Jeff Sigmund
NAA Director of Communications, (571) 366-1088
Jeff.sigmund@naa.org
www.naa.org
May 7, 2010
NAA FOUNDATION PRESENTS YOUNG READER AND YOUTH CONTENT AWARDS
Arlington, Va. – The Newspaper Association of America Foundation today recognized the winners of its Young Reader Awards, honoring new and noteworthy ideas in Newspaper In Education (NIE) and Youth Editorial Alliance (YEA) programs from across the country. Winners will participate in the NAA Foundation’s Virtual Young Reader Conference, a series of four webinars taking place today. More information on the winning entries can be accessed by clicking here.
“Despite economic challenges facing newspapers, I am encouraged that many publishers continue to invest in NIE and youth content programs that engage our medium’s future audience,” said Margaret Vassilikos, senior vice president and treasurer of the NAA Foundation. “This year’s award winners have demonstrated the ability to captivate young readers, as well a strong commitment to driving newspaper readership both inside and outside the classroom.”
Winners of the 2010 NAA Foundation Young Reader Awards are as follows:
State/Regional/National Press Association NIE
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Foundation
Pennsylvania NIE Committee
Janet Bevan, manager of outreach and partnerships
Newspaper NIE, circulation 150,001 and above
The Seattle Times
Sarah Johnson, program and outreach specialist
Youth Editorial, circulation up to 60,000
Unleashed, Yakima (Wash.) Herald-Republic
Adriana Janovich, program coordinator/David Goehner, ESD 105 public information officer
Youth Editorial, circulation 60,001 and above
Teenlink South Florida, Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Jennifer Jhon, youth editor/Reese Chiavari, art director
Collaboration: joint efforts/projects, circulation 60,001-150,000
The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press, Kalamazoo (Mich.) Gazette and The Muskegon (Mich.) Chronicle
Ann Marie Keeler, NIE coordinator
Collaboration: joint efforts/projects, circulation 150,001 and above
Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Debbie Rahamim, educational services manager
Winners of the 2010 NAA Foundation Youth Content Contest are as follows:
Best Children’s Writing
First: “South Fayette teen gets discovered,” Susan Hepburn, Expressions, The Almanac, McMurray, Pa., Allison Duratz, youth editor
Second: “Family fired up after house burns down,” Kaitlyn Sudolnik, Colorado Kids, The Denver Post, Jill Armstrong, youth editor
Third: “Teen has one Ty-riffic horse,” Frannie Salisbury, FlipSide, The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette, Amy Robinson, youth editor
Honorable Mention: “Mesa Verde: It will matter forever,” Rachel Israelsen and Connor Pearson, Colorado Kids, The Denver Post, Jill Armstrong, youth editor
Cartoon/Comic
First: “Protective gear for the school year,” Colin Forsyth, NeXT, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News, Sharon Gleason, youth editor
Second: “The Irrelephant,” Matt Vernacchia, Expressions, The Almanac, McMurray, Pa., Allison Duratz, youth editor
Feature Story
First: “The writing's on the wall,” Michelle King, Teenlink, Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jennifer Jhon, youth editor
Second: “Team Edward vs. Team Harry,” Nykia Tanniehill and Melissa L. Espana, The Mash, Chicago Tribune, Phil Thompson and Erinn Hutkin, youth editors
Third: “ A reason to be thankful,” Cameron Austin, The Edge, The Roanoke (Va.) Times, Sharla Bardin, youth editor
Honorable Mention: “High school bill of rights,” Mateus Falci, Teenlink, Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jennifer Jhon, youth editor
First-person Feature
First: “The shock of losing a friend,” Curtis Penfold, The Voice, The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill., Molly Beck, youth editor
Second: “The mophead,” Ali Watkins, Voices, Reading (Pa.) Eagle, Stacie Jones, youth editor
Third: “Teen works at Ona shelter,” Danielle McCallister, FlipSide, The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette, Amy Robinson, youth editor
Honorable Mention: “Public library's audio books,” Elaine Abdalla, FlipSide, The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette, Amy Robinson, youth editor
Honorable Mention: “Gardening is uplifting,” Corey Outerbridge, Young Observer, The Royal Gazette, Hamilton, Bermuda, Jennifer Hind, youth editor
Illustration/Graphic
First: “Divorce rips families apart,” Melody Campbell, TX., Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Becky Cairns, youth editor
Second: “Self-acceptance,” Shawn Lupole, Fresh Ink, Erie (Pa.) Times-News, Amanda Prischak, youth editor
