Contest Winners
2011 Winners of PAPME writing, photo contests announced
The Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors announced winners of the group's annual writing and photo contests on Wednesday.
Cash awards will be presented to the first-place winners at the PAPME's annual convention in State College on May 20.
Judges selected "Best of Show" winners in news and photos across all circulation divisions, and a photographer to receive the Paul Vathis Memorial Photography Portfolio Award, in honor of the late Pulitzer Prize-winning AP photographer from Pennsylvania. Winners for both prizes will be revealed at the award ceremony.
The entries were judged by editors at AP member newspapers in Colorado and Utah.
CIRCULATION OVER 75,000
WRITING
Sports Deadline Reporting
First: Sports Staff, Philadelphia Daily News, "On, Dasher"
Second: Steve Miller, Adam Clark, Keith Groller, Tom Housenick, The Morning Call, "State Champs"
Sports/Outdoors Column
First: Les Brown, Philadelphia Daily News, "Viewing Vick in Black and White"
Second: Dave Jones, The Patriot-News, "JoePa's Too Comfy being JoePa to Leave"
Sports Feature Reporting
First: Mark Kram, Philadelphia Daily News, "Paco's 2nd round"
Second: Kia Gregory, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "He's Beating the Odds"
Editorial
First: Reg Henry, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Gospel of Hate"
Second: Dave Boyer, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Gas-tax Foes Prefer Cash"
Investigative Reporting
First: Mark Fazlollah, Jospeh Tanfani, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Lawyer Plays Dual Role in Court Deal"
Second: Mary Beth Schweigert, Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era, "Danger Zones"
Spot News Reporting
First: Sadie Gurman, Jonathan Silver, Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "6 Charged in Woman's Brutal Killing"
Second: Troy Graham, Susan Snyder, David O'Reilly, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Two Passengers Missing After Crash on Delaware"
General News Reporting
First: Kristen Graham, Jeff Gammage, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Standing up for Victimized Students"
Second: Bob Fernandez, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Hershey School Calls off Expansion Plans"
Enterprise Reporting
First: Mark Kram, Philadelphia Daily News, "Paco's 2ND round"
Second: Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "The Network: How Government, Politics and Enterprise Intersect in this Region"
Business Writing
First: Bob Fernandez, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Hershey School Calls off Expansion Plans"
Second: David Wenner and Staff, The Patriot-News, "The New Normal"
Feature Writing
First: Ivey DeJesus, The Patriot-News, "Losing Lisa"
Second: Chris Togneri, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Not In Our Lifetime"
Column
First: Daniel Rubin, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Are Checks in a Purse the TSA's Business?"
Second: Ronnie Polaneczky, Philadelphia Daily News, "Hear & Now"
Public Service
First: David Templeton, Don Hopey, Laura Schneiderman, Robin Rombach, Doug Oster, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Mapping Mortality Series"
Second: Donald Gilliland, Editorial board, The Patriot-News, "State Tracking Outrages Foes of Gas Drilling"
Online Coverage of Breaking News
First: Online Team, The Patriot-News, "Blizzard: Feb. 10, 2010"
Second: No Winner
Best Blogging
First: Will Bunch, Philadelphia Daily News, "Attytood"
Second: William Bender, Stephanie Farr, Philadelphia Daily News, "Daily Delco"
PHOTOS
Spot News Photo
First: April Bartholomew, The Morning Call, "Anguish on City Streets"
Second: Sean Simmers, The Patriot-News, "Devastating Karvon Segars"
Feature Photo
First: Steven M. Falk, Philadelphia Daily News, "Photo Opp"
Second: Larry Roberts, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Time to be Quiet"
Sports Photo
First: Chris Knight, The Patriot-News, "Yurie Nakano"
Second: Peter Diana, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "A Frightful Night"
Personality Portrait
First: David Swanson, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Sonia Donatien Tries to Get a Bit of Sleep With Daughter Soleikah the Day Before Her Appointment to Be Fitted With a New Arm"
Second: Jasmine Goldband, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Longer Lives on Horizon for Children Born Old"
Photo Story
First: David Swanson, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "For Haitian, the Choice is Life or Limb"
