Representatives of the Bethlehem Press attended the 2024 Awards Luncheon to receive Keystone Media Awards.

Attending were Ed Courrier, freelance reporter-photographer for the Focus section, East Penn Press and Bethlehem Press, for which he also does editorial cartoons; Dan Church, freelance reporter, Bethlehem Press, and Paul Willistein, editor, Focus.

The Keystone Media Awards luncheon was Oct. 17 in the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel.

There were 2,600 entries for work published in 2023 in 53 categories in 2023 in the Keystone Media Awards judged by members of the Wisconsin News Association.

Willistein spoke briefly at the podium in receiving the Reader Initiative Award for the Bethlehem Press in the Specialty Category for The Press 18th annual student Poetry Project. The award was won across all circulation divisions for newspapers statewide entered in the category.

The Bethlehem Press, editor George Taylor, received 14 Keystone Media Awards, Division VI, Weekly General News Publications. The awards were announced June 19 on the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association website:

Receiving awards at the luncheon:

- Dan Church: Investigative Reporting, Second Place, Bethlehem Press, ”Public crossing on a private road”

- Ed Courrier: Graphic-Photo Illustration, First Place, Bethlehem Press, “ Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel”

- Paul Willistein, Lifestyle-Entertainment Beat, First Place, Bethlehem Press, “Ring Them Bells, Musikfest at 40; Shakespeare for everyone, Pa. Shakespeare Festival; ‘Lucky Louie’ charms, At The Movies; Unreel, Allentown has a film festival; Ezra Wenner honored for 80 years with Allentown Band; 17th annual ABEs salute, Lehigh Valley theater

- Paul Willistein: Headline Writing, Second Place, Bethlehem Press, “Reelin’ in ‘The Eras,’ Osage can you see?; ‘Oppenheimer’ fallout”

- Paul Willistein: Personality Profile, Honorable Mention, Bethlehem Press, “Classical role, Dr. Christopher Jackson a new leader for Bach Choir at 115th Bethlehem Festival”

Awards received for the Bethlehem Press by those not attending the luncheon:

- Dave W. Rowe: Feature Page Design, Honorable Mention, Bethlehem Press, “Ballet Guild Nutcracker; Pennsylvania Sinfonia; Home-Grown Fun, Allentown Fair; ’60s Fashion’ super-duper at Allentown Art Museum; Get carried away, Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley; High School Musicals”

- George Taylor: Feature Story, Second Place, Bethlehem Press, “A side trip to Normandy”

- George Taylor: News Page Design, First Place, Bethlehem Press, ”Prayers for Ukraine; Public crossing, private road; Closing Windish doors; The Class of 2023; Bands, bulldogs & Barbie; A tradition revived.”

- George Taylor: Feature Page Design, First Place, Bethlehem Press, “Apple Days at Burnside; Night to Shine; Side trip to Normandy; Special Olympics benefit; Wreathes Across America”

- George Taylor: Special Section, Second Place, Bethlehem Press, “2024 graduation supplement”

- Tami Quigley: Feature Story, First Place, Bethlehem Press, “Police Horse George”

- Tami Quigley: Lifestyle-Entertainment Beat, Second Place, Bethlehem Press, “Mixed bag: Gourd glow; Quilting Guild sews together for 40 years; Celebrating 40 years at Musikfest; Never too late to start again; Distance no barrier for pen pals.”

-Theresa O’Brien: Enterprise Reporting, Honorable Mention, Bethlehem Press, “Medical kidnapping: Please make it happen; Counting the cost; Valley parents look for answers; You are funding misuse”

- Mark Kirlin: Sports Action Photo, First Place, Bethlehem Press, “Hawks fall to Seals - Jacob Sutton tries to keep his balance”

- Lori Patrick, Jenn Rago, Dennis Glow: Excellence in Reporting on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Honorable Mention, Bethlehem Press: “Advocating inclusivity; All walk for MLK; Pysanky with Celtic flair; Candles against anti-Semitism; Three Kings Day”

Keystone Media Awards information:

https://panewsmedia.org/contests-and-awards/keystone-media-awards-professional/