FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pittsburgh Federation Announces Finalists in 31st Anniversary Media Awards
PITTSBURGH (April 5, 2019) — The Pittsburgh Black Media Federation announces an extraordinary group of finalists for its 31th annual Robert L. Vann Media Awards.
With the Awards of Excellence, the Vann program honors achievements in print, broadcast, photography and online journalism coverage of the African-American and African Diaspora communities of Western Pennsylvania.
“The contest entries represent a diverse range of issues relevant to the African-American community of this region,” said PBMF President Brian Cook Sr. “We’ve been impressed by the strong storytelling through photo, print, online and broadcast platforms.”
The contest finalists are named lower in this news release.
The winners will be announced at an awards dinner that will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at the University of Pittsburgh’s O’Hara Student Center ballroom, 4024 O’Hara St., Oakland.
The Award of Excellence finalists are drawn from contests for both professional and college journalists. Entries were published or broadcast between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2018.
Professional journalists in Florida, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia judged the contest entries.
In addition to presenting the Awards of Excellence, the Vann program will give five special awards to honorees:
• Vanessa German, an internationally recognized artist and innovator – from her Art House project in Homewood to her unique creations that explore issues of beauty, race and cultural heritage – who has long shared the message that “art” matters — Communicator of the Year Award winner • Billy Jackson, a national award-winning filmmaker and principal owner of NOMMO Productions, which has produced more than 50 documentaries, and dramatic and promotional films, many of which focus on equity and racial justice — Legacy Award winner • 1Hood Media, a collective of socially conscious artists and activists who use media, arts and culture, and youth programming to promote social justice locally and globally — Trailblazer Award winner • The Langston Hughes Poetry Society, a project that does outreach in local schools and communities, using the poetry of Hughes to educate and raise consciousness on Black culture and society — Literacy Champion Award winner • Leon Ford, his book “Untold” advocates perseverance and social justice, and proves that courageous writing can encourage conversations on police-community relations and social disparities and give a voice to the voiceless — Literacy Champion Award winner
The special honorees were nominated and voted on by PBMF members.
PBMF looks forward to celebrating the best of Pittsburgh-area journalism with the Vann ceremony’s co-hosts — journalists Michele Newell, a reporter/anchor at WPXI-TV, and Chris Carter, a sports reporter and analyst at DKPittsburghSports.com.
Tickets for the Vann awards dinner may be purchased online at www.pbmf.org until April 25. Tickets are $20 each for students, $35 each for PBMF members and $50 each for nonmembers. A special flash sale runs until March 23, 2019, in which nonmember tickets will be discounted to $35 each.
No tickets will be sold at the door.
Sponsorship packages may be purchased online until April 20.
In 1988, PBMF launched its journalism awards competition named for the late Robert L. Vann, the legendary publisher of the Pittsburgh Courier. The intent was to honor his personal commitment to journalism and to create a voice for the Black community.
Proceeds from the Vann Media Awards help fund college scholarships for graduates of PBMF’s Frank Bolden Urban Multimedia Workshop for teens, as well as professional development programs, international reporting fellowships and other initiatives.
Founded in 1973, PBMF is a nonprofit organization whose members are professional journalists, public relations specialists, and professors and college students in schools of journalism or related programs.
PBMF advocates for diversity in newsrooms, hosts programs that recognize excellent media coverage of minority communities, and trains young people to enter the media industry.
The National Association of Black Journalists named PBMF the professional chapter of the year in 2017. PBMF tied for the title in 2015.
For more information about the Vann Media Awards, contact Dyer at 412-304-7455 or [email protected].
See the list of Vann Media Awards finalists below.
STUDENT ENTRIES
Online Media - Investigative, Education
1. Sabrina Bodon Point Park News Service Pennsylvania’s Lack of Teachers of Color is Worsened by an Educator Shortage
Online Media – News Feature
1. Maura Linehan RMU Sentry Media City-wide chapter has rich history
2. Laura Pollino Duquesne University Magazine Duquesne University August Wilson Birthday Celebration Crowdfunding Campaign
3. Mick Stinelli and Cora McCarty Point Park News Service Young Fans Remember Mac Miller As Spokesperson For A Generation
Online Media - Public Affairs
1. James Kail Point Park News Service New District 4 Councilman looks to re-energize the South Hills
Online Media - Sports Feature
1. Logan Carney RMU Sentry Media Carney's Corner: Bernard Clark should get as many chances as John Banaszak
2. Sam Anthony and Avin Patel RMU Sentry Media Bernard Clark on new Colonial Culture
3. Derek Malush Point Park News Service College student-athlete keeps brother alive through basketball
PROFESSIONAL ENTRIES
Magazine/ Public Affairs 1. Christine H. O’Toole H magazine Singled Out
2. Jesseca Muslin Pittsburgh Magazine Give, November 2018 Redefined / This art exhibit aims to change the narrative surrounding single black mothers.
