Winners announced in 2015 PAPME contest

Blimp makes emergency landing at construction site, deflates

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Four radio and television stations were honored with the Joe Snyder Award for Outstanding News Service on Friday at the Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association's annual awards banquet. The award is named in memory of the late Joe Snyder, longtime chief of bureau of the Pennsylvania AP who was instrumental in founding the PAPBA. The award went to WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, WHTM-TV in Harrisburg, WHYY radio in Philadelphia and WITF radio in Harrisburg. WHTM-TV also won the new First Amendment Award for "Demanding Transparency." Eighteen television and radio stations submitted 290 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories, features and reporting from 2015. The PAPBA serves as the link between the AP and its member television and radio stations in Pennsylvania. The Associated Press is a not-for-profit news cooperative representing 1,400 newspapers and 5,000 broadcast stations in the United States. All winners in the PAPBA contest: TELEVISION II: Spot News Coverage: 1, Staff, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, "Hostage Standoff Ends"; 2, Staff, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, "ISIS Suspect Arrested"; 3, Matt Barcaro and Scott Wilson, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "Bull on the Loose". Continuing Coverage: 1, Staff, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, "Unraveling of a Former Mayor"; 2, Staff, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, "Cities Under Scrutiny: FBI Probe in Allentown and Reading"; 3, Staff, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "Miller Chemical Fire". Series: 1, Chandi Lowry and Staff, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, "Hooked On Heroin: Chasing the High"; 2, Danielle Woods and Dave Rupp, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "Dangerous Roads"; 3, Staff, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, "Dust Up In Lemoyne". Investigative Reporting: 1, Staff, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, "Steelton's Meltdown"; 2, Hilary Lane and Lee Jenkins, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, "Gun Range Under Fire"; 3, Amanda St. Hilaire, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, "Trouble on Locust Lane". Enterprise Reporting: 1, Jason Bristol and Colin Powell, WHP-TV, Harrisburg, "Pension Interception"; 2, Mike Straub and Matt Schaffer, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "Poop Power"; 3, Alicia Richards and Jon Eirkson, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, "Mental Illness Crisis". Public Service: 1, Staff, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, "2015 Freddy Awards"; 2, Kenny Maryott and Anne Shannon, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "Learning Matters: Chartered"; 3, Scott Wilson and Mat Barcaro, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "Young and Homeless". Documentary: 1, WITF, Harrisburg-TV, "HealthSmart: Drugs & Young People"; 2, Chandi Lowry and Staff, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, "Hooked on Heroin: Chasing the High 30 Minute Special Newscast"; 3, Matt Barcaro and Scott Wilson, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "Life After War". Feature: 1, Jamie Stover and Adam Klein, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, "Three Hanukkah Miracles"; 2, Hilary Lane and Staff, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, "Sitting with Santa"; 3, Jason Bristol and Kyle Cooper, WHP-TV, Harrisburg, "Homeless HR Hitter Defies Odds". Weathercast: 1, Christine Ferreira , WGAL-TV, Lancaster; 2, Eric Finkenbinder, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg; 3, Stefano DiPietro, Centre County Report. Digital Presence: 1, Staff, WFMZ-TV, Allentown; 2, Staff, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg. Sports Coverage: 1, Pat Principe and Will Elliott, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "Silent Stadium"; 2, Staff, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "The Concussion Effect"; 3, William Seiders and Shannel Douglas, WHP-TV, Harrisburg, "Red Land Little League World Series Run". Sports Feature: 1, Jason Bristol