Contests and Awards

Benjamin Franklin Award for Excellence

Purpose: Established in 1998, the award recognizes individuals who have performed an outstanding service or accomplishment to their newspapers; to the news media industry; to their local communities; or to the PNA, that reflected positively on the news media industry in Pennsylvania.

Eligible: Nominees may include newspaper owners and employees, legislators, community leaders, business leaders and university/college administrators.

Awarded At:

PNA Annual Dinner

It Can Wait Editorial Contest

Purpose: The PNA Foundation and AT&T host this editorial contest to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.

Eligible: Pennsylvania High School Students

Keystone Media Awards – Professional

Purpose: These awards reinforce excellence by individuals in the news media profession, by recognizing journalism that consistently provides relevance, integrity and initiative in serving readers and audiences, and faithfully fulfills its First Amendment rights/responsibilities. Further, they stimulate journalists to improve their craft and ultimately improve their community.

Eligible: Pennsylvania journalists and broadcasters that meet the criteria outlined in the contest rules.

Awarded At:

Keystone Media Awards Luncheon

Keystone Media Awards – Students

Purpose: The Student Keystone Media Awards contest recognizes high school and college journalism that provides relevance, integrity and initiative in serving readers.

Eligible: Pennsylvania high school, college and university students that meet the criteria outlined in the contest rules.

Awarded At:

Student Keystone Media Awards Celebration, April 26, 2023

Lifetime Achievement Award

Purpose: Honoring outstanding service and accomplishment spanning a career in journalism.

Eligible: The nominee must (1) be a present or former publisher or senior manager of a Pennsylvania newspaper and (2) have spent a significant part of his or her career working in Pennsylvania.

Awarded At:

PNA Annual Dinner

News Organization of the Year (NOY)

Purpose: The NOY Contest gives Pennsylvania news media companies the opportunity to showcase the efforts of their entire staff. The purpose is to recognize outstanding work across all departments and including all products, with an emphasis on overall excellence.

Eligible: In order to accumulate points toward NOY, your company MUST enter both the Keystone Media Awards AND the Advertising Contest. Companies not entering both contests will not be considered for NOY honors.

Awarded At:

Keystone Media Awards Luncheon

Newspaper Carrier of the Year

Purpose: The PNA Foundation's Newspaper Carrier of the Year contest has helped Pennsylvania newspapers recognize the exemplary performance of newspaper carriers of all ages.

Eligible: Individuals working at Pennsylvania news organizations that meet the criteria outlined in the contest rules.

Awarded At:

Awards will be presented locally by the nominating news organization.

Pennsylvania Bar Association Media Awards (Affiliated Awards)

Purpose: PNA encourages its members to participate in this awards competition, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the national law firm of Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti LLP.

Eligible: Pennsylvania journalists

Awarded At:

Keystone Media Awards Luncheon

PNA Foundation Advertising Contest

Purpose: This contest recognizes advertising departments across Pennsylvania that continue to produce outstanding printed and digital classified and display ads, campaigns, and special publications worthy of much recognition.

Eligible: Individuals or staff working at Pennsylvania news organizations that meet the criteria outlined in the contest rules.

Awarded At:

TBD

SPJ Keystone Chapter’s Excellence in Journalism Contest (Affiliated Awards)

Purpose: SPJ Keystone Pro Chapter’s Spotlight Contest annually recognizes the best in journalism.

Eligible: The SPJ Keystone Spotlight Contest is open to all journalists who either lived in Pennsylvania or New Jersey when their work was published or whose work was first published in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Online publications are welcome.

Awarded At:

Keystone Media Awards Luncheon

Stop Cyberbullying Editorial Contest

Purpose: The PNA Foundation and AT&T host this editorial contest to raise awareness about the dangers of cyberbullying.

Eligible: Pennsylvania High School Students