Magazine/ Investigative/Enterprise
1. “In the Neighborhoods” Team H magazine In the Neighborhoods, Issue 1
2. “In the Neighborhoods” Team H magazine In the Neighborhoods, Issue 2
Magazine Feature Photography
Tom M. Johnson Pitt Magazine/University of Pittsburgh Undefeated
Multimedia 1. Amy Grove, Zak Boyle, Alisyn Blackwell, Anne Casper WQED-TV The Sweater Sessions: “Frz” “Elias Khouri” “The Buckle Downs”
2. Steve Mellon and Julian Routh Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com The week the Hill rose up
3. Kimberly Barlow, Aimee Obidzinski, Dan Camarda, Ervin Dyer, Micaela Fox Corn and Bryan Cook Pittwire A Front Door to Pitt Opens in Homewood
Print /Sports Feature
1. Rob Taylor, Jr. New Pittsburgh Courier Pitt Basketball’s new First Family
2. Lee Wolverton Pittsburgh Magazine, Ghost of the Tight Man / Sam Davis was once the glue that held the Steelers together.
3. Stephen J. Nesbitt Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com The two sides of Le’Veon Bell
Print /Opinion/Editorial 1. Editorial staff New Pittsburgh Courier “Some Local TV Media ‘Failed’ in Reporting About Antwon Rose II”
2. Tony Norman Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Post-Gazette.com They All Call to Ask: What Do Black People Want?
3. Damon Young, Perspectives: “The Big Pittsburgh Lie,” Pittsburgh magazine
Newspaper/ Business News
1. Kate Giammarise Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Post-Gazette.com Many Low-Income Households Getting Zapped by Utility Bills
2. Joyce Gannon Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com A push to ignite McKees Rocks: The former industrial town looks to a few, earnest entrepreneurs to help transform its economy and future
Newspaper/ Education
1. Elizabeth Behrman Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com You need all teachers': Schools with diverse student populations still struggle to hire minority educators
2. Matt McKinney Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com When a student dies, district scarred by violence finds strength to help grieving youths
Newspaper/ Feature 1. Joyce Gannon Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Post-Gazette.com “Kind of heartbreaking." After decades as a neighborhood anchor, historic Hill House's future pivots on funding
2. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Post-Gazette.com Orthodox Yet Unconventional: Storefront Church in Hill District Provides Alternative To Neighborhoods’s Predominant Faiths As Well As A Safety Net
3. LaMont Jones, Jr., New Pittsburgh Courier Cuba's Open Secret: A complex color bias rooted in colonialism continues to disadvantage those there with dark skin
Newspaper / News-Feature Photography
1. Michael Santiago Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Woodland Hills High School Homecoming Queen Ciara Turner waits for the start of the homecoming parade
2. J.L. Martello New Pittsburgh Courier “Protesters vow to challenge guidelines”
3. Matt Freed Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Tia Taylor is comforted by her friend Jameira Mosely during a protest of the shooting death of Antwon Rose II
4. Andrew Rush Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fifth-grader Aniyah Maddox welcomes students back to school Friday
Magazine/ Feature
1. Mary Niederberger Pittsburgh Magazine A New School of Thought / Could Anthony Hamlet’s staunch focus fix legacy problems at Pittsburgh Public Schools?
2. Lacretia Wimbley H magazine The Hill
3. Ervin Dyer Pitt Med Magazine/University of Pittsburgh "With Love, from Haiti: A native son, two brothers, and three little girls"
4. Cristina Rouvalis Pittsburgh Magazine Undefeated/Acid Attack Survivor
Newspaper Health/Science/Environment
1. Debbie Norrell New Pittsburgh Courier A New Sharon Epperson—CNBC finance expert suffered brain aneurysm
2. Jill Daly Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com Bridging a divide in care: Black breast cancer survivors help investigate racial disparities (part one of two)
3. Jill Daly Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com Partnerships find ways to reverse disparities (part two of two)
Newspaper/ Series
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for its series covering the people and issues of Woodland Hills school. 1. Matt McKinney, Bill Schackner, Elizabeth Behrman, Staff Post-Gazette.com, PG Visual Staff
Newspaper / Public Affairs
1. Shelly Bradbury Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com No Snitching -- Facebook page outed identities of witnesses working with local police
2. Paula Reed Ward Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com Public Defender’s Office Has Low Salaries, Even Though It Doesn’t Spend Entire Budget
3. Christopher Huffaker and Andrew Goldstein Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com Allegheny County Police Departments Lack Diversity
Newspaper /Sports Feature Photography
1. Matt Freed Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pitt defensive back Therran Coleman is congratulated by Paris Ford and linebacker Elijah Zeise.
2. Peter Diana Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pittsburgh Steelers James Conner celebrates with Antonio Brown after scoring against the Falcons.
