial Category.

            "We are always proud to bring our local communities to the eyes and minds of other journalists throughout the Commonwealth and in 2021 The Town and Country was one of 75 newspapers to have our content added to Real News from Real Communities," Roeder said.

            The publication was 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. 

            "During the Pandemic, the staff at the Town and Country continued to show their dedication to the community by their performance," Roeder said.  "It was, and is, inspiring."

            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.