Press Club of Western PA Announces 2008 Golden Quill Winners
PITTSBURGH, May 12 -- The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania announced the winners of the 2008 Golden Quill Awards during an awards presentation tonight at the Hilton Pittsburgh, Downtown Pittsburgh. The Golden Quills competition recognizes professional excellence in written, photographic, broadcast and online journalism in Western Pennsylvania.
Winners and finalists of the 2008 Golden Quills are:
News Illustration Winner: "The Exorcists," Daniel Marsula, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Finalists: "Mommy Wars," Stacy Innerst, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "The Scariest Effect," Ed Yozwick, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette
Livolsi-Schriner Award for Feature Illustration Winner: "Stevie Wonderful," Daniel Marsula, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette
Finalists: "Chicken Killing Day," Daniel Marsula, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette "Winter Movie Forecast," Daniel Marsula, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Editorial Cartoon Winner: "Loved Ones," Rob Rogers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Finalists: "Colonoscopy DVD," Tim Menees, Pittsburgh Quarterly "Dog Sport," Rob Rogers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Feature, Magazines Winner: "One on One," Christine O'Toole, H Magazine
Finalists: "Wonderlust," Cara J. Hayden, Pitt Magazine "Making Choices," Christine O'Toole, H Magazine
Feature, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "Tech, t'fillah ... Energizes Jewish Worship," Lee Chottiner, The Jewish Chronicle
Finalists: "Finding a Purpose," Brandon Szuminsky, Greene County Messenger "Bill Dorsey's Blues," Bill O'Driscoll, Pittsburgh City Paper
Radio Feature/Documentary Winner: "Green Golf Courses," Ann Murray, "The Allegheny Front," WYEP
Finalists: "Sports That Are Not Football: Championship Stone Skipping," Cynthia Berger, WPSU "A Pennsylvania Cold Weather Wine," Ann Murray, "The Allegheny Front," WYEP
Photo Essay or Story Winner: "Portrait of the Allegheny," John Beale, Pittsburgh Quarterly
Finalist: "All Quiet on the Mexican Front," Andrew Russell, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Harry Coughanour Award for Feature Photography, Newspapers, Wire Services or Magazines Winner: "Among Women," Steve Mellon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Finalists: "Lunar Landscape," Darrell Sapp, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Farmer's Life," Scott Spangler, Tribune-Review
Feature/Series, Videography Winner: "Stone Soldiers," Paul Ruggieri, WQED-TV
Finalists: "I Am a Runner," Dave Colabine, KDKA "Rehabbing the T-Rex," Lori Sperling, KDKA-TV
Feature, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: "Passages," Patti Conley, Beaver County Times
Finalists: "Charlie No Face," Bob Bauder, Beaver County Times "Faces of the Flood," Staff, The Tribune-Democrat
Feature, Television Winner: "Stone Soldiers," David Solomon, Paul Ruggieri, Andy Masich, WQED-TV Finalists: "Bingo Secrets," David Highfield, Tim Lawson and Sue Gaydos, KDKA-TV "The Darr Mine Disaster," David Solomon and Paul Ruggieri, WQED-TV
Feature, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "Chicken Killing Day," Virginia Phillips, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Finalists: "Touching Evil Series," Michael A. Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Life Support," Gerry Weiss, Erie Times-News
Public Affairs/Documentary, Television Winner: "Celebrating Rodef Shalom," Michael Bartley, Nathalie Berry, Bob Lubomski and Paul Ruggieri, WQED-TV
Finalists: "Channel 11: 50 Years of News," Dean Iampietro and Channel 11 News Staff, WPXI-TV "Alicia's Message," David Solomon, Paul Ruggieri, Tonia Caruso, WQED-TV
Online Multimedia Feature Winner: "Touching Evil," Steve Mellon and Michael Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Finalists: "Grumpy Old Editor," Park Burroughs, Observer-Reporter "Murder Ball," Philip G. Pavely, Pittsburgh Tribune- Review Business, Magazines Winner: "The China Syndrome," Dan Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Quarterly
Finalists: "Campaign With a Capital P," Jeffery Fraser, Pittsburgh Quarterly "Lawyers Guilty of Doing Good," Geoffrey W. Melada, Pittsburgh Magazine
Business, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "A Tough Row to Hoe," Bill O'Driscoll, Pittsburgh City Paper
Finalist: "More Staying on the Job Past 70," Kim Lyons, Pittsburgh Business Times
Business, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: "Pouring Into the Centre Region," Jennifer Thomas, Centre Daily Times
Finalists: "Jammin' With the Guys," Larissa Theodore Dudkiewicz, Beaver County Times "Time to Come Clean," Mary Ann Thomas, Valley News Dispatch
