Awards
Major Awards
The following are some of the awards and recognitions received by the newsroom of the York Daily Record/Sunday News and its affiliated digital products in the past 20 years.
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Newspaper of the Year General Excellence Award, Division II: 2014 (including category wins for news presentation excellence, editorial and commentary excellence, diversity, community service and best use of video).
Mid-Atlantic Emmy: 2014, Jason Plotkin, a collection of videos from the Gettysburg battle 150th anniversary coverage. Also, in 2011, Plotkin won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy for the “Carrying Darisabel” project. That was the first Mid-Atlantic Emmy for a newspaper-based organization competing directly against TV news organizations.
Editor & Publisher’s EPPY Award: 2014, Best News or Event Feature Video on a site with under 1 million unique monthly visitors, “The hands and heart of Paul Miller” by Jason Plotkin. 2011, Best Enterprise/Investigative Work on a site with 250,000 to 1 million unique monthly visitors, for Jason Plotkin’s documentary “Carrying Darisabel.” 2013, finalist, Best Mobile Applications with under 1 million unique monthly visitors, for GameTimePA High School Football Preview and for “Gettysburg: 150 Facts about the 150th.” 2012, finalist, “Finding their way out” coverage of the aftermath of a school shooting.
Editor & Publisher’s “Ten That Do It Right” Award: 2014.
Editor and Publisher’s 25 Under 35: 2014, Niche Publications Editor April Trotter; 2013, GameTimePA Editor Lyzz Jones.
DFMies, awarded by Digital First Media to its 75 daily newspapers across the country: 2014, Mid-Size Journalist of the Year, Jason Plotkin; sports coverage, PSU coverage team; Innovator of the Year, Dan Herman; interactive journalism, Sam Dellinger and Brad Jennings; use of social media, Frank Bodani and Jason Plotkin.
York YWCA’s “25 Extraordinary Women of York County”: 2014, Buffy Andrews. Andrews was also a Pulitzer Prize Juror for Feature Writing in 2014 and a Kilgore Counselor for DePauw University, serving two stints in this capacity in 2014.
Schnader Award from the Pennsylvania State Bar Association for editorial/commentary: First place in 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008. Second place in 2014, 2013.
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s Readership Initiative Award for creating a community of readers through innovative initiatives: 2014 (first place), 2013 (first place), 2012 (first place), 2011 (first place), 2010 (first place), 2009 (second place), 2008 (first place), 2007 (second place), 2006 (first place).
Pennsylvania APME News Excellence Competition (circulation 30,000 to 75,000): 2015: first places in feature writing (Mike Argento), news use of video (Kate Penn), personality portrait (Chris Dunn) and photo story (Chris Dunn). Second places in editorial (Scott Fisher), feature writing (Frank Bodani), sports feature writing (staff), sports deadline writing (Matt Goul, Steve Navaroli, Kate Penn and Jessica Sprenkle) and sports photo (Kate Penn). 2014: first places in general news reporting, news use of video, online coverage of breaking news, sports deadline reporting, sports/outdoors column, spot news reporting and photo story.
John V.R. Bull Freedom of Information Award (Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors): 2014, 2013, 2012, 2008, 2005, 2003, 2002.
Keystone Press Awards: 2015 winners: First places in special projects (sports staff), series (sports staff), sports/outdoor column (Frank Bodani), feature story (Frank Bodani), personality profile (Mike Argento) and video story (Kate Penn). Second places in special projects (Kate Penn), sports event coverage (Frank Bodani), news feature story (Mike Argento), feature beat reporting (Rebecca Hanlon), news photo (Paul Kuehnel), photo story/essay (Chris Dunn). Honorable mentions in investigative reporting (Scott Fisher), sports/outdoor column (Steve Navaroli), photo story/essay (Kate Penn, Jason Plotkin, Chris Dunn and Paul Kuehnel) and headline writing (Mike Argento). 2014 winners included column, Mike Argento; ongoing news, staff; special project, Sam Dellinger, Chris Dunn and Brandie Kessler; series, Rick Lee, Rebecca Hanlon and Mike Argento; sports column, Jim Seip; feature story, Brandie Kessler and Jason Plotkin; feature story, Christine Loman; news feature, Mike Argento; personality profile, Frank Bodani; business, Leigh Zaleski; news photo, Chris Dunn; feature photo, Jason Plotkin; photo story, Chris Dunn, Paul Kuehnel and Kate Penn; video story, Jason Plotkin; video story, Sonya Paclob. Earlier awards included, 2013, Samantha Dellinger, Distinguished Visual; 2011 and late 1990s, Mike Argento, Distinguished Writing in a Daily; late 1990s, Ivey DeJesus, Distinguished Writing in a Daily.
Dart Award, a national award for coverage of trauma, crisis and disaster: 2013 finalist for “Finding their way out,” about the lasting effects of the Red Lion school shooting in 2003.
AmericaEast Digital Media Contest: 2015, second place in the Best Overall Mobile Experience category.
Mimi Award, given by the Ochberg Society for Trauma Journalism: 2013, honorable mention, Scott Blanchard. This national competition recognizes an editor who demonstrates and advocates compassionate and ethical coverage of trauma, conflict and social injustice.
Pennsylvania Newspaper Foundation Benjamin Franklin Award for Excellence: 2013, James McClure; 2002, Dennis Hetzel.
Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award, Communications, 2015, for the Yorkblog history blogs: York Town Square, Cannonball, Universal York, YorksPast and Only in York County.
Best of Show (Photography), Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors: 2013, 1994 and 1989.
Paul Vathis award, Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors: 2012, Kate Penn; 2011, Bil Bowden.
Sweepstakes Award from the Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors (for the most points in a circulation division in the annual Keystone Press Awards): 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998 (tie), 1996, 1995, 1993 (tie), 1990.
National Society of Newspaper Columnists competition, under 100,000 circulation category: 2011, Mike Argento, finalist.
Newspaper Excellence in Cyberspace Awards: 2011, Best Application of Social Networking Tools (second place) and Best Online Campaign (first place); 2010, Best Interactivity; 2009, Most Timely.
Pennsylvania’s Newspaper of the Year Award (Pennsylvania Newspaper Association): 2011 (first place), 2004 (first place), 2003 (second place), 2001 (second place tie).
PNA Foundation Public Service Award: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002.
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s G. Richard Dew Award for Journalistic Service (PNA’s highest honor): 2011, 2009, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1998, 1995, 1991.
American Society of Newspaper Editors online storytelling competition: 2011, finalist, for “Carrying Darisabel” project by Jason Plotkin.
Pennsylvania Newspaper Foundation John Fisher Internet Vision Award: 2010, James McClure.
Investigative Reporters and Editors Award: 2009, finalist in the under 100,000 circulation category for reporting on Finances of Nonprofit Angel Food Ministries by Melissa Nann Burke, who was also a finalist in Livingston Awards for Young Journalists competition, 2011, and won the Religion News Association Cassels award in 2010 and 2011.
Thurgood Marshall Journalism Award: 2003, for coverage of Ray Krone’s release from death row.
Best of Show (Newswriting) and Public Service awards, Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors: 2002 (for 1969 York riot coverage)
Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award: Public Service Report (tie) 2001 (for 1969 York riot coverage).
Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award: 2001, for “Paper Shield,” a project on protection-from-abuse orders.
Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism: 2001, for “Paper Shield.”