Trib Total Media earns Best Overall Daily Newspaper award

Trib Total Media has received several top awards from the Keystone State Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, including being named Best Overall Daily Newspaper across all circulation categories.

The award was announced as part of the group’s annual “Best in Journalism Contest,” which draws entries from throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Trib Total Media was selected for the award from a pool of entries from daily newspapers of all sizes across the region.

“We are honored to be recognized by our peers with this prestigious award,” said Sue McFarland, executive editor for Trib Total Media. “But we don’t necessarily set out to win awards. Our goal is to inform and educate our readers and present the best product possible in print and online. Awards are wonderful, but the biggest award for us is being able to do the work that we love.”

The other top prize in the competition, the Spotlight Award, was given to the Philadelphia Inquirer for its series titled “Toxic City, Sick Schools,” chronicling the environmental dangers facing children in the city’s schools.

In addition to the Best Overall Daily Newspaper Award, Trib Total Media staff members were recognized with these honors:

• Feature Beat Reporting — Religion reporting — First Place — Stephen Huba

• Tabloid Layout – “We Still Love Donnie (Iris)” — First Place — Melanie Wass

• Writing — Tree of Life Synagogue shooting — Second Place — Staff

• News Photography — “Woman and Child” — Third Place — Nate Smallwood

• Feature Story — “The Darkest Day” (synagogue shooting narrative) — First Place — Jason Cato

• Feature Photography — “Jets Fly Past Basilica” — First Place — Chaz Palla

• Environmental Reporting – “No Buzz Kill” – Second Place – Patrick Varine

• Editorial Writing — Priest Abuse — Third Place — Lori Falce

• Broadsheet Page Design – Synagogue shooting — First Place — Melanie Wass

• Broadsheet Page Design — Synagogue shooting — Third Place – Melanie Wass

The regional SPJ chapter is part of the nation’s “most broad-based journalism organization” aimed at promoting the free practice of journalism, protection of First Amendment rights, professional development and the sustaining of the highest ethical standards among its members. It was founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi and today has about 6,000 members.