2014 William A. Schnader Print Media Award Winners Announced

Schnader partner Keith Whitson helped present this year’s William A. Schnader Print Media Awards on Friday, November 7, 2014 during the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association’s “Newspaper of the Year” ceremony. Pennsylvania Bar Association secretary Anne N. John co-presented with Mr. Whitson.

The William A. Schnader Print Media Awards were founded 35 years ago in memory of Schnader Harrison Segal and Lewis LLP co-founder William A. Schnader, also a state attorney general and president of the PBA. They recognize excellence in print journalism, particularly articles and commentaries fostering greater public understanding of the legal system and the roles the law, the courts, law enforcement agencies and the legal profession in society.

The competition is overseen by the PBA Bar/Press Committee, with entries being judged by lawyers, newspaper and magazine editors, and college professors. The first-place winner in each category of competition receives $400 and a plaque and the second-place winner in each category receives $100 and a certificate.

2014 Schnader Award winners:

Beat Coverage: Daily Newspapers (49,000+ Circulation)
1st Place: Craig R. McCoy, Philadelphia Inquirer, Three Beat Coverage Articles
2nd Place: Brian Bowling, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Federal Court Beat

Beat Coverage: Daily Newspapers (Under 49,000 Circulation)
1st Place: Jo Ciavaglia, Bucks County Courier Times, Three Beat Coverage Articles
2nd Place: Saranac Hale Spencer, The Legal Intelligencer, Federal Courts in Pennsylvania

Beat Coverage: Weekly Newspapers
1st Place: Jen Colletta, Philadelphia Gay News, Coverage of Whitewood v. Corbett
2nd Place: Michael Sadowski, Central Penn Business Journal, Three Beat Coverage Articles

Special Report/Series
1st Place: Jo Ciavaglia, Bucks County Courier Times, “Megan’s Lawbreakers” 
2nd Place: Carl Prine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “Battle on the Home Front”

Editorial/Commentary
1st Place: Dan Robrish, The Elizabethtown Advocate, “Marriage Law” and “Slacktivist Legislature”
2nd Place: Scott Fisher, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, “Wrong Call” and “Judge Should Have Reported Accident”

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 27,000 lawyers who are members of the association.