The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association awarded The Allegheny Front three statewide Keystone Media Awards in its division for radio stations in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia markets.
The awards recognize journalism that “consistently provides relevance, integrity, and initiative in serving readers and audiences, and faithfully fulfills its First Amendment rights/responsibilities.”
This year, 2,623 entries were received from 139 Pennsylvania news organizations. Journalists in Michigan judged the entries.
Terrie Baumgardner said the more she learned about the cracker plant Shell planned to build along the Ohio River, the more she knew she had to speak out about it. She hoped others would do the same. Photo: Kara Holsopple / The Allegheny Front
First Place, Best Documentary: ‘Covering the Start-Up of Shell’s Ethane Cracker’
The Allegheny Front’s Reid Frazier, Julie Grant, Kara Holsopple and Kathy Knauer covered the startup of Shell’s ethane cracker in 2022. Stories included voices from the community, advocates surveying the Ohio River for plastic pollution and experts who answered questions from our listeners.
This coverage also won a Golden Quill from the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania for Excellence in Audio Journalism in the Enterprise/Investigative category.
- In Beaver County, a mix of hope and fear over the startup of Shell’s ethane cracker
- An activist looks ahead as Shell’s Beaver County ethane cracker goes online
- Surveying the Ohio River for plastic nurdles, as Shell readies to open cracker
- Leaving Beaver County as Shell’s ethane cracker sets to open
- An ethane cracker in western Pa. will soon start up. We answered your questions
- Shell air pollution soars during startup of Beaver County cracker plant
For all of our coverage of the ethane cracker, go to our Coming Chemical Boom series page.
Tacumba Turner, program manager of Oasis Farm & Fishery, with Terina J. Hicks of Soul Pitt Media. Photo: Kara Holsopple / The Allegheny Front
Second Place, Best Series: ‘Sowing Soil with Soul in partnership with Soul Pitt Media’
In Pittsburgh’s Black community, urban agriculture goes beyond growing vegetables. It’s about providing food security, life and career skills, opportunities for veterans and youth empowerment.
The Allegheny Front’s Kara Holsopple and Kathy Knauer and Soul Pitt Media’s Terina J. Hicks and Donna Baxter showcased four Black urban farmers who are using their skills and talents to sustain their communities in the series “Sowing Soil with Soul.”
- Peace, love, friendship and food come together on an urban farm in Pittsburgh’s Hill District
- The Somali Bantu cultivate African crops and community in Pittsburgh’s North Side
- Family farm inspires healthy eating in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood
- A farm offers food, classes and a place to ‘just be’ in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood
Nathan Johnson, public lands director for the Ohio Environmental Council leaning against a white oak tree in a section of the Wayne National Forest slated for clear-cutting. Photo: Julie Grant / The Allegheny Front
Second Place, Best Enterprise Reporting: ‘Lawsuit challenges plan to clearcut white oak in Wayne National Forest’
The Allegheny Front’s Julie Grant won for her story that examined the growing demand for white oak wood, the predicted decline of white oak in American forests and the threats it faces from climate change, invasive insects and diseases.
This story also won a Golden Quill from the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania for Excellence in Audio Journalism in the Science/Environment category, including the Ed King Memorial Award for Best in Show.