Online / Investigative/Enterprise
1. Diana Nelson Jones (Steve Mellon, Maura Losch, Laura Malt Schneiderman) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com Lower Hills’ demise: Trove of recovered files gives details of the Lower Hill’s upheaval 2. Brittany Hailer PublicSource “The men who didn’t disappear”
3. Rossilynne Culgan, Colin Deppen, and MJ Slaby The Incline Part 1: Inside Pittsburgh’s food deserts, where buying milk or veggies is impossible Part 2: Could an urban farm help those marooned on Pittsburgh’s Hilltop? Part 3: Gardens sprout in Homewood, where residents ‘decided to grow our own food’ Part 4: After years without a grocery store, a new kind of market comes to Clairton
Online/ Business News 1. Ervin Dyer, Senior Editor Pittwire Project by Katz Alumnus Highlights Young Black Leaders, Creates Community Ties
2. Courtney Linder Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com High Price of High Tech: Bootcamp Programs Promise to Teach Highly Prized Coding Skills.
3. Tim Grant and Laura Malt Schneiderman Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com Priced out: Rising city housing prices push buyers to their limits
In the category of … Online Media/ Education
1. Matt McKinney Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com “Woodland Hills, a district scarred by violence, copes with tragedy”
2. Mary Niederberger, PublicSource Two adjacent districts. Different academic worlds. The story of Sto-Rox and Montour
3. Kevin Zwick Pittwire Bachelor of Science Degree Earned in 1930s Awarded Posthumously to Civic Leader
Online Media - Health/Science/Environment
1. Amerigo Allegretto, Communications Specialist Pittwire Biologist Who Champions Diversity in Science Wins Recognition for Career Achievements
2. Brian Broome, freelance journalist PublicSource In the hypocrisy of the opioid epidemic, white means victim, black means addict
Online Media - News Feature
1. Steve Mellon and Julian Routh Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com The week the Hill rose up
2. Black History Month Team Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com Black History Month
3. Sharon S. Blake, Communications Manager Pittwire Jazz on The Hill: A Beloved Pitt Tradition
Online Media/ Public Affairs
1. Rich Lord Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com Opioids swamping child welfare system
2. PublicSource staff and contributors PublicSource “Let’s talk about race”
3. Colin Deppen, The Incline Meet the activists and riders behind Pittsburgh’s transit justice movement The Incline
Newspaper/Spot News
1. Rob Taylor, Jr. New Pittsburgh Courier Courier exclusive: Lynne Hayes-Freeland becomes first African American to host full-time weekday show on KDKA RADIO
2. Shelly Bradbury and Andrew Goldstein Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com Woodland Hills student shot and killed by police in East Pittsburgh was not armed
3. Andrew Goldstein Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Post-Gazette.com 'It's not going to stop anytime soon': Protesters of police shooting shut down Parkway East for hours
Online/ Feature Photography 1. Michael Santiago Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Police try to calm and remove a motorist from the hood of his truck as he shouts racial slurs at protesters
2. Emmai Alaquiva “Untold” by Leon Ford (cover art) “Untold”
Print / Illustration & Graphics
1. Daniel Marsula Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Voices of Steel: "SWEAT"
2. Diane Juravich and Holly Artz Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Week the Hill Rose Up
3. Daniel Marsula Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Kendrick Lamar
Radio/ Spot & Breaking News
1. An-Li Herring 90.5 WESA “ ‘This Hurts. This Is Real.’ Protesters Fill Downtown After East Pittsburgh Teen Fatally Shot”
Radio/ Public Affairs
1. Danielle M. Smith Good News Interview with Tammy T. Thompson, Executive Director of Circles Greater Pittsburgh
2. Bill O’Driscoll 90.5 WESA Pittsburgh Hosts Nation's First Festival for African American Craft Beer Brewers. 3. Margaret J. Krauss 90.5 WESA Pittsburgh Neighborhoods And Schools Remain Segregated, But How Did It Start?
Radio/ News Series
WESA Staff 90.5 WESA Dividing Lines
TV /Feature
1. Lisa Sylvester WPXI Sea Perch (Citizens Science Lab)
2. Nathalie Berry, Paul Ruggieri, David Forstate WQED-TV Service & Sacrifice
3. Olga George and Fred Williams KDKA Detroit 67
TV - Investigative/Enterprise Staff WTAE-TV Avalon Fire Response Time
TV/ Sports Feature
1. Alby Oxenreiter WPXI Saddling Up with Mel Blount
2. Reporter Ross Guidotti and L. David Colabine KDKA The Cop and The Boxer
3. Alexis Wainwright WJAC-TV “Overcoming the Odds”
TV/ Editorial Charles W. Wolfertz III, President & General Manager WTAE-TV Trust: Antwon Rose Coverage
TV/ Spot News
1. Staff WTAE-TV The Death of Antwon Rose
2. Michele Newell WPXI A Mother’s Fight for Safety
3. Michele Newell WPXI Pitcairn Collapse
TV/ Documentary
1. Iris Samson, Harold Hayes, Paul Ruggieri, Dave Forstate WQED-TV “A Beacon for Change: The Pittsburgh Courier Story”
2. Staff WTAE-TV Chronicle, Project Hunger
TV/ Public Affairs
1. Minette Seate, Christopher T. Moore, Lisa Washington, Rebecca Jean Born WQED-TV The State of Black Pittsburgh 2018
2. P L. David Colabine KDKA Revival Chili
3. Mike Clark and Brian Caldwell WTAE-TV Blessings in a Backpack