Second: Michael Henninger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "West Virginia Mine Explosion"
CIRCULATION 30,000-75,000
WRITING
Sports Deadline Reporting
First: Mike Mastovich, The Tribune-Democrat, "An Epic Loss"
Second: Rich Scarcella, Reading Eagle, "In a League of His Own"
Sports/Outdoors Column
First: Frank Bodani, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Smith Still in the Fight of His Life"
Second: Paul Sokoloski, The Times Leader, "Making a Pitch to Straighten Them All Out"
Sports Feature Reporting
First: John Clayton, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Hard-hitting Issue"
Second: Rich Scarcella, Reading Eagle, "Flee, Play, Love"
Editorial
First: Mark Jones, The Times Leader, "Get off the Fence, Vote for Charter"
Second: Chip Minemyer, The Tribune-Democrat, "Build Murtha Center, but Not With Taxpayer Money"
Investigative Reporting
First: Borys Krawczeniuk, Joe McDonald, The Times-Tribune, "Cordaro , Munchak Charged With Taking Hundreds or Thousands of Dollars in Kickbacks and Bribes"
Second: Rick Lee, Teresa Boeckel, York Daily Record/ Sunday News, "Witmans; Take a Second Look"
Spot News Reporting
First: Staff, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Enough Already!"
Second: Brett Hambright, Reading Eagle, "Boy, 15, slain; 4 Charged"
General News Reporting
First: Jeff Frantz, Mike Argento, Scott Fisher, Melissa Nann Burke, York Daily Record/ Sunday News, "Westboro Speech Case"
Second: Steve Mocarsky, The Times Leader, "Eachus Says He Traveled on Powell Jet"
Enterprise Reporting
First: Laura Legere, The Times-Tribune, "Deep Impact Series"
Second: Leigh Zaleski, Erin McCracken, Emily Opilo, Kevin Horan, Carrie Hamilton, Jeff Frantz, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Hefty Price; How Do We Get Fat"
Business Writing
First: Terrie Morgan-Besecker, The Times Leader, "Ticking Down to Trouble; Area Communities Facing Pension Crisis"
Second: Staff, The Times-Tribune, "Outlook 2011"
Feature Writing
First: Melissa Nann Burke, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Out of Touch"
Second: Erica Erwin, Erie-Times News, "A Love Story, Cut Short"
Column
First: Chris Kelly, The Times-Tribune, "So, Who is it About?"
Second: Pat Howard, Erie Times News, "Tragedy Always a Second Away When Anger Comes with a Gun"
Public Service
First: Jason Plotkin, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Carrying Darisabel"
Second: Staff, The Tribune-Democrat, "Hope for a Cure"
Online Coverage of Breaking News
First: Jeff Frantz, Melissa Nann Burke, Mike Argento , Scott Fisher, Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Westboro: Speech Case Stirs"
Second: Jeremy Burton , Ted Baird, The Times-Tribune, "West Scranton Fire Displaces 10 on Christmas Eve"
Best Blogging
First: Mark Franklin, The York Dispatch, "Idol Chatter"
Second: Joan Concilio, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Only in York County"
PHOTOS
Spot News Photo
First: Susan L. Angstadt, Reading Eagle, "You Could Tell Right Away That he Was a Cut Above"
Second: Butch Comegys, The Times-Tribune, "Van Burns on I-81"
Feature Photo
First: Jim McNutt, Observer-Reporter, "Little Man, Big Shot "
Second: Jack Hanrahan, Erie Times-News, "That's How the Cookie Crumbles"
Sports Photo
First: Kate Penn, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Wildcats' Excited Coach"
Second: Bil Bowden, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Grandstand Gets Rowdy"
Personality Portrait
First: Eileen Joyce, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Pumpkin Chunkin"
Second: Jack Hanrahan, Erie Times-News, "Heart of Glass"
Photo Story
First: Jason Plotkin, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Bracey Takes Stage"
Second: Jason Farmer, The Times-Tribune, "2010 Steamtown Marathon"
CIRCULATION 15,000-30,000
WRITING
Sports Deadline Reporting
First: Jeff Rice, Walt Moody, Cliff White, Centre Daily Times, "400: Paterno Reaches Milestone After Late Rally Against Northwestern"
Second: Vinny Pezzimenti, Ron Bracken, Centre Daily Times, "Split Decision: Lady Raiders Capture First-ever Title With Seventh-inning Stunner"
Sports/Outdoors Column
First: John Zaktansky, The Daily Item, "Why I hunt"
Second: Chris Masse, Williamsport Sun Gazette, "Farewell to a Good Coach, Better Friend"
Sports Feature Reporting
First: Tim Stonesifer, The Evening Sun, "Here on a Knife's Edge"
Second: Chris Rosenblum, Centre Daily Times, "Hook, Line and Thinker"
Editorial
First: Wanda Murren, The Evening Sun, "Sonny Come Home"
Second: Paula Heeschen, Pocono Record, "In Our Opinion: Corbet - Bought and Paid For?"