Business, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "Black Gold's Bonanza Creates Silver Lining for Pennsylvania," Robin Acton, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Finalists: "A Lifetime of Savings Evaporates With Bank's Collapse," Dan Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Made in Mexico," Jim Martin, Erie Times-News
Health/Medical, Magazines Winner: "Danger Zone," Bo Schwerin, Pitt Magazine
Finalists: "Learning What Their Hands Already Know," Reid Frazier, Pitt Med "The Jet Set," Jeffery Fraser, Pittsburgh Quarterly
Health/Medical, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "Defining Death Sparks Debate," Kris Mamula, Pittsburgh Business Times
Finalists: "'Bodies' Stirs Consternation from Area Rabbis," Susan Jacobs, The Jewish Chronicle "Pregnant Questions," Bonnie Schindler, Pittsburgh City Paper
Health/Medical, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: "Playing Hurt," Randy Griffith, The Tribune-Democrat
Finalists: "Dealing With Dialysis," Rex Rutkoski, Valley News Dispatch "To Sell or Not to Sell," Larissa Theodore, Beaver County Times
Health/Medical, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "Giving Families Strength," Luis Fabregas, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Finalists: "Stars Aligned," David Bruce, Erie Times-News "The Cure," Allison M. Heinrichs, Pittsburgh Tribune- Review
Science/Technology, Magazines Winner: "Sci-Fi," Joseph Plummer, Pittsburgh Magazine
Finalists: "Proof of the Proof," Jennifer Bails, Pittsburgh Quarterly "Louis Comfort Tiffany," Maureen Byko, The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society
Science/Technology, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "Team Races Against the Clock," Kris Mamula, Pittsburgh Business Times
Finalist: "State of the Arts," Justin Hopper, Pittsburgh City Paper
Science/Technology, Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "Tiny Bug May End Ash's Long Hitting Streak," Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Finalists: "Healthy Rivers, Healthy Mussels," Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Bit by Bit, Computers Alter How We Read," Bill Schackner, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Cultural, Magazines Winner: "A Frame to Conjure With," Graham Shearing, Pittsburgh Quarterly
Finalist: "On the Edge," Cindy Gill, Pitt Magazine
Cultural, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "Pipe Dreams," Aaron Jentzen, Pittsburgh City Paper
Cultural, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: "The 'Mighty Wurlitzer,'" Brad Hundt, Observer-Reporter
Finalists: "Time Travel," Lisa Micco, New Castle News "Art Beat," Rex Rutkoski, Valley News Dispatch
Cultural, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "Ovation Exploration," Regis Behe, Pittsburgh Tribune- Review
Finalists: "Pop Survivor," Scott Mervis, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Salute to Sgt. Pepper," Scott Mervis, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette
Criticism, Magazines Winner: "Reading Room," Sandy Levis, Pittsburgh Quarterly Finalist: "Say Seviche," Deborah McDonald, Pittsburgh Magazine
Criticism, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "Sound Seen" and Other Articles, Adam Grossi, Pittsburgh City Paper
Criticism, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: "'Monty' Full of Laughs," Brad Hundt, Observer-Reporter
Criticism, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "Jimmy Stewart: It's A Wonderful Legacy" and other reviews, Barbara Vancheri, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Finalist: Restaurant Reviews, Luis Fabregas, Pittsburgh Tribune- Review
Sports, Magazines Winner: "For the Birds," Adam Lynch, Pittsburgh Quarterly
Sports, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "Life Cycle," Melissa Meinzer, Pittsburgh City Paper
Finalist: "Hall of Fame Bound," Tony DeFazio, Pittsburgh Sports Report
Sports Reporting, Radio Winner: "Steelers' 75th Anniversary Series," Eric Hagman, KQV Radio
Sports Reporting, Television Winner: "Flying With Rooney," Alby Oxenreiter, Scott Dobson, Ward Hobbs, WPXI-TV
Finalists: "Sunrise at the U.S. Open," Rich Walsh, Tim Holoman, Corrie Harding and Kerry McQuone, WPXI-TV "Steeler Monday," Mike Zappone and Michael Challik, KDKA-TV
Sports Photography, Newspapers, Wire Services and Magazines Winner: "Driven," Andrew Russell, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Finalists: "Over the Falls," Lake Fong, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Winning Stretch," Philip G. Pavely, Pittsburgh Tribune- Review
Sports Videography Winner: "Steeler Monday," Michael Challik, KDKA-TV
Finalist: "Sunrise at the U.S. Open," Tim Holoman, WPXI-TV
Sports, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: "'Slapshot' 30 Years Later," Mike Mastovich, The Tribune-Democrat
Finalists: "Mike Tomlin: A New Direction," Mike Bires, Beaver County Times "Ethnic Taunts Follow Player," Gavin Jenkins, Valley News Dispatch