Third: “Can you hear me now,” Hannah Christ, Voices, Reading (Pa.) Eagle, Stacie Jones, youth editor
Honorable Mention: “Greenies,” Andrew Harless, The Voice, The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill., Molly Beck, youth editor
Honorable Mention: “Read,” Jonathan Roberts, The Edge, The Roanoke (Va.) Times, Sharla Bardin, youth editor
Honorable Mention: “What's your boiling point,” Anca-Roberta Vlasan, Teenlink, Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jennifer Jhon, youth editor
News Feature
First: “Musical with a message,” Hans Glick, NeXT, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News, Sharon Gleason, youth editor
Second: “Summer setback,” Kristin Salaky, Expressions, The Almanac, McMurray, Pa., Allison Duratz, youth editor
Third: “Swine flu concerns,” Lindsay Graff, Teenlink, Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jennifer Jhon, youth editor
News Story
First: “Noogie fever,” Lynda Lopez, The Mash, Chicago Tribune, Phil Thompson and Erinn Hutkin, youth editors
Second: “Dr. Death shocks NSU,” Anca-Roberta Vlasan and Julia Bomfim, Teenlink, Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jennifer Jhon, youth editor
Third: “After the flood,” Emily Steves, NeXT, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News, Sharon Gleason, youth editor
Opinion
First: “More than just a game,” Alexander Vilardo, NeXT, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News, Sharon Gleason, youth editor
Second: “First step is the hardest,” Tessa Speicher, Voices, Reading (Pa.) Eagle, Stacie Jones, youth editor
Third: “Obama deserves Nobel Peace Prize,” Ryan R. Migeed, Unlisted, The Republican, Springfield, Mass., Anne-Gerard Flynn, youth editor
Honorable Mention: “Reward the best teachers,” Kevin Cheberenchick, Expressions, The Almanac, McMurray, Pa., Allison Duratz, youth editor
Personality Profile
First: “Model citizen,” Curtis Penfold, The Voice, The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill., Molly Beck, youth editor
Second: “Capozzoli strikes right notes,” Shannon Smith, Expressions, The Almanac, McMurray, Pa., Allison Duratz, youth editor
Third: “A new chapter,” Hope Ammen, The Edge, The Roanoke (Va.) Times, Sharla Bardin, youth editor
Honorable Mention: “Teen parenting: a father's view,” Diamante White, Voices, Reading (Pa.) Eagle, Stacie Jones, youth editor
Photograph
First: “Old Crow Medicine Show revival,” Alex McDilda, The Edge, The Roanoke (Va.) Times, Sharla Bardin, youth editor
Second: “When pets take after humans,” Jenn Ghan, TX., Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Becky Cairns, youth editor
Third: “Service with a smile,” Travis Watcher, The Edge, The Roanoke (Va.) Times, Sharla Bardin, youth editor
Honorable Mention: “Bullying no joke,” Megan Leonardi, TX., Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Becky Cairns, youth editor
Review
First: “ 'Slumdog Millionaire' is a sustained visual splendor,” Jud Widing, Voices, Reading (Pa.) Eagle, Stacie Jones, youth editor
Second: “Failed close encounter,” Cindy Chung, Teenlink, Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jennifer Jhon, youth editor
Third: “Tarantino's dark side,” Bayan Misaghi, FlipSide, The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette, Amy Robinson, youth editor
Sports Story
First: “A journey of discovery and determination,” Amy Friedman, The Edge, The Roanoke (Va.) Times, Sharla Bardin, youth editor
Second: “Beating the clock,” Ashley Curtis, The Edge, The Roanoke (Va.) Times, Sharla Bardin, youth editor
Third: “Gridiron gals,” Laura Nichols, The Mash, Chicago Tribune, Phil Thompson and Erinn Hutkin, youth editors
Honorable Mention: “Beware athletes' habits,” Abbie Vega, Voices, Reading (Pa.) Eagle, Stacie Jones, youth editor
Newspaper In Education is a cooperative effort between schools, newspapers and civic-minded sponsors that promotes the use of newspapers as an educational resource and curriculum tool. The Youth Editorial Alliance is an advocate for youth voices in the news media committed to high quality newspaper content which addresses their concerns.
The NAA Foundation strives to develop engaged and literate citizens in our diverse society through investment in and support of programs designed to enhance student achievement through newspaper readership and appreciation of the First Amendment. The Foundation also endeavors to help news media companies increase their readership and audience by offering programs that encourage the cultivation of a more diverse work force in the press. Information about the Foundation and its programs may be found at www.naafoundation.org.