Jersey Journal wins 16 awards in statewide journalism contest

The Jersey Journal
on February 16, 2015 at 12:17 PM, updated February 16, 2015 at 1:14 PM

The Jersey Journal has won 16 awards in the 2014 Better Newspapers Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Press Association.
Having competed against newspapers of similar size throughout the state, Journal staffers and contributors will pick up seven first-place awards, seven second-place awards and two third-place awards at the annual NJPA banquet in the spring.

"This is a proud moment for The Jersey Journal. Being recognized by our peers for quality journalism is truly satisfying," Editor Margaret Schmidt said.

"Many of the judges' comments went beyond affirming what we do,'' she added, pointing to comments such as "watchdog journalism at its best'' and "great insights." "They honored our journalists with high praise.''

The honors are:

WRITING AND DESIGN

First place, Responsible Journalism, Editorial Comment: Agustin Torres
First place, Reporting and Writing, Breaking News: Staff for reporting on the ambush murder of Jersey City Police Officer Melvin Santiago
First place, Design and Presentation, News Pages: Tanya Manthey
First place, Robert Kelly Award for new reporters: Jonathan Lin
First place, News writing portfolio: Terrence T. McDonald

Second place, Public Service: Terrence T. McDonald, for a series of stories on the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority
Second place, Enterprise: Ken Thorbourne for a series of stories on Martin Luther King Drive in Jersey City
Second place, Overall Coverage: Staff for newspapers from the week of Sept. 20
Second place, Sports Columns: Patrick Villanova

Third place, Feature or Entertainment Columns: The Rev. Alexander Santora for the weekly Faith Matters column

PHOTOGRAPHY

First place, Feature Photo: Matt Gade
First place, News Picture Story: Reena Rose Sibayan

Second place, Sports Feature: Molly J. Smith

Second place, General News: Reena Rose Sibayan
Second place, Spot News: Lauren Casselberry

Third place, News Picture Story: Reena Rose Sibayan and Chase Gaewski

The submissions were put together and entered by City Editor Patrick Villanova and Photo Editor Reena Rose Sibayan.

The awards will be among those given at the NJPA Press Night banquet at the Manor in Hamilton on April 23.

NJ Advance Media and its affiliated companies will also be well-represented at the dinner having won a total of 87 awards.

Ralph Augenfeld, a longtime and pioneering engineer at WPIX-TV, Dead at 64

Ralph Augenfeld

Ralph Augenfeld, a longtime and pioneering engineer at WPIX-TV, died unexpectedly on Monday. He was 64.

Augenfeld began his career at WPIX  in 1979 as a maintenance engineer.  Soon thereafter, he became WPIX’s first ever News Engineer in Charge (EIC) and in the late 1990s was promoted to Engineering Manager.

Paul Brenner with Ralph Augenfeld

During his long career at the station,  Ralph was involved in many WPIX technical firsts, from the launch of the TV PIX video game contest in 1980 to the design and implementation of the very first COFDM Digital News Helicopter.

Many of his efforts continue to benefit WPIX-TV today, including the station’s Citigroup Building and North Shore microwave receives sites.

“Although Ralph left WPIX in 2005 to accept a Director of Engineering position at the UN, he always considered himself always and forever a “PIX Lifer”.  Ralph Augenfeld, of Brooklyn,  is survived by his daughter Britt and son Zach.




A service will be held for Ralph this Friday, Feb. 20 beginning at 2 pm at the following address: 135 Eastern Parkway, Apt. 3C Brooklyn, NY  11238.  Shiva will be held at the same location on Saturday, Feb. 21 & Sunday, Feb. 22 from 10 am to 6 pm on both days.