Investigative Reporting
First: Nick Malawskey, Ed Mahon, Anne Danahy, Mike Joseph, Centre Daily Times, "Spending the Stimulus: Following the Money Trail"
Second: Dave Janoski, Michael R. Sisak, Citizens' Voice, "Judicial Conduct Board"
Spot News Reporting
First: Tricia Pursell, The Daily Item, "Bullied Student Kills Self"
Second: Brandie Kessler, Carl Hessler Jr., The Mercury, "Road-rage Suspect Found Dead"
General News Reporting
First: Dave Janoski, Michael R. Sisak, Citizens' Voice, "Deal, no Deal"
Second: Anne Danahy, Cliff White, Centre Daily Times, "Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Stories"
Enterprise Reporting
First: Anne Danahy, Chris Rosenblum, Ed Mahon, Lauren Boyer, Sara Ganim, Centre Daily Times, "Priced out: High Rents Drive Housing Crisis"
Second: David Thompson, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, "Follow the Water: The Marcellus Shale Experience"
Business Writing
First: Cliff White, Anne Danahy, Centre Daily Times, "Continuing coverage of gas drilling"
Second: Nick Malawskey, Anne Danahy, Ed Mahon, Centre Daily Times, "Power Play: Deregulation: What happens now?"
Feature Writing
First: Chris Rosenblum, Centre Daily Times, "Enduring Partnership; Couples Love Provides Inspiration for All"
Second: Sam Kusic, Indiana Gazette, "In Sickness and in Health: Couple to Wed Despite Injury"
Column
First: Gordon Glantz, The Times Herald, "Tell Us Something We Don't Know"
Second: Tim Stonesifer, The Evening Sun, "The Gift of `Believe'"
Public Service
First: Brandi Kessler, Carl Hessler Jr., Nancy March, The Mercury, "Teens and cars: tragedy in numbers"
Second: Chris Mele, Andrew Scott, Dan Berrett, Pocono Record, "Our Drive to Keep You Alive"
Online Coverage of Breaking News
First: Dave Janoski, Andrew Staub, Michael R. Sisak, Shannon Rushton, Bob Kalinowski, Citizens' Voice, "Musto Indicted"
Second: John Misinco, Melissa Evanko, Dan Berrett, Beth Brelje, Pocono Record, Fatal Fire at Westgate Senior High Rise"
Best Blogging
First: Mike Sadowski, Pocono Record, "PopRox"
Second: No Winner
PHOTOS
Spot News Photo
First: David Kidwell, Pocono Record, "'Taps' for Canadensis Soldier"
Second: Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun, "Fire Companies Battle Barn Blaze"
Feature Photo
First: Justin Guido, Butler Eagle, "Udderly Comfortable"
Second: Dave Scherbenco, Citizens' Voice, "For a Good Cause"
Sports Photo
First: Courtney Caughey, New Castle News, "Crowning Glory"
Second: Tom Kelly IV, Daily Local News, "Extra Time Extra Magic"
Personality Portrait
First: Robert Inglis, The Daily Item, "A Shoe-In?"
