Winners — 2013 Pennsylvania Communications Contest
Each January Pennsylvania Press Club members are invited to enter their best work in the state communications contest, which encourages and rewards excellence in communication.The contest is open to all Pennsylvania Press Club members, providing an opportunity to compete in a broad range of categories.
First-place winners in the state competition are eligible for entry in the National Federation of Press Women National Communications Contest.
Seven members of the Pennsylvania Press Club went on to win 14 awards in the national contest in 2013:
- Johanna Billings — Three first places
- Walter Brasch — One third place, two honorable mentions
- Kim de Bourbon — One second place
- Lini Kadaba — One first place, one second place
- Melissa Piper Nelson — One first place, one second place
- Bonnie Lee Struck — One third place
- Kay Stephens — Two first places
Here is the list of statewide winners in the 2013 contest, for entries published or broadcast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012. Entries which went on to win in the national contest are indicated in red.
1A News Story, Print Newspaper*1st | National first place | Kay Stephens, Altoona — High stakes addiction2nd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville – Coplay answers Right-to-Know request 3rd | Bonnie Lee Strunk, Allentown – Earth opens, threatening historic homes |
1B News Story, Magazine/Newsletter/Other Non-Newspaper PublicationHonorable Mention | Myra Saturen, Bethlehem — Goodwin mesmerizes audience at NCC – Northampton Magazine Summer 2012 |
1C News Story, Online PublicationHonorable mention | Myra Saturen, Bethlehem — Obstacles didn't stop them — Northampton NOW — 2/16/2012 |
2 Continuing Coverage or Unfolding News1st | Kay Stephens, Altoona — Sale of Valley View Home stories2nd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Library funding stories |
3 Investigative Reporting*1st | National first place | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Closed doors in Coplay |
4 Enterprise Reporting*1st | National first place | Kay Stephens, Altoona — Raising the Bar: Public safety at the heart of 911 changes2nd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Class Rankled: Ranks change after graduation |
5 Special Series*1st | National honorable mention | Walter Brasch, Espy — Pa. gags physicians over fracking chemicals — Impact on environment, health, greater than claimed, and Politics overrides health and environmental issues. |
7 Editorial/Opinion1st | Kay Stephens, Altoona — Stakes high in home decision |
8A Feature Story, Print Newspaper*1st | National first place | Lini Kadaba, Newtown Square — Iron Woman2nd | Lini Kadaba, Newtown Square — Africa Without Pity 3rd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — The Dakota Call |
8B Feature Story, Magazine/Newsletter/Other Non-Newspaper Publication1st | Jean A. Korten, Lititz — Danger on Deck: Life Aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter James Rankin |
9B Personality Profile, More Than 500 Words*1st | National second place | Lini Kadaba, Newtown Square — The Insider: Nicole Wallace...2nd | Lini Kadaba, Newtown Square — Tragedy becomes Triumph 3rd | Jean A. Korten, Lititz — Capt. Morgan of the Skipjack Martha Lewis |
10C Specialty Articles, Arts and EntertainmentHonorable mention | Johanna Billings, Danielsville |
10D Specialty Articles, Business2nd | Walter Brasch, Espy — Finding a minivan made in the U.S. by union workers / Labor pains, a fable for our times3rd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Hello Sweet Adventure / Welcome to Whitehall. |
10E Specialty Articles, Education2nd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Library classes to assist job seekers / Their own cyberspaceHonorable mention | Walter Brasch, Espy — A vouchering adventure / Splitting hairs in a multi-cultural school |
10H Specialty Articles, Government or Politics1st | Walter Brasch, Espy — Pa. primary late, but it might matter / Politics override humane action2nd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Health of region affected by Allentown / It's a Mayor's Life |
10K Specialty Articles, Hobby or Craft2nd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Party aces / Labor of Love |