and Colin Powell, WHP-TV, Harrisburg, "Bringing the Heat"; 2, Ross Lippman, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, "Raven's Story"; 3, Amanda St. Hilaire and Anthony Durso, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, "In It To Win It". Sportscast: 1, Jason Bristol and Colin Powell, WHP-TV, Harrisburg, "CBS 21 Sports with Jason Bristol, Jan. 15, 2015"; 2, Jason Bristol and Staff, WHP-TV, Harrisburg, "CBS 21 Sports with Jason Bristol, Dec. 31 2015"; 3, Staff, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "News 8 Sports, Oct. 31, 2015". Use of Photography: 1, Will Elliott, WGAL-TV, Lancaster; 2, Kris Pursel, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "This Beats the Mall"; 3, Tyler Feldman and Scott Cikowski, Centre County Report, "Like Father, Like Son: A State College Legacy". Regularly Scheduled News or Sports Talk Program: 1, Staff, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, "Business Matters: Should the Death Penalty Banned in Pa.?"; 2, Staff, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, "Countdown to Kickoff: Lehigh vs. Lafayette". Reporter/Anchor: 1, Amanda St. Hilaire, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg; 2, Hilary Lane, WFMZ-TV, Allentown; 3, Ryan Hughes, WFMZ-TV, Allentown. Newscast: 1, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, "ABC27 News at 5"; 2, WGAL-TV, Lancaster, "WGAL News 8"; 3, Staff, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, "69 News at 10". TELEVISION I: Spot News Coverage: 1, Pittsburgh's Action News 4 Staff, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "Active Shooter Inside Monroeville Mall"; 2, Heather Abraham and Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Homestead on Fire"; 3, John Shumway and Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Bear Caught on Live TV". Continuing Coverage: 1, Pittsburgh's Action News 4 Staff, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "Plum High School Teachers Sex Abuse Scandal"; 2, Scott Harbaugh and Stephen Cropper, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh, "Winter Blast"; 3, Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Greenfield Bridge Implosion". Series: 1, Paul Van Osdol and Mike Lazorko, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "Burning Questions: Slow Fire Response Times"; 2, Marty Griffin and Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Get Marty". Investigative Reporting: 1, Paul Van Osdol and Michael Lazorko, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "Public Pensions for Felon Teachers"; 2, Paul Van Osdol and Michael Lazorko, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "Investigates Fire Response Times"; 3, Andy Sheehan and Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "High Rollers, Low Rent". Enterprise Reporting: 1, Paul Van Osdol and Michael Lazorko, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "Burning Questions: Slow Fire Response Times"; 2, David Highfield and Ian Smith, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "How to Survive a Plane Crash"; 3, David Highfield and Ian Smith, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Alarming Reality". Public Service: 1, WTAE Chronicle Staff, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "CHRONICLE: After War". Documentary: 1, Pittsburgh's Action News 4 Staff, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "CHRONICLE: Burning Questions"; 2, Lauren Sonkin and Katherine Amenta, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh, "Heroin Hits Home"; 3, Lisa Sylvester and Scott Dobson, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh, "Gift of Life". Feature: 1, Wendy Bell and Brian Caldwell, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "Rebuilding Pittsburgh"; 2, Peggy Finnegan and Lisa Sylvester, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh, "Proud To Be From Pittsburgh"; 3, Kristine Sorensen and Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "A Day in the Life of Mary Poppins". Weathercast: 1, Ron Smiley, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "KDKA-TV Weather at Noon"; 2, Mike Harvey, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "Pittsburgh's Action Weather"; 3, Stephen Cropper, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh. Digital Presence: 1, Alex Marcelewski, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh; 2, Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh. Sports Coverage: 1, Dean Iampietro, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh, "The Bus to Canton"; 2, Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Buctober"; 3, Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Pirates Home Opener". Sports Feature: 1, Bob Pompeani and Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Camp Crosby"; 2, Lisa Sylvester and Ward Hobbs, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh, "The Bus to Canton"; 3, Rich Walsh and Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Lemieux Part Deux". Sportscast: 1, Mike Vukovcan and Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Sports at 6 pm"; 2, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "Pittsburgh's Action Sports". Use of Photography: 1, Brian Caldwell, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh; 2, L. David Colabine, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Covering All The Angles"; 3, Michael Challik, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Steelers Monday". Regularly Scheduled News or Sports Talk Program: 1, Bill Shissler and Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Steelers Kickoff"; 2, Ty Miller and Brian Cook, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh, "Championship Chase"; 3, Bill Shissler and Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "Steelers Late Night". Reporter/Anchor: 1, Wendy Bell, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "Pittsburgh's Action News 4". Newscast: 1, Matthew Carlins and Staff, KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, "News at 6 pm"; 2, Connie Stewart, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, "Pittsburgh's Action News 4"; 3, Lauren Sonkin and Amy Coulter, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh, "Channel 11 News at 5". Radio II: Spot News Coverage: 1, Ben Allen, WITF, Harrisburg, "Acquittal of Officer Lisa Mearkle"; 2, Mark Lawrence, WKOK, Sunbury, "Northumberland County Prison Fire"; 3, Emily Reddy, WPSU, University Park, "Students React to Fraternity Suspension Over Nude Photos". Continuing Coverage: 1, Erin Cassidy Hendrick and Emily Reddy, WPSU, University Park, "Proposed Student Housing Complex Raises Worries Over State College Water Supply"; 2, Jennifer Wakeman, WKOK, Sunbury, "Joint Rail Authority"; 3, WKOK, Sunbury, "Northumberland County Prison Fire". Series: 1, Emily Previti, WITF, Harrisburg, "Keystone Crossroads: Problems Facing PA Cities"; 2, Ben Allen, WITF, Harrisburg, "Central PA's Heroin Epidemic"; 3, Mary Wilson, WITF, Harrisburg, "Active Citizenship at the State Capitol". Investigative Reporting: 1, Marie Cusick, WITF, Harrisburg, "StateImpact Pennsylvania: Surveillance Overreach?"; 2, Ben Allen, WITF, Harrisburg, "Standards Lacking: Tracking Heroin Overdose Deaths". Enterprise Reporting: 1, Mary Wilson, WITF, Harrisburg, "Diversity Efforts Lacking at State Police"; 2, Emily Previti, WITF, Harrisburg, "Keystone Crossroads: Refugee Resettlement Hub"; 3, Marie Cusick, WITF, Harrisburg, "StateImpact Pennsylvania: Drilling Waste Not Wanted". Public Service: 1, Ben Allen, WITF, Harrisburg, "Central Pennsylvania's Heroin Epidemic". Feature: 1, Joe Ulrich, WITF, Harrisburg, "Dushore's Outhouse Races"; 2, Emily Reddy, WPSU, University Park, "For Mennonites, Question of LGBT Membership Yields Few Easy Answers"; 3, Joe Ulrich and Cary Burkett, WITF, Harrisburg, "Making and Re-Making Harrisburg's Midtown". Digital Presence: 1, Staff, WITF, Harrisburg; 2, WKOK, Sunbury. Sports Coverage: 1, Kevin Herr and Dave Ritchie, WKOK, Sunbury, "Shik-Sock Football"; 2, Jack Burns and Bobby Klatt, WQSU-FM, Selinsgrove, "Susquehanna University Basketball 2015". Sports Feature: 1, Joe Ulrich, WITF, Harrisburg, "Dushore's Outhouse Races"; 2, Tim Lambert, WITF, Harrisburg, "Red Land's Wild Ride Ends". Use of Sound: 1, Joe Ulrich, WITF, Harrisburg, "Dushore's Outhouse Races"; 2, Eleanor Klibanoff, WPSU, University Park, "Keystone Crossroads: The Pope Isn't The Only Big Act in Pennsylvania"; 3, Joe Ulrich and Cary Burkett, WITF, Harrisburg, "Making and Re-Making Harrisburg's Midtown". Regularly Scheduled News or Sports Talk Program: 1, Scott LaMar, WITF, Harrisburg, "Smart Talk: Can We Talk About Race?"; 2, Mark Lawrence, WKOK, Sunbury, "Mythical War on Christmas"; 