Sports, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "The Steelers at 75 Series," Robert Dvorchak, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Finalist: "Ballparks Clean Up," Robin Acton, Tribune-Review
Editorial, Magazines Winner: "Stocks & Pedestal," Douglas Heuck, Pittsburgh Quarterly
Finalist: "The Gift," Douglas Heuck, Pittsburgh Quarterly
Editorial, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: Alan Wallace, Times Express
Finalist: Liza N. Beale, The Almanac
Radio Commentary/Editorial Winner: "New Taxes," Robert W. Dickey, KQV Radio
Finalist: "Traffic Jam," Robert W. Dickey, KQV Radio
Editorial, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: Editorials, Mitchel Olszak, New Castle News
Finalists: Editorials, Lou Florian, Observer-Reporter Editorials, Park Burroughs, Observer-Reporter
Commentary/Editorial, Television Winner: "Viewpoint," Rick Henry, WTAE-TV
Editorial, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "June's Pleasures" and other editorials, Susan Mannella, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Finalists: "Time to Be United," Reg Henry, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "No. 21," Tom Waseleski, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Column, Magazines Winner: "What Do I Know?" Jeff Sewald, Pittsburgh Quarterly
Finalist: "Teresa Heinz Messages," Teresa Heinz, H Magazine
Column, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "The Chosen 1s," Jonathan Mayo, The Jewish Chronicle
Finalist: "Front Lines," Chris Potter, Pittsburgh City Paper
Column, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: Marsha Keefer, Beaver County Times Finalists: Kayleen Cubbal, New Castle News Paul Sunyak, Herald-Standard
Column, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: Eric Heyl Portfolio, Eric Heyl, Pittsburgh Tribune- Review
Finalists: "UPMC: At Odds with Itself" and other columns, Sally Kalson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Want a Good Time? Join the Elks" and other columns, Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Online Multimedia News Winner: "Diabetes Crisis," Multimedia Team, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Finalists: "New Bishop," Multimedia Team, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "In Harm's Way," Dave Rafferty, Herald-Standard
Enterprise/Investigative Series, Magazines Winner: "State of Engineering," Lindsay Brooke and Kami Buchholz, SAE International
Finalist: "Report Card," John Craig, Jr., Pittsburgh Quarterly
Enterprise/Investigative Series, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "Becoming American," Zandy Dudiak, Times Express Finalist: "About Dam Time," Elizabeth Witte, Greene County Messenger
Enterprise/Investigative Series, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: "Paycheck to Paycheck," Anne Danahy and Chris Rosenblum, Centre Daily Times
Finalists: "Charter Schools," Bob Bauder, Lori DeLauter and Tom Fontaine, Beaver County Times "Havoc on the Hill," Scott Beveridge and Amanda Gillooly, Observer-Reporter
Enterprise/Investigative Series, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "State Bonuses Stun Rendall," et. al, Tracie Mauriello, Tom Barnes and Dennis Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Finalists: "A Life Interrupted," Steve Levin, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette "Under the Influence," Bill Schackner, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette
Enterprise/Investigative Article, Magazines Winner: "Trouble in the Air," Jeffery Fraser, H Magazine
Finalists: "Hold That Thought/Now It's Time to Act," Mark DeSantis and Jim Roddey, Pittsburgh Quarterly "Polluted Politics," Carmen Lee and John Altdorfer, H Magazine Enterprise/Investigative Article, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "Over a Barrel," Violet Law, Pittsburgh City Paper
Finalist: "Military Police," Charlie Deitch, Pittsburgh City Paper
Enterprise/Investigative News, Radio Winner: "Coal Country Ponders a Landfill," Reid Frazier, "The Allegheny Front," WYEP
Finalists: "The Rise of Coal Bed Methane," Ann Murray, "The Allegheny Front," WYEP "Wind Farms Sprout Controversy," Lisa Ann Pinkerton, "The Allegheny Front," WYEP
Enterprise/Investigative Article, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: "Benefits of Learning," Jay Young, Altoona Mirror
Finalists: "Pushing the Public," Scott Beveridge, Observer-Reporter "Academic Red Flags/Subgroup Students," Angie Oravec, Herald-Standard
Enterprise/Investigative News, Television Winner: "Dangerous Drinking Water," Jim Parsons, Kendall Cross and Michael Lazorko, WTAE-TV
Finalists: "Convention Center Collapse," Rick Earle, Scott Dobson and Tim Holoman, WPXI-TV "Carnegie Financial," Andy Sheehan, KDKA-TV Enterprise/Investigative Article, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "Pennsylvania Lawmakers' Budget Bulge," Mike Wereschagin, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Finalists: "The Girl in the Ditch," Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "MBA Mystery in Morgantown," Patricia Sabatini and Len Boselovic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Spot News, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "Floods Raise Fears," Tawnya Panizzi, The Herald
