Pittsburgh Black Media Federation
P.O. Box 292, Pittsburgh, PA 15230 • • • 412-339-0730
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pittsburgh Media Group Announces Winners of2016 Vann Awards
Sold-out affair honors stellar journalism coverage of communities of color
PITTSBURGH (May 19, 2016) — The Pittsburgh Black Media Federation is proud to announce tonight’s winners for its 2016 Robert L. Vann Media Awards.
The Award of Excellence winners were named at a dinner with sold-out attendance – 180 people were expected at the event, which took place Thursday night at the University of Pittsburgh’s O’Hara Student Center in Oakland.
With the Award of Excellence, the Vann program honors excellence in print, broadcast, photography and online journalism coverage of the African-American community of Western Pennsylvania.
“We’re proud again this year to have such exceptional support for the media federation and for journalists who are committed to covering diverse issues and communities,” PBMF President Tory N. Parrish said.
The Award of Excellence finalists were selected in about 30 categories. Entries were published or broadcast between Jan. 1, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2015.
The entries were judged by professional journalists in Asbury, N.J.; Atlanta; Baltimore; Columbus, Ohio; Frederick, Md.; Long Island, N.Y.; Morgantown, W.Va.; Northern Virginia; Tulsa, Okla.; and Washington, D.C.
Also at the dinner, PBMF presented three special awards, whose winners were selected by federation members:
- Retired English teacher Lorena Amos Brock received the Literacy Champion Award for her commitment in increasing literacy in local communities, including by founding book clubs for women and girls.
- Debbie Norrell, lifestyle editor at the New Pittsburgh Courier, received the Legacy Award for her distinguished and varied journalism and theatrical career, which includes local fashion and cultural commentary as well as engagement with national television and radio advertising.
- Recently retired veteran KDKA journalist Harold Hayes received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his longtime dedication to fair and diligent reporting.
“These stories and work recognize the commitment to coverage ofdiverse communities and the outstanding leadership of people who have dedicated themselves to the highest standards in journalism and literacy. Together, these efforts help to open doors of understanding and bridge a divide among people in different communities,” Robert L. Vann Awards Subcommittee Co-chair Ervin E. Dyer said.
In 1988, PBMF launched its journalism awards competition. It is named for the late Robert L. Vann, legendary publisher of the Pittsburgh Courier, to honor his personal commitment to journalism and to creating a voice for the black community.
Proceeds from the Vann awards help fund PBMF initiatives, such as college scholarships for graduates of the Frank Bolden Urban Journalism Workshop for high school students, professional development programs for PBMF members and community service projects.
Founded in 1973, PBMF is a nonprofit organization that advocates for diversity in newsrooms, hosts programs that recognize excellent media coverage of minority communities and trains young people to enter the media industry.
For more information about the Vann awards, contact Ervin Dyer at 412-624-4796 or .
SEE THE LIST OF AWARD WINNERS ON THE SUCCEEDING PAGES.
2016 Robert L. Vann Media Award Winners
Magazine Series
Ronald L. Fisher/Soul Pitt Quarterly/“Johnstown Spotlight”
Magazine Feature
Ervin Dyer/Pitt Magazine/“Rubbed by Light”
Magazine Feature-Photography
Scott Goldsmith/Pitt Magazine/“William Strickland, Social-Enterprise Entrepreneur”
Magazine Public Affairs
LaMont Jones, Jr./Bridges Spring 2015/“Race and Criminal Justice”
Newspaper Business News
Chris Fleisher/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/“Minority Employment Repercussions contemplated”
Newspaper Column
Luis Fabregas/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/“Concussion research, Love of Football Present Conflict of Interest”
Newspaper Editorial
Tom Waseleski/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/ “Work Opportunity”
Newspaper Feature
Bill Schackner/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/“Putting Names to Faces”
Newspaper Feature Photos
Jasmine Goldband/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/“Birthday Becomes Memorial”
Newspaper Health, Science, Environment
Mark Roth/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/“The roots of the color of our skin”
Newspaper Investigative Enterprise
J. Brady McCollough (text), Michael Henninger (photo)/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/ “Baseball Republic: Inside the Dominican Machine”
Newspaper Picture Series
Justin Merriman/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/“Barnstorming Tour”
Newspaper Print Series
Chris Togneri/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/”Our Town” (five stories)
Newspaper Public Affairs
J.D. Prose/Beaver County Times/“As Landmark Bill Turns 50, ‘There’s Work in Front of Us’”
Newspaper Sports Features
J. Brady McCollough/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/“Behind the Madness: Colleges ‘Student-athletes’ Go by the Book Even During Tournament Time”
Newspaper Spot News
Sharon S. Blake/Pitt Chronicle/“Papers of Jazz Pianist Erroll Garner Donated to University”
Newspaper Spot News Photos/
Stephanie Strasburg/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/“Mother Loses Son”
Newspapers Sport News Photos/
Sidney Davis/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/“The Wilkinsburg Tigers Football Team Walks Off of Graham Field for the Last Time”
Print Illustration Graphics
Steve Ziants/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/“Jerome Bettis: Numbers and Memories”
Radio Broadcast Feature
Marcus Charleston, producer; Paul Guggenheimer, host; Rebecca Zook, assistant producer/90.5 WESA’s “Essential Pittsburgh”/“The Tribute to Naomi Sims”
Radio Broadcast Public Affairs
Marcus Charleston, producer; Paul Guggenheimer, host; Katie Blackley, assistant producer/90.5 WESA’s “Essential Pittsburgh”/“Political Activist and Former Councilman Sala Udin Seeks Presidential Pardon”
TV Broadcast Documentary
Nathalie Berry/WQED-TV/“Renewal & Reality: Rebuilding Braddock”
TV Broadcast Editorial
Charles W. Wolfertz III, President and General Manager/WTAE/“Challenging Racism in the Workplace”
TV Broadcast Feature/Nicki Mayo
Mike Clark, reporter, Andy Cunningham, photographer, Shawn Quinlan, editor/WTAE/“Pittsburgh Doctors save Philadelphia Girl’s Life”
TV Broadcast Investigative/Enterprise
Bofta Yimam, reporter, and Dave Carulli, photographer/WTAE/“Police Chief Fired, After WTAE Exposes Email Using Racial Slur”
TV Broadcast Public Affairs
Ty Miller, executive producer, writer, producer; Brian Cook and Jeanna Rizzo, hosts/Championship Chase TV, PCNC TV/“Safety’s Firsts — African-American Pioneers of Public Safety in Pittsburgh”
TV Broadcast Series
Olga George, producer/KDKA/“KDKA Celebrates Black History Month”
TV Broadcast Spot News
Dave Kaplan, reporter, Cary Toaso, photographer and editor/WTAE/“Family of Perry South Man Struck During Hit-and-run Wants Justice”
TV Broadcast Sports Feature
Lisa Sylvester and Ward Hobbs/WPXI/“The Jerome Bettis Story”
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