PHIA recognizes five newspapers for reporting and commentary
Five Pennsylvania newspapers were honored at PHIA’s Transportation Conference and Annual Meeting for excellence in reporting and commentary during the last year.
The Chambersburg Public Opinion, Carlisle Sentinel and Lebanon Daily News, collaborating under the banner of the Central Pennsylvania Joint Reporting Project, were recognized for the series titled “Interstate 81: Troubled Highway,” published in all three papers in January.
The series examined the ways I-81 has re-shaped the smaller communities along its path, and it took a critical look at the future of one of the country’s most important transportation corridors. The project also received assistance from a Shippensburg University journalism class. The series can be viewed here.
Also receiving an award was the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for its continuing coverage of transportation issues. Post-Gazette transportation writer Jon Schmitz covers the beat with newspaper articles and blog posts, and he was on hand to accept the award.
Finally, the Harrisburg Patriot-News was praised for editorials that support addressing the transportation funding issue, as well as for providing a venue for guest commentary on the subject. Jeanette Krebs, editorial page editor, accepted the award.
“The news media has always been an important part of how the public learns about transportation issues,” said PHIA Managing Director Jason Wagner. “It’s not often that we have so many journalistic endeavors worthy of recognition, but that certainly was the case this year.
“It’s a reflection of the growing prominence of the transportation funding issue, and it’s yet another indication that the time is right for the General Assembly and the administration to address the problem.”
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Jason…great job. keep it up. i will get that piece to you shortly.
May 23, 2011 at 11:33 pm