The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association awarded The Pitt News top prizes and honorable mentions Tuesday for seven stories and visual pieces published in 2016.
The PNA’s 2017 Student Keystone Press Awards recognizes “high school and college journalism that provides relevance, integrity and initiative in serving readers,” in the state of Pennsylvania, according to its website. The Pitt News competed in the Division 1 bracket of the contest, which included four-year colleges and universities with enrollment of 10,000 or more.
To be eligible, an outlet had to have published its entries between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2016. Members of The Pitt News won three first-place awards, five second-place awards and three honorable mentions in eight different categories.
In the feature story category, former staff writer Kevin Lynch won second place for his story “Short on the sides, long on top: Barber shops find success in Oakland,’’ a look into barbers keeping old traditions alive in Oakland. Former culture editor Brady Langmann, who graduated in December, secured an honorable mention in the same category for “Going Virtual,” which explored Pittsburgh’s role in the growth of virtual reality technology.
Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Lepro earned an honorable mention for “Myra Carbonell: Taking her time” in the personality profile category. Part of the 2016 Silhouette edition, Lepro’s story examined the daily life of a woman enrolled in Pitt’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute for senior citizens. Prior to serving as editor-in-chief, Lepro was The Pitt News’ assistant news editor and assistant sports editor.
In commentary, senior Matt Moret won first-place prizes in two separate categories, including one for best opinions columnist based on a portfolio of his 2016 work. He also topped the “Review” category for “YG’s Trump protest is the song of the summer,” his review of the Compton rapper’s song “FDT.” Moret is currently The Pitt News’ online engagement editor, having previously served as opinions editor and editor-in-chief.
Senior staff illustrators from The Pitt News won both first and second place in the cartoon/graphic illustration category for their submission portfolios. Terry Tan won top honors while Raka Sarkar placed second.
Visuals Editor John Hamilton won second place in the news photo category for his coverage of President Donald Trump’s pre-Election Day rally at Pittsburgh International Airport. Also in that category, Theo Schwarz received an honorable mention for a photograph he took outside a Trump rally in April. Schwarz, a senior staff photographer and former visual editor, also placed second in feature photos for his picture of a Pitt fencer in a profile of Pitt’s fencing club.
Second place in layout and design went to Emily Hower, The Pitt News’ assistant layout editor, for a print spread appearing in the 2016 Silhouette edition. Hower’s design accompanied a profile of Holly Stavarski, a mortuary science student whose background includes stand-up comedy and working at a porn shop.
The PNA will honor winners in Hershey, Pennsylvania, at the America East Media Business & Technology Conference April 12, 2017.