HARRISBURG, Pa. — Lehigh Valley Public Media staffers were recognized in several categories in the 2025 Professional Keystone Media Awards organized by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.
The awards recognize work in print and digital news media, radio and television production.
Lehigh Valley Public Media comprises PBS39, 91.3 WLVR radio and LehighValleyNews.com.
In print and digital news media, LehighValleyNews.com captured the following:
- First place, feature story: Jenny Roberts, Allentown boxing gym is ‘best-kept secret’
- News video, first place: Grace Oddo, Election Day in the Lehigh Valley
- Sports video, first place: Staff, Darian Cruz aims for Olympic gold
- Second place, sports feature: Phil Gianficaro, Win, Dad, Win!: Bethlehem’s Darian Cruz aims for Olympic gold
In the radio portion of the contest, 91.3 WLVR was recognized for:
- First place, best regularly scheduled news or talk program: Insights with LehighValleyNews.com, Megan Frank
- First place, best documentary: Dream Monster: A memoir, Christine Dempsey
- Honorable mention, best feature: Patrick’s Picks, Christine Dempsey
- Second place, podcast (broadcast): Sip and Spin, Christine Dempsey
In the television categories, PBS39 was recognized for:
- First place, best sports feature: Phil Gianficaro, Jeff Frederick, Eric Werner, Samantha Bode — Win, Dad, Win!: Bethlehem’s Darian Cruz aims for Olympic gold
- Second place, best feature: Grover Silcox, Jeff Frederick and Samantha Bode — Living in the Lehigh Valley: Boxing to Mentor
- Second place, best public service: Brittany Sweeney, Jeff Frederick, Samantha Bode, Grover Silcox — Community Conversation: Unhoused in the Lehigh Valley
Awards will be presented and winners recognized in October during a luncheon in Harrisburg.
According to the PA NewsMedia Association, the Keystone Media Awards reinforce excellence by individuals in the news media profession, by recognizing journalism that consistently provides relevance, integrity and initiative in serving readers and audiences, and faithfully fulfills its First Amendment rights/responsibilities.