Newsday takes home top honors in news, photography from New York News Publishers Association

Newsday took home a dozen awards from the New York News Publishers Association for its coverage of breaking news, investigative reporting, photography, features, business, sports and an advertising program.

The staff was recognized for its breaking news coverage of the Gilgo Beach killings and the arrest of a suspect, Rex Heuermann, who has been charged in four deaths.

It also won a community service award for the project, “Feeling The Squeeze: The high cost of living crisis on Long Island.”

Investigative reporter Jim Baumbach and education reporter Joie Tyrrell were recognized for investigative reporting in their series on teacher misconduct cases on Long Island.

“I’m so incredibly proud of our Newsday team of journalists for being recognized with top honors for their critical work on issues important to Long Islanders,” Newsday Managing Editor Rochell Bishop Sleets said.

In business reporting, James T. Madore was awarded for his story, “Prices keep going up. Now the minimum wage will, too.”

Sports columnist Laura Albanese was recognized for column writing from various subjects, including local and professional sports.

Newsday’s food writers took the award for a features supplement, awarded to Andi Berlin, Erica Marcus and Scott Vogel for Newsday’s FeedMe magazine’s Ultimate Guide of Chinese Food.

Features Deputy Editor Heather Doyle and reporter Rachel Weiss won for headline writing on the story, “This house almost fell off a cliff. The owners are trying to save it for future generations.”

Several Newsday photographers also took home top honors.

“Newsday photographers had a great showing in the NYNPA competition this year,” said John Keating, director of multimedia newsgathering and photography. “Winning first place prizes in news, sports and features speaks to the broad skill set of our staffers.”

J. Conrad Williams Jr. won in news photography for his photo “A Widow’s Grief” and in sports photography for a surfer riding the waves at Lido Beach.

Photographer Steve Pfost won for feature photography for his photo of a father in a wheelchair dancing with his daughter at her wedding in Sayville.

Newsday’s advertising department of Nannette Fevola, Adrian Debattista, Donna Saladino and Valerie Kellogg received awards for best innovative idea for their, “Let’s Go! Brand 360 Custom Content Series Marketing Program.” They also were awarded for presenting their innovative idea on video.

“I am so proud of Newsday’s Brand360 advertising marketing team for winning this prestigious award,” said Andrea Rothchild, chief advertising revenue officer. “It highlights the creative approach the team takes in telling local advertisers’ unique stories.”

CORRECTION: Reporter Joie Tyrrell's name was misspelled in a previous version of this story.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.