In 2022, the Pennsylvania Society of News Editors (PSNE) and the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors (PAPME) groups merged to join forces as the Pennsylvania News Leaders Association (PNLA). PNLA is a committee of PNA and plans to continue the work that both PSNE and PAPME have been addressing over the years and move forward with even more opportunities and ideas.
PNLA, as a committee of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association (PNA), works closely with the PNA Foundation to provide and promote timely and affordable training opportunities. In addition, we support the Student Keystone Media Awards Contest, the Student Keystone Media Awards Event and training opportunities for scholastic and collegiate journalists to help prepare the next generation of media professionals. PNLA also helps organize the Keystone Media Awards Celebration, where top editors, reporters, photographers, designers, digital content producers and broadcasters gather to share ideas and experience excellence through the presentation of the Professional Keystone Media Awards.
Have an issue you’d like the PNLA Board to address? We’d love to hear your ideas, thoughts and/or suggestions. Email Teresa Shaak or phone 717-703-3003.
PNLA’s Mission Statement:
The Pennsylvania News Leaders Association, a committee of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, promotes and advocates the critical role of journalism and a free press in Pennsylvania by improving professional standards, training and education; developing and mentoring aspiring journalists; encouraging diversity and collaboration; and recognizing outstanding work.
2023-24 PNLA Board of Directors
Chairperson: Marta Gouger, The Times News, Lehighton
Vice Co-Chairs: Larry Holeva, Times-Shamrock Communications, and Marea Mannion, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State
Secretary/Treasuer: Nick Falsone,
Board Members: Tim Lambert, WITF, Harrisburg; Cindi Lash, WESA, Pittsburgh; Mark Lawrence, WKOK, Sunbury; Dennis Lyons, Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.; Matt Martin, Erie Times-News; Cassie Miller, Pennsylvania Capital-Star; Tom Murse, LNP | LancasterOnline; Burke Noel, PennLive/The Patriot-News, Harrisburg; Patrick O’Shea, Beaver County Times and Ellwood City Ledger; Christina Paciolla, The Associated Press; and James Williams, Uptown Standard, Philadelphia.
Advisory Board (past presidents of the two former organizations and other retired media leaders):
Liz Allen, Cate Barron, Tom Barstow, Becky Bennett, Scott Blanchard, Sandra Clark, Michael Days, Jim Deegan, David Erdman, Wade Fowler, Ced Kurtz, Susan Martin, James McClure, Chip Minemyer, Terry Rang, James Sacchetti, F. Hope Stephan, Ted Sickler, Kim Strong and David Troisi.
Lifetime members:
John V. R. Bull, Harry J. Deitz Jr., Woodene B. Merriman and Ernest J. Schreiber.
Congratulations to Harry J. Deitz Sr., recipient of a *special commendation from PNLA!
The PNLA Board, in conjunction with the PNA Foundation, is recognizing Harry J Deitz Sr. for his more than 70 years of tireless community storytelling and devotion to journalism. Read our press release.
This award was presented on Nov. 1, as part of the Keystone Media Awards Luncheon held in conjunction with the News Media Business/Revenue Summit at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel.
*In its nearly 75 years, PNLA has presented this award of distinction to Pennsylvania journalists only once. In 2012, the organization – then known as PSNE – recognized Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage by The Patriot-News and The Philadelphia Inquirer.
About PSNE
Since 1949, the Pennsylvania Society of News Editors (PSNE) offered many opportunities for editors to network statewide and find real solutions to the challenges they face. Editors are under the constant demands of fast-paced deadlines, newsroom management issues, and ever-changing industry developments. PSNE’s purpose was to not only help with those concerns, but to improve the craft of journalism and recognize the best in news coverage from across the state.
