Professional Keystone Media Awards

Award Details

The Keystone Media Awards – formerly called the Keystone Press Awards before merging with the PAPME Media Awards in 2020 – 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, the Keystone Media Awards stimulate journalists to improve their craft and ultimately improve their community.

Congratulations to the 2026 Professional Keystone Media Award winners!

NOTE: Entry titles and the names of those credited for each winning submission are pulled directly from the contest system exactly as they were entered by your news organization. Please review all information carefully and email the PNA Foundation of any corrections no later than August 31 to ensure they can be made before the Awards Luncheon.

The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Pennsylvania competition (category S12) is sponsored by the A-Mark Foundation.

This year’s contest was judged by the Alabama Press Association.

Winners will be honored at the Keystone Media Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 8, in conjunction with the 2026 Journalism Excellence Convention, scheduled for Oct. 7-9 in Harrisburg. The event will be held at The Central Hotel & Conference Center located at 800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg. 

Details about the event, overnight reservations at a group discount and registration form will be available by late Summer.

Plaques will be provided to all first-place winners and certificates to all second place and honorable mention winners in attendance at the awards luncheon. Certificates for non-attendees will be available for pick up at the conclusion of the presentation. Any certificates not distributed at the event will be mailed by the end of October.

Direct order your plaques through Present A Plaque.  To get the same plaques we issue to our first-place winners in the Keystone Media Awards contest, order the pocket plaques in black marble with frosted, non-glare acrylic (item #FBPOCM81 – for a case of 10), or item #FBPOCM81S (for individual plaques).  You’ll see a significant savings if ordering by the case. Plaque orders will be sent directly to you from Present A Plaque via FedEx (ground or 2-day delivery options available).