3, Scott LaMar, WITF, Harrisburg, "Smart Talk: Alleged ISIS Supporter Arrested" . Reporter/Anchor: 1, Mark Lawrence, WKOK, Sunbury. RADIO II: Spot News Coverage: 1, Staff, WHYY, Philadelphia, "NewsWorks coverage of Amtrak Train 188 Crash"; 2, Staff, KDKA, Pittsburgh, "Homestead Fire". Continuing Coverage: 1, Staff, Radio Pennsylvania Network, "Amtrak 188"; 2, Staff, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Papal Visit"; 3, Staff, Radio Pennsylvania Network, "Is Kane Able?". Series: 1, Reid Frazier and Natasha Khan, WESA, Pittsburgh, "The Future of Coal by The Allegheny Front"; 2, Staff, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Keystone Crossroads: Pennsylvania Pensions, Is the Promise Broken?"; 3, Staff, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Keystone Crossroads: Locked out, Pennsylvania Has a Housing Problem". Investigative Reporting: 1, Susan Phillips, WHYY, Philadelphia, "StateImpact Pennsylvania: Unmapped, Unregulated Maze of Rural Pipelines Poses Hidden Risks". Enterprise Reporting: 1, Irina Zhorov, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Keystone Crossroads: A Federal Pilot Program Allows Local Housing Authorities More Autonomy"; 2, Laura Benshoff, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Syrian Refugees Find Suspicion, Hope in Allentown"; 3, Joe Hernandez, WHYY, Philadelphia, "South Jersey Towns Ask State to Investigate Verizon Over Phone, Internet Problems". Public Service: 1, Elana Gordon, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Surprise! When Your Hospital is In-Network but Your Doctor Isn't"; 2, Brad Christman, Radio Pennsylvania Network, "Radio Pennsylvania Roundtable"; 3, Staff, WESA, Pittsburgh, "The Allegheny Front" . Documentary: 1, Reid Frazier, WESA, Pittsburgh, "The Future of Coal by The Allegheny Front"; 2, Kevin McCorry and Shai Ben-Yaacov, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Turnaround: A Year Inside a Strawberry Mansion Elementary School"; 3, Mary Cummings-Jordan and Shai Ben-Yaacov, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Ancient Faith, Modern Lives". Feature: 1, Jeanette Woods and Aaron Moselle, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Philly Side Hustle Will be on Full Display During Papal Visit"; 2, Maiken Scott, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Beep, Beep, Beep - Hospital Alarms Sound Mostly Without Real Cause"; 3, Marielle Segarra, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Keystone Crossroads: Is it Fair for City Workers to Use Overtime to Spike Their Pensions?". Digital Presence: 1, WHYY, Philadelphia. Sports Coverage: 1, Rick Becker, Radio Pennsylvania Network, "2015 PITT Football Preview"; 2, Brad Christman and Craig Rhodes, Radio Pennsylvania Network, "2015 Penn State Football Preview". Sports Feature: 1, Aaron Moselle, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Students Find Fitness, Fun in Pursuit of Mr. and Ms. Penn Bodybuilding Honors"; 2, Rick Becker, Radio Pennsylvania Network, "Radio PA's Top 10 Sports Stories of 2015". Sportscast: 1, Rick Becker, Radio Pennsylvania Network, "Radio PA Sportscast, Dec. 2, 2015"; 2, Jeff Hathhorn, KDKA, Pittsburgh, "Afternoon News Sports". Use of Sound: 1, Elana Gordon, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Is Your Surgeon Listening to Metallica? Possibly"; 2, Irina Zhorov, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Keystone Crossroads: Romans, Booty and Sailors, All Part of the History of Pensions"; 3, Todd Bookman, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Sound it Out: The (Sometimes Creepy) History of The Talking Machine". Regularly Scheduled News or Sports Talk Program: 1, Staff, WHYY, Philadelphia, "The Pulse Goes to School"; 2, Paul Guggenheimer and Marcus Charleston, WESA, Pittsburgh, "Heroin's Deadly Impact Hits Home in Southwestern PA"; 3, Staff, WHYY, Philadelphia, "Radio Times Ballot Talks: Advice for the Next Mayor - Poverty". Reporter/Anchor: 1, Maiken Scott, WHYY, Philadelphia, "The Pulse"; 2, Brad Christman, Radio Pennsylvania Network, "Radio PA's Brad Christman"; 3, Kevin McCorry, WHYY, Philadelphia, "NewsWorks". Newscast: 1, Staff, WHYY, Philadelphia, "NewsWorks Tonight: Amtrak Crash, May 13, 2015"; 2, Brad Christman, Radio Pennsylvania Network, "Amtrak Derailment, May 13, 2015".

Winners announced in 2015 PAPBA contest