Schneps Media — the parent company of more than 80 publications across New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, Philadelphia and Florida — is proud to announce that its editors, reporters, photographers, graphics artists, web developers and sales team took home 35 awards in the 2022 New York Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.
The annual awards, presented during the New York Press Association’s Spring Conference in Albany, New York, recognize outstanding, high-quality journalism produced by community newspapers throughout the Empire State. Ten of the awards were won by amNewYork Metro, with the publication’s breaking news editor winning photographer of the year.
Schneps Media newspapers earned awards in various categories recognizing outstanding editorial, graphic and photographic content, website development as well as excellence in advertising. The chain finished the contest with 250 points, the second-highest total for newsgroups across the Empire State.
Of particular note, Schneps Media secured a combined 16 first- and second-place awards, reflecting the high-quality work of its team of editors, reporters, photographers, graphic designers and salespeople. Two of its team members also received individual recognition.
Dean Moses, breaking news editor at amNewYork Metro, received first prize in the NYPA Photographer of the Year category. The judges particularly recognized Moses’ work in covering the homelessness crisis in New York City, saying, “The homeless topic is not an easy place to approach. Yet the photographer was able to capture the frozen moments in time that tell the story for the community to better understand itself.”
Meanwhile, Kirstyn Brendlen, digital editor of The Brooklyn Paper, earned the second prize in the NYPA Writer of the Year category — the second-straight year she was so honored. The judges said Brendlen’s work was stellar regardless of subject matter, saying, “the diversity of work” was noteworthy, from covering nursing home deaths to a feature about a tree-planting in honor of a child who died of cancer.
“We have the best team in the news business and are happy to receive this recognition from our peers,” said Joshua Schneps, Schneps Media CEO. “We pride ourselves on the quality of what we do for our readers, we are all about you!”
In all, amNewYork Metro, earned 10 NYPA awards in 2022, the most of any Schneps Media outlet. Robert Pozarycki, editor-in-chief, and Moses teamed up to win first place in the Spot News Coverage category (Division 3) for their work in covering the murder of a Chinatown woman last February.
Schneps Media outlets took all four prizes awarded in Spot News Coverage, Division 3, a reflection of the company’s outstanding effort in covering breaking news like no one else: Kathleen Warnock of Gay City News won second prize; Ben Brachfeld, Kirstyn Brendlen, Paul Frangipane and Jessica Parks won third prize; and Moses also received an honorable mention.
The Bronx Times, and reporter Robbie Sequeira, took home first place in Feature Story Division 1 for his writing on the work of delivery workers in the borough and throughout New York City. The judges said his story provided “a fascinating picture of an industry that operates mostly in the background of daily life.”
Additionally, the Long Island Press took home first place honors in Best Media Kit/Sales Collateral.
The full list of Schneps Media entrants who earned Better Newspaper Contest awards for 2022 follows:
First place
Photographer of the Year: Dean Moses, amNewYork Metro
Judges’ remarks: This entry stood well above the rest with incredible strong storytelling images. The homeless topic is not an easy place to approach. Yet the photographer was able to capture the frozen moments in time that tell the story for the community to better understand itself. Looking through the subjects in the photos, you can tell the photographer was compassionate about the community, the subjects, and human life. They opened their doors to this photographer and let him into their difficult worlds. No brainer for the Photographer of the Year.
Spot News Coverage, Division 3: Robert Pozarycki and Dean Moses, amNewYork Metro
Feature Story, Division 1: Robbie Sequeira, Bronx Times
Best Media Kit/Sales Collateral: Long Island Press
Second place
Writer of the Year: Kirstyn Brendlen, Brooklyn Paper
Best Front Page, Division 1: amNewYork Metro (Luis Matos and Robert Pozarycki)
Business, Financial and Economic News Coverage: amNewYork Metro (Kirstyn Brendlen)
Coverage of the Arts, Division 1: The Villager (Bob Krasner)
Spot News Coverage, Division 3: Gay City News (Kathleen Warnock)
News Story, Division 2: Bronx Times (Ameena Walker)
Best News or Feature Series, Division 2: Queens Courier (Julia Moro and Bill Parry)
Best Distinguished Coverage of Diversity: Bronx Times (Robbie Sequeira)
Sports Action Photo(s), Division 3: amNewYork Metro (Dean Moses)
Spot News Photos, Division 3: amNewYork Metro (Dean Moses)
Best Multi-Advertiser Pages: Dan’s Papers (Beth Landmann)
Best Video: amNewYork Metro (Elizabeth Aloni)
Third place
Best Front Page, Division 1: Bronx Times (Mauro DeLuca and Christian Falcone)
Coverage of the Arts, Division 2: Brooklyn Paper (Kirstyn Brendlen, Ximena Del Cerro
and Jessica Parks)
Coverage of the Environment: Dan’s Papers (Timothy Bolger and Oliver Peterson)
Headline Writing: Bay News (Meaghan McGoldrick)
Spot News Coverage, Division 3: Brooklyn Paper (Ben Brachfeld, Kirstyn Brendlen, Paul Frangipane and Jessica Parks)
Feature Story, Division 1: Bronx Times (Robbie Sequeira)
Best Special Section – Advertising: Bayside Times (Zach Gewelb)
Best Media Kit/Sales Collateral: amNewYork Metro (Ed Abrams, Luis Matos and Zelinda Barnes)
Best Local Business Support Campaign: Long Island Press
Best Video: amNewYork Metro (Elizabeth Aloni)
Honorable mentions
Past Presidents’ Award, Division 2: Gay City News
Investigative/In-Depth Reporting, Division 2: Brooklyn Paper (Ben Brachfeld and George Joseph)
Coverage of the Arts, Division 2: Dan’s Papers (David Taylor)
Coverage of Crime, Police and Courts: amNewYork Metro
Solutions Journalism Project: Brooklyn Paper (Kirstyn Brendlen)
Spot News Coverage, Division 3: Bay Ridge Courier (Ben Brachfeld)
News Story, Division 4: Brooklyn Paper (Anna Bradley-Smith)
Spot News Photos, Division 3: amNewYork Metro (Dean Moses)
Best Personality Profile: Long Island Press (Timothy Bolger)
