Trib Total Media nominated for 24 Golden Quill awards from Press Club of Western Pa.

Reportage on the aftermath of the Tree of Life shooting, a little-known AIDS research study, and the legacies of some of Pittsburgh’s most iconic radio personalities were among the many Trib Total Media pieces nominated for the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania’s Golden Quill Award.

The Trib earned 24 nominations.

The winners will be announced at the Golden Quill Awards dinner, tentatively scheduled for Sept. 3 at the Rivers Casino. The Golden Quills recognize professional excellence in written, photographic, illustration, broadcast and online journalism in Western Pennsylvania and nearby counties in Ohio and West Virginia.

A full list of nominees is available at westernpapressclub.org/g_quill.html.

Here’s the list of Trib Total Media nominations:

Excellence in Written Journalism

News Feature and Public Affairs/Politics/Government

“Unsung heroes: Pittsburgh Men, Decades-Long Study Impact HIV/AIDS Research”

Debra Erdley

Every six months, year after year, participants have trekked to Oakland to offer blood and bodily fluids. Their alms have become the foundation of hundreds of research projects.

The Pitt study, conducted in the halls of the university where Jonas Salk developed the world’s first polio vaccine, began before the affliction that has killed an estimated 32 million people worldwide even had a name: human immunodeficiency virus. Or simply, HIV.

News Feature and Traditional Feature

“The Horror and the Healing: A Year After Oct. 27, 2018, Pittsburghers Still Grieve — and Remain Resolute”

Megan Guza

A year after the country’s deadliest attack on people of the Jewish faith, most have realized that healing is a perpetual journey. It’s ongoing, they say, and it’s every day.

Medical/Health

“Lower Burrell Woman’s Story Personifies Failures in Medicaid Waiver Program”

Deb Erdley

Frail, suffering from moderate dementia for the previous year and a half and forced to use a wheelchair, Vilma Morgante relied on her daughter — a professional violinist with the Buffalo Philharmonic — to steer her through the complex web of rules and regulations that govern the safety net designed to protect the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

Science/Environment

“Clairton Air Quality Remains an Ongoing Concern”

Jamie Martines

Clairton residents and experts say dangerous air quality issues persist after a Dec. 24 fire at U.S. Steel’s Clairton plant knocked out pollution controls.

History/Culture

“40 years Ago, Three Mile Island Had the Nation on Edge”

Paul Guggenheimer

Three Mile Island’s Unit 2 reactor partially melted down in March 1979, releasing dangerous radioactive gases into the atmosphere and triggering a panic that would grip the nation for days, prompt many Dauphin County residents to evacuate and change the nuclear power industry.

“Killings of UMWA Leader Jock Yablonski, His Family Shocked Western Pa. 50 Years Ago”

Paul Guggenheimer

On New Year’s Eve 1969, United Mine Workers of America leader Jock Yablonski, his wife, Margaret, and 25-year-old daughter, Charlotte, were killed in the family’s farmhouse.

Arts/Entertainment

“Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music That Defined an Era Turns 50”

Jason Cato

Woodstock. A single word that still packs so much: peace, love, music. And perhaps a misnomer, given that it forever bears the name of a town some 50 miles from Max Yasgur’s fields, where as many as 500,000 people gathered for a legendary music and arts festival.

“Rock on: WDVE’s Sean McDowell Has Been Spinning the Classics for 4 Decades”

JoAnne Harrop

Sean McDowell has many stories to tell about his four decades in radio, 25 at WDVE, Pittsburgh’s preeminent classic rock station that plays international, national and local music. He’s watched the industry transform from turntables and vinyl records to a computer system where — with the touch of a button — you can change songs, artists and genres.

Sports

“Comeback Kid: MP’s Giallonardo Inspires With Return to Baseball”

Bill Beckner

Dom Giallonardo had a cancerous tumor removed from his hip in 2015 and endured countless hours of chemotherapy. But he beat the disease known as Ewing’s sarcoma and came back to play basketball.

“Blass Takes Final Bow as Pirates Broadcaster”

Paul Guggenheimer

Steve Blass, 77, retired from the Pirates radio and TV booth after 34 seasons as a color commentator, making him the longest tenured announcer in team history. Since signing his first professional contract with the Pirates as a player in June 1960, Blass has spent 60 years as a part of the organization.

Editorials

Lori Falce

Excellence in Video/Broadcast Journalism

Enterprise/Investigative, Public Affairs/Politics/Government and Documentary

“Tree of Life: One Year Later”

Staff

Public Affairs/Politics/Government and Documentary

“Pitt Men’s Study”

Staff

Excellence in Visual Craft Achievement

Spot News Photo

“Patrolman Calvin Hall Remembered”

Kristina Serafini

“Flag Presented to Patrolman’s Family”

Nate Smallwood

Feature Photo

“Blood Moon on the Rise”

Chaz Palla

Animation/Motion Graphics

“Unsung Heroes: Pittsburgh Men, Decades-Long Study Impact HIV/AIDS Research”

Chris Benson

Page Design — Print

“The Road to Ruin”

Melanie Wass

Multi-Platform Project

“Tree of Life Anniversary”

Staff