Trib Complete Media was named Finest General Newspaper on the SPJ Awards for the third time in a row

Trib Total Media was named Best Overall Newspaper for the third year in a row by the Keystone Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

“We are humble that the judges of this competition have given us this prestigious award three years in a row,” said Susan K. McFarland, editor-in-chief of Trib Total Media. “This year the award means even more because of the incredible hard work, resilience and tenacity our people have shown during this pandemic.”

The Keystone Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists announced the winners of the Excellence in Journalism 2020-21 competition on Tuesday. The Society of Professional Journalists “promotes open government, freedom of information, and the practice of accurate, ethical, entertaining and informative journalism.”

Trib Total Media won 27 awards in this year’s competition.

“Throughout this challenging year, our people have continued to be dedicated to serving our readers,” said Jennifer Bertetto, President and CEO of Trib Total Media. “In the midst of bans and fluctuations in the virus, it wasn’t always easy, but our journalists never stopped working to provide the most comprehensive coverage possible.

“We are very grateful for this recognition of a job well done.”

Trib Total Media was awarded in the following categories:

• Best overall newspaper

• Spotlight Award (Best of Show): “Tragedy in Brighton”, Natasha Lindstrom and Jamie Martines – Second place

• Medical / Health Coverage: Brighton Tragedy, Lindstrom and Martines – First Place

• Education coverage: pandemic disrupts education – third place

• Page design: work portfolio, Melanie Wass – first place

• Blog: “Empty Thoughts,” Seth Rorabaugh, First Place

• Editorial: Collection of editorials, Lori Falce – Second place

• Photo: “Swae Lee”, Kristina Serafini – first place

• Feature story: “A daughter’s promise”, JoAnne Klimovich Harrop – first place

• Feature Story: “Ban”, Paul Guggenheimer, Joe Napsha and Jeff Himler – Third place

• Writing Headings: Collection of Headings, Personnel – First Place

• Writing Headings: Collection of Headings, Staff – Second place

• Web usage: Tragedy at Brighton employees – first place

• Latest Online News: Deadly Turnpike Bus Crash, Staff – First Place

• Breaking News Online: Protests in downtown Pittsburgh, Staff – Third Place

• Photo story: Super supporters, employees – first place

• Photo story: Frzy, Kristina Serafini – third place

• Spot News Coverage: Deadly Turnpike Bus Crash, Staff – First Place

• Spot News Coverage: Protests in downtown Pittsburgh, Staff – Runner-up

• Lifestyle: Garden Column Collection, Doug Oster – Runner-up

• Feature Design: Collection of Works, Melanie Wass – Third Place

• Design of the sports page: collection of works, employees – first place

• Design of the sports page: collection of works, employees – second place

• Design of the sports page: collection of works, employees – third place

• Graphic / Photo Illustration: Atrocity Tracking – First Place

• Graphics / Photo Illustration: Do people spend money on sports games? – Second place

• Sports / outdoor column: column collection, Tim Benz – second place

Julia Felton is a contributor to Tribune Review. You can contact Julia at 724-226-7724, jfelton@triblive.com, or on Twitter.