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 2025 Professional Keystone Media Award Winners!

This year, we received 2,513 entries from 119 different news organizations across the Commonwealth. The contest was judged by the Hoosier State Press Association.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The information shown on the winners’ lists is pulled directly from the contest system as submitted by you or your news organization. Please review the listings for accuracy and email teresas@pa-news.org with any corrections or updates needed for your winning entries as soon as possible.

Winners will be honored at the Keystone Media Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, located at 4650 Lindle Rd., Harrisburg.

Registration for the event will be available in July.

2025 Specialty Category Winners

Regular Category Winners:

• Division I – Multi-day publications over 25,000 circulation
• Division II – Multi-day publications 10,000-24,999 circulation
• Division III – Multi-day publications 5,000-9,999 circulation
• Division IV – Multi-day publications under 5,000
• Division V – Weekly general news publications over 5,000 circulation
• Division VI – Weekly general news publications under 5,000 circulation
• Division VII – Niche publications
• RadioI (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh markets)
• RadioII (all other markets)
• TVI (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh markets)
• TVII (all other markets)

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.

NOTE: Freelance journalists are encouraged to join the Pennsylvania News Leaders Association (PNLA) to obtain the member discount when entering the Keystone Media Awards Contest.

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).

Questions? Email the PNA Foundation or phone 717-703-3003.