Second: Matthew Harris, The Daily Item, "I'm on a Quest"
Photo Story
First: Erica Galvin, New Castle News, "Salute"
Second: Jimmy May, Press Enterprise, "A Golden Run"
CIRCULATION BELOW 15,000
WRITING
Sports Deadline Reporting
First: Mike Cabrey, The Reporter, "State Champs"
Second: Christiaan DeFranco, Mike Cabrey, The Reporter, "North Penn Under Fire"
Sports/Outdoors Column
First: Jon Sitler, Times Observer, "SitComm: Tango is a `Must See' Experience"
Second: Drew Pellman, The (Lewistown) Sentinel, "Roysters Critics Should Pick Another Target"
Sports Feature Reporting
First: Adrian Martin, Gettysburg Times, "A Fan from Afar"
Second: Chris McFarland, The (Lewistown) Sentinel, "Where No Man Has Fished Before"
Editorial
First: B.J. Small, Gettysburg Times, "Lessons in Loss of a Wildlife Officer"
Second: Brad Siddons, The (Lewistown) Sentinel, "Library Essential Part of Community"
Investigative Reporting
First: Frank Jost, Conor O'Brien, The (Lewistown) Sentinel, "MCRPD Investigates Employees Compensation"
Second: Donald R. Serfass, Times News, "The Amber Lantern Massacre"
Spot News Reporting
First: Jim Runkle, Scott Johnson, The Express, "Plane Crashes in City"
Second: Rachel Mazza, Scott Johnson, The Express, "Englert Gets 5-11 Years"
General News Reporting
First: Scott Johnson, The Express, "Chapman Township Water Permit"
Second: Dan Sokil, The Reporter, "Teachers OK Strike"
Enterprise Reporting
First: Karen Cimms, Amy Zubek (Amy Miller), Times News, "Down Syndrome: A Family's Journey"
Second: Joseph Cress, The (Carlisle) Sentinel, "Veterans Day: A New Generation Emerges"
Business Writing
First: Chris Buckley, Jeff Pikulsky, The Valley Independent, "Continuing Pride-Valley Survivors"
Second: Tiffany Towner and staff, The Daily/Sunday Review, "Northeast Driller Vol. 1 No. 6, Housing"
Feature Writing
First: Karen Cimms, Amy Zubek (Amy Miller), Times News, "Down Syndrome: A Family's Journey"
Second: Donald R. Serfass, Times News, "The Amber Lantern Massacre"
Column
First: Donald R. Serfass, Times News, "No more BS for Pennsylvania"
Second: Donald R. Serfass, Times News, "The Unbelievable Story of Jean Stevens"
Public Service
First: Donald R. Serfass, Times News, "Fighting for a Healthy Environment"
Second: Diana Paddock, Times Observer, "Rett Syndrome"
Online Coverage of Breaking News
First: Jeff Pratt, John Hilton, Naomi Creason, Heather Stauffer, April Trotter, Jason Malmont, The (Carlisle) Sentinel, "Snow Storm Hits Carlisle"
Second: Jeff Pratt, John Hilton, Greg Gross, Erica Dolson, The (Carlisle) Sentinel, "Beltway Bus Crash Sept. 29"
Best Blogging
First: Larissa Newton, The (Carlisle) Sentinel, "Midstate Menu"
Second: April Trotter, The (Carlisle) Sentinel, "Out & About"
PHOTOS
Spot News Photo
First: Darryl Wheeler, Gettysburg Times, "Just Scared"
Second: Brian Ferry, Times Observer, "Catching a Breath"
Feature Photo
First: Louis Ruediger, Leader Times, "Following the Light"
Second: Jason Malmont, The (Carlisle) Sentinel, "Triple Digits"
Sports Photo
First: Evan R. Sanders, Daily Courier, "Bullskin Title Highlights Busy Weekend"
Second: Jason Malmont, The (Carlisle) Sentinel, "Cardinals Strike Back"
Personality Portrait
First: Louis Ruediger, Leader Times, "Gone Fishin'"
Second: Michael Bupp, The (Carlisle) Sentinel, "Twin Towers"
Photo Story
First: Michael Bupp, The (Carlisle) Sentinel, "Youth Sports"
Second: Bob Ford, Times News, "Down Syndrome - A family's Journey"