10M Specialty Articles, Physical Health/Fitness/Mental Health/Self-Help1st | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — A grueling six months / Benefit to support family of... |
10N Specialty Articles, Religion1st | Walter Brasch, Espy — Religious right intrudes / Henry Ford's stain...2nd | Bonnie Lee Strunk, Allentown — Sunday service aids inner city cemetery / Families give thanks. .. |
10Q Specialty Articles, Social Issues*1st | National honorable mention | Walter Brasch, Espy — Lessons still apparent in Trayvon Martin shooting / Miss America bias against those who don't go to college |
10R Specialty Articles, SportsHonorable mention | Jean A. Korten, Lititz — Weekends are all right / Pee Wee sailing class ... |
10Q Specialty Articles, Travel1st | Jean A. Korten, Lititz — Hitting the Beach: Colonial Beach /Star Spangled Sailabration |
11A Columns, Humorous1st | Walter Brasch, Espy — Outsourcing health care / All Logic was in vein |
11B Columns, General*1st | National third place | Walter Brasch, Espy — Finding the write stuff / Fracking's collateral damages2nd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Roadside lilies bring back memories / Those less-fortunate may not be strangers 3rd | Bonnie Lee Struck, Allentown — Life is full of mysteries / Sharing memories can benefit... |
11C Columns, Informational (How-To, Q&A, Advice)1st | Bonnie Lee Strunk, Allentown — A meatless menu is more than side dishes / We get one chance to do it right2nd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — We all need a day to do nothing / Holidays aren't celebrations for everyone Honorable mention | Melissa Piper Nelson, New Kingston — Voice of the consumer / Targeted seasonal marketing |
11D Columns, Personal Opinion1st | Walter Brasch, Espy — Let the sun shine / Media fumble story2nd | Bonnie Lee Strunk, Allentown — Slow down to savor... / Ignoring the small stuff... 3rd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Chickens make interesting companions / For many, Sandy meant living off the grid |
12 Headline Writing*1st | National first place | Johanna Billings, Danielsville2nd | Kim de Bourbon, Delaware Water Gap |
15A Publications Edited by Entrant (Newspaper)*1st | National first place | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Whitehall-Coplay Press |
16B Page Design (Magazine/Newsletter/Other Non-Newspaper Publication)1st | Kim de Bourbon, Delaware Water Gap — Learning to find and lead / Strength, style and substance – Alumni Herald Fall 2012, East Stroudsburg University |
17A Single Photograph, News or Feature1st | Kay Stephens, Altoona — Barn Fire2nd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — He's a Natural |
17C Single Photograph, General Photo1st | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — I Said … My Dish. Is. Empty.2nd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Arizona Sunset 3rd | Bonnie Lee Strunk, Allentown — Squirrel |
19 Photographer-Writer1st | Bonnie Lee Strunk, Allentown — One person's weeds...2nd | Johanna Billings, Danielsville — Karoke contest... |
28A Website Edited or Managed by Entrant (Nonprofit, government or educational)1st | Kim de Bourbon, Delaware Water Gap — Keystone Region MG Club |
28B Website Edited or Managed by Entrant (Corporate or for-profit)2nd | Kim de Bourbon, Delaware Water Gap — Virginia Glass |
35 Advertising Posters/Billboards*1st | National second place | Kim de Bourbon, Delaware Water Gap — National Convention Debriefing Forum |
41 Public Relations/Reports1st | Kim de Bourbon, Delaware Water Gap — ESU Freshmen/Transfer Student Profile Fall 2012 |
45A Public Relations/Brochures (Nonprofit, government or educational)*1st | National second place | Melissa Piper Nelson, New Kingston, Soils 101 Workshop |
45B Public Relations/Brochures (Corporate or for-profit)1st | Kim de Bourbon, Delaware Water Gap — Casino Theatre2nd | Kim de Bourbon, Delaware Water Gap — K&T Vintage Sports Cars |
48 Information for Media/News or Feature Release1st | Melissa Piper Nelson, New Kingston — From the ground up / Soils 101 |
57B Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers / History1st | Myra Saturen, Bethlehem — Northampton Community College: The First 45 Years |
62 Script or Screenplay*1st | National first place | Melissa Piper Nelson, New Kingstown — Organic farming, the first steps... |
