“Pennsylvania news organizations are going strong. You keep producing compelling work, whether it’s print, broadcast or online,” Barbara Hough Huesken, Director, Legislative Affairs, Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, said.

“It’s the essence of what we’re doing,” Hough Huesken said at the Keystone Media Awards 2023 Awards Luncheon, Nov. 1, Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel.

There were 2,623 entries from 139 Pennsylvania news organizations in the 2023 Keystone Media Awards for work published in 2022.

Entries in 53 regular categories and 12 specialty categories in seven circulation and four broadcast divisions were judged by journalists in Michigan.

In attendance from Lehigh Valley Press were Paul Willistein, Focus Editor; Stacey Koch, Editorial Assistant, Whitehall-Coplay Press, Northampton Press, Catasauqua Press, and Ed Courrier, Editorial cartoonist, reporter, photographer.

The Bethlehem Press, Editor George Taylor, received the Sweepstakes Award in Division VI, based on the most number of points for 16 Keystone Media Award Winners. A video by Taylor was screened at the luncheon. Courrier accepted the award for Taylor.

It’s the seventh time the Bethlehem Press was named a Sweepstakes Winner in the Professional Keystone Media Awards, winning in 2022, 2021, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

The Press newspapers won an additional five 2023 Professional Keystone Media Awards for a total of 21 Keystone Awards for 2023.

Whitehall-Coplay Press, Editor Kelly Lutterschmidt, received two 2023 Professional Keystone Media Awards.

East Penn Press and Salisbury Press, Editor Debbie Galbraith, each received one 2023 Professional Keystone Media Award.

Parkland Press, Editor Debbie Palmieri, received one 2023 Professional Keystone Media Award.

The Focus section, Editor Paul Willistein, received four 2023 Professional Keystone Media Awards, as part of Bethlehem Press.

Here are the Lehigh Valley Press newspapers’ 2023 Professional Keystone Media Award winners in Division VI, Weekly General News Publications:

Investigative Reporting, First Place, Bethlehem Press, “When child protection goes awry,” Theresa O’Brien

Business or Consumer Story, Second Place, Bethlehem Press, “Technology helps keep school children safe,” Marieke Andronache

Editorial, First Place, East Penn Press, “We Thought We Had More Time”; “Justice Served Twice”; “What the Heck Is That?,” Debbie Galbraith

Editorial, Second Place, Whitehall Coplay Press, “#BettyWhiteChallenge: ‘What a tribute to a wonderful woman’”; “Lesson learned in a grocery store parking lot”; “The benefits of a Big/Little relationship,” Kelly Lutterschmidt

Column, First Place, Whitehall-Coplay Press, “Elementary students spread kindness through hotline project”; “Local counselor gives advice on what to do when anxiety calls”; “The excellence in failing,” Stacey Koch

Feature Story, Honorable Mention, Bethlehem Press, “Celebrating Title IX: 50 years of opportunity for women in sports,” Theresa O’Brien

Lifestyle/Entertainment Beat, First Place, Bethlehem Press (Focus section), “Miller Symphony Hall”; “On their ‘Mark’”; “Peace and love”; “Bethlehem goes indie”; “The Force is with him”; “Fair is in the air,” Paul Willistein

Lifestyle/Entertainment Beat, Second Place, Bethlehem Press (Focus section), “Gallery View,” Ed Courrier

Lifestyle/Entertainment Beat, Honorable Mention, Parkland Press, “Delicious Healthy Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies”; “Jewish Federation hosts Prep and Rally cookbook author”; “Are zucchini bats growing in your garden?”; “Delicious zucchini desserts to prepare,” Anita Hirsch

Breaking News Photo, Second Place, Salisbury Press, “Single engine airplane crashes onto Salisbury property killing student pilot,” Jim Marsh

News Event Photo, First Place, Bethlehem Press, “Oleksandr Semenovych of Whitehall,” Dennis Glew

Sports Action Photo, Honorable Mention, Bethlehem Press, “Louis Vidal of Becahi flies through the air during a game against Notre Dame last week,” Mark Kirlin

Photo Story/Essay, Second Place, Bethlehem Press, “Plunge supports special athletes,” Lani Goins

News Page Design, Second Place, Bethlehem Press, March 9; March 16; Sept. 14, George Taylor

Feature Page Design, First Place, Bethlehem Press (Focus section), “Play Believe”; “‘Nutcracker’ live”; “On their ‘Mark’”; “Billy Joel & the Roxy”; “Musikfest 2022”; “Queen of the Queen City,” Dave Rowe

Headline Writing, First Place, Bethlehem Press, “Board inks”; “Council keeps”; “Sign lighting,” Ed Courrier, Nate Jastrzemski

Headline Writing, Second Place, Bethlehem Press (Focus section), “Play Believe”; “Toys story”; “Ghosts writer,” Paul Willistein

Graphic/Photo Illustration, First Place, Bethlehem Press, “Waist Deep,” Ed Courrier

Special Section, Honorable Mention, Bethlehem Press, “2022 Graduation Section,” George Taylor

Inclusion, Second Place, Bethlehem Press, “Clemente mural”; “Esther Lee Center”; “Local students participate”; “Psanky”; “Three Kings,” Douglas Graves, Lani Goins, Ruth Grady, Dennis Glew

2023 Keystone Media Awards Winners list: https://panewsmedia.org