BY SCOTT STIFFLER | The truly, madly, deeply embedded Manhattanites of NYC Community Media just adore a penthouse view — and, under normal conditions, vastly prefer Park Avenue to Green Acres. But every spring, our fancy turns from the hectic juggling of weekly deadlines to thoughts of slow-paced, scenic Saratoga Springs. That’s where the New York Press Association’s annual convention happens — an opportunity to sharpen our skills at seminars, schmooze with colleagues, and applaud NYPA’s Better Newspaper Contest winners.
The Apr. 8 and 9 award ceremonies saw Chelsea Now’s name called three times, for recognition in our division. In the Best Column category, an Honorable Mention went to Chelsea resident Rick Carrier, who impressed with a vivid, breathtakingly paced three-part series based on his World War II experiences. “Rick’s columns seem movie-worthy and make for a great read,” wrote the judge. “His voice is one of only a few left, and to have him as a resource is invaluable.”
An Honorable Mention also went to Chelsea Now for Best Obituaries (a statewide category encompassing all divisions). Albert Amateau was recognized for his coverage of an Oct. 7, 2015 memorial service for Doris Corrigan. Ten longtime friends and colleagues of Corrigan, known for her devotion to the neighborhood and her advocacy of progressive Democratic Party politics, were also recognized for penning testimonials (Pamela Wolff, Gloria Sukenick, NY State Senator Brad Hoylman, Robert Trentlyon and Councilmember Corey Johnson were among the contributors, in a three-page spread compiled by Chelsea Now editor Scott Stiffler).
Michael Shirey, art director, won First Place for Best Small Space Ad. “The ad pops off the page with red gloves. The perfect amount of copy,” said the judge of Shirey’s design for a Kingsway Boxing Gym ad. Shirey and account executive Allison Greacker took home a Third Place honor for Best Multi-Advertiser Page (for their work in our sister publication, Gay City News). Shirey won several additional awards for Gay City News, Chelsea Now’s sister publication, including Honorable Mention for Overall Design Excellence.
A Second Place award for Coverage of the Arts went to The Villager (another of our sister publications). Recognized for their contribution: Trav S.D.’s interview with performance artist Penny Arcade; Puma Perl’s profile of the Guerrilla Girls; Scott Stiffler (arts editor of The Villager, Chelsea Now and Downtown Express), for his account of paranormal occurrences at Merchant’s House Museum and the Bartow-Pell Mansion; Dusica Sue Malesevic, for a profile of Magie Dominic in anticipation of an NYPL lecture (“Magic Time at the Caffe Cino”); and our art critic, Stephanie Buhmann, for her look at the Tomi Ungerer exhibit at The Drawing Center. “I love the variety of topics,” wrote the judge. “These are lively pages with bright writing that I’m sure your readers look forward to each issue.”
Under the leadership of editor-in-chief Lincoln Anderson, The Villager once again made a strong showing at NYPA. Anderson’s honors included First Place for News Story, Second Place for Best News or Feature Series, Third Place for Writer of the Year, Second Place for In-Depth Reporting, and First Place for Editorial Page (judges praised his “very personalized touch to compelling arguments”). He also shared Third Place Best Obituaries honors with Albert Amateau and Judith Mahoney Pasternak. Graphic Designer Chris Ortiz won Third Place in the Overall Design Excellence and Best House Ad categories.
Gay City News editor-in-chief Paul Schindler (who serves in the same capacity for NYC Community Media’s recently launched Manhattan Express publication) was an Honorable Mention in the Writer of the Year category (“smooth writing, like smooth jazz, is easy to take in,” wrote one of the judges, adding, “Paul is a fine storyteller”). He shared Second Place in the Best Editorial Page category with colleagues Kelly Cogswell, Susie Day, Nathan Riley and Ed Sikov. Schindler also won First Place honors for Editorials (among his topics: “The Blood Stigma Continues,” which addressed the FDA’s policies regarding the donation of blood by gay and bisexual men). Other Gay City News wins included Second Place for Coverage of Elections/Politics and Third Place for Coverage of Crime/Police/Courts (Duncan Osborne, Andy Humm & Paul Schindler). Kelly Cogswell won Third Place for Best Column.
Kudos also went to our sister publications in Brooklyn (Honorable Mentions in the Best Front Page and Best Graphic categories for The Brooklyn Paper), and Queens — whose wins included, in the highest circulation category, Second Place for Best Newspaper (TimesLedger), Third Place for Best Editorial Page (Bayside Times), and Honorable Mention for Feature Story (TimesLedger). When the dust settled and the last award was handed out, the collection of NYC Community Media, LLC publications (Jennifer Goodstein and Les Goodstein, Publishers) placed third in overall points, in the Group or Chain Newspapers category.
Congratulations to all of the winners, whether colleagues from our own company, or competitors from across the state…now, let’s all get back to work!
