Erie Times-News reporters honored in Keystone, Golden Quill competitions
Several members of the Erie Times-News' staff won awards recently in statewide and regional contests that recognize outstanding journalism.
The Times-News received four awards in Division III in the annual Professional Keystone Media contest, which is managed by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation.
Ed Palattella earned a first-place Keystone award for his coverage of courts and the justice system.
Tom Reisenweber garnered a first-place award in the Sports/Outdoor Column category for his work, which included a piece on traveling to various pre-season football camps in District 10; Through the grief, the Lakeview football team helped to start to heal a community; and The Alvarez Effect: Erie SeaWolves manager has made his mark in franchise history.
Matthew Rink also earned a first-place award in the News Videos category for his video "Our Darkest Hour: Firefighters Honor Fallen First Responder." The video depicted firefighters from throughout the Erie region paying tribute to Shawn Giles, a volunteer firefighter who was struck and killed by a vehicle on Aug. 20 while directing traffic around an accident scene at the intersection of Route 20 and Brickyard Road in North East Township.
The driver accused of striking him is awaiting trial on charges including homicide by vehicle and homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.
And Rink, Valerie Myers, Jennie Geisler and A.J. Rao earned second place for excellence in reporting on diversity, equity and inclusion for their stories, including In The Zone: Popular bar has been the social hub for Erie's queer community for 25 years; Escaping gang persecution, 45 Guatemalan refugees resettle in Erie, more likely to arrive; 2 new ventures help Erie businesswoman Nadia Shabanza-Pero design her American dream; Erie County Library Advisory Board says dialogue 'shut down' over relocation of Pride book display; and Remember the Pontiacs: Erie's Black baseball team's players could hit, throw, run and lead.
It's the fourth straight year the Times-News has finished first or second in the state in diversity, equity and inclusion reporting.
Reisenweber also won an Excellence in Written Journalism award in Division II of the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania's Golden Quill Awards for his story about longtime Erie SeaWolves broadcaster Greg Gania, His many calls are part of memorable moments for the Erie SeaWolves.
Kevin Flowers and Palattella were both Golden Quill finalists in the Enterprise/Investigative Reporting category. Flowers was honored for his story Danger zones: asbestos, toxic chemicals among hazards left at Erie's Quin-T, EMI sites, about dangerous materials left behind at two vacant, crumbling Erie industrial properties.
Palattella was a Golden Quill finalist for his story, As superintendent exited, Millcreek Schools paid $250,000 settlement to ex-personnel chief, about a financial settlement the district approved for its former head of human resources days before Ian Roberts left as superintendent to go to Des Moines, Iowa.
He also was a Golden Quill finalist in the news feature category for Death of Caesar Montevecchio, 89, marks end of Erie’s ‘gangster’ era, but a probe lingers.
Montevecchio, who died Aug. 10, was tied to some of Erie's biggest crimes of early 1980s.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Times-News reporters take home awards for local journalism
