Greater Media Newspapers wins 29 NJPA awards for ’01

Greater Media Newspapers has won 29 editorial, photography and advertising awards in the New Jersey Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for 2001.

The group tally, one of the best in the company’s history, included 10 first-place awards and the prestigious Lloyd P. Burns Memorial Award for public service for the Tri-Town News’ Kathy Baratta for her series of environmental stories about an illegal junkyard in Howell.

Besides Baratta, first-place editorial award winners were: Breaking News, Alison Granito, Independent; Coverage of Government, Elaine Van Develde, Independent; Graphics, Karen L. Kesten, East Brunswick Sentinel; and Special Issue, Karen L. Kesten and Peggy Primiano, Community Guide. First-place winners in the photography contest were: Spot News, DawnMarie Sannwaldt, East Brunswick Sentinel; General News Picture Story, Jerry Wolkowitz, Independent; Feature Picture, Veronica Yankowski, Suburban; and Portrait, Farrah Maffai, Tri-Town News.

Second-place awards were: Coverage of Government, Alison Granito, Indepen-dent; Sports Writing Portfolio, George Albano, East Brunswick Sentinel; Robert P. Kelly Award, Jennifer Dome, East Brunswick Sentinel; Graphics, Karen L. Kesten, Examiner; Special Issue, Karen L. Kesten, Riverfest; Education Writing, Clare M. Masi, Tri-Town News; and Front Page Design, Karen L. Kesten and Brian Donahue, Suburban. In the photography contest, second-place winners were Feature Picture, Jeff Huntley, Indepen-dent; and Portrait, Veronica Yankowski, Independent.

Third-place awards were: Coverage of Government, Carolyn O’Connell, Atlan-ticville; Business and Economic Writing, Gloria Stravelli, The Hub; and Graphics, Karen L. Kesten, Independent. In the photography contest, third-place winners were Spot News, Jerry Wolkowitz, Independent; Feature Picture Story, Veronica Yankowski, East Brunswick Sentinel; Portrait, Veronica Yankowski, East Bruns-wick Sentinel; and Pictorial, Sarah McColgan, North/South Brunswick Sentinel.

Receiving honorable-mention awards in photography was Sarah McColgan in the categories of Feature Picture and Pictorial.

In the Classified Advertising Category, The Hub was awarded a second-place award for Best Agency Produced News-paper Ad. Jackie Torbik received a first-place award for Best Classified and/or Telemarketing Directory for the Indepen-dent.

Greg Bean, executive editor of Greater Media Newspapers, said the number of awards given by fellow journalists once again proves the newspaper group’s leadership position among weekly newspapers in the state.

"There are so many wonderful awards to be proud of this year — including the award for Public Service, perhaps the most important award in this contest — that I’m almost speechless with awe over the accomplishments of this wonderful group of professional journalists," he said. "Over the last few years, we’ve brought home more than 100 awards from our very competitive statewide organization, and this year’s tally shows that Greater Media Newspapers is still leading the way when it comes to community journalism in the state of New Jersey."

Bean also called attention to the company’s sweep of all three places in three categories: Coverage of Govern-ment and Graphics in the editorial division and Portrait in the photography division.

Bean had special praise for Karen L. Kesten, who coordinated the company’s contest entry process.

The awards will be presented at a formal dinner and ceremony in April.