Finalists: "Poverty," Lee Chottiner, The Jewish Chronicle "Debate," Susan Jacobs, The Jewish Chronicle
Spot News, Radio Winner: "Transit Cuts," Kevin Gavin, WDUQ-FM
Finalist: "August 9th Flooding," KQV News Team -- Frank Gottlieb, News Director, KQV Radio
Spot News Photography, Newspapers, Wire Services or Magazines Winner: "In the Line of Duty," Steve Mellon, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette
Finalists: "Talking Her In," Rebecca Droke, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Gunman Surrenders Peacefully," Robert Esquivel, Herald- Standard Spot News, Videography Winner: "Boy Trapped," Chris Kunicki, KDKA-TV
Finalist: "Etna Arson," Dave Colabine, KDKA-TV
Spot News, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: "Aliquippa Flood," Bob Bauder, Michael Pound and Larissa Theodore, Beaver County Times
Finalist: "Lightning Sparks Fire," Frank Sojak and Kecia Bal, The Tribune-Democrat
Spot News, Television Winner: "Aliquippa Floods," News Staff, WPXI-TV
Finalists: "Weather Triple Whammy," KDKA Staff -- John Verrilli, News Director, KDKA-TV "Tragedy in Larimer," WTAE-TV
Spot News, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "Dangerous & Wild Ride," Kara Rhodes and Steven M. Sweeney, Erie Times-News
Finalists: "I-90 Nightmare," Tim Hahn, Lisa Thompson and Ed Palattella, Erie Times-News "Meadville Mishap Defines Wrecking Ball," Steve Levin, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Continuing Coverage, Magazines Winner: "Environment," Merle Jantz and Elizabeth Raffaele, Mt. Lebanon Magazine
Finalists: "Public Safety," M.A. Jackson and Merle Jantz, Mt. Lebanon Magazine "House & Garden," Janice Seigle and Carole Takach, Mt. Lebanon Magazine
Continuing Coverage, Non-Daily Newspapers Winner: "Real Estate Market Reacts to Capital Crunch," Ben Semmes, Pittsburgh Business Times
Finalists: "Issues Impacting Pittsburgh's Hospitality Industry," Tim Schooley, Pittsburgh Business Times "Fatal House Fire," Brandon Szuminsky, Greene County Messenger
Continuing Coverage, Radio Winner: "Earth's Bounty: Continuing Series on Food and the Environment," Jennifer Szweda Jordan, "The Allegheny Front," WYEP
Continuing Coverage, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 Winner: "Interstate 99," Mike Joseph, Centre Daily Times
Finalists: "Springdale Noise Ordinance," Michael Aubele, Valley News Dispatch "Ellwood City Police Chief," MaryAlice Meli, New Castle News
Continuing Coverage, Television Winner: "State Agency Secrets," Jim Parsons, Kendall Cross and Michael Lazorko, WTAE-TV
Finalists: "China Trip," Scott Bremner and John Christianson, WSEE- TV "Convention Center Collapse," Rick Earle, Scott Dobson and Tim Holoman, WPXI-TV
Continuing Coverage, Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Over 45,000 Winner: "Brian Wells Stories," Ed Palattella, Erie Times-News
Finalists: "High Stakes, Deep Secrets," Mark Gruetze, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "The Impossible Loan," Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette
The following Quill Award winners also received best-of- show awards: Ed Romano Memorial Award: Photography/Videography "Portrait of the Allegheny," John Beale, Pittsburgh Quarterly
Ed King Memorial Award: Television "State Agency Secrets," Jim Parsons, Kendall Cross and Michael Lazorko, WTAE-TV
Ed King Memorial Award: Radio "Transit Cuts," Kevin Gavin, WDUQ-FM
Ray Sprigle Memorial Award: Non-Daily Newspapers and Magazines "Defining Death Sparks Debate," Kris Mamula, Pittsburgh Business Times
Ray Sprigle Memorial Award: Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation Under 45,000 "Paycheck to Paycheck," Anne Danahy and Chris Rosenblum, Centre Daily Times
Ray Sprigle Memorial Award: Daily Newspapers and Wire Services, Circulation over 45,000 "The Steelers at 75 Series," Robert Dvorchak, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Also during the awards presentation, the Press Club honored Aviva Radbord, weekend assignment editor/public affairs producer, for KDKA-TV, with the President's Award, and the organization awarded Toni Locy, Shott Chair of Journalism at West Virginia University, with the Service to Journalism Award. Both were recognized for their contributions to the field of journalism.
Rossilynne Skena of Level Green, a sophomore at Penn State University, received the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania scholarship, given to an aspiring journalism student.
The lead sponsors of the 2008 Golden Quill awards ceremony are Burson-Marsteller, Columbia Gas, Dominion, PR Newswire, ReedSmith, and Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Potter, Tribune Total Media and the University of Pittsburgh.