UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State student-produced newscasts and related segments earned seven top-three finishes in a statewide media competition that pitted the student work against that of professionals at network affiliates across Pennsylvania.
The students’ performance included three first-place finishes, three second-place finishes and one third-place finish.
The Professional Keystone Media Awards are conducted by the Pennsylvania News Media Association.
Penn State’s winners were:
- Best Sportscast: First Place, “After the Whistle” (Sept. 19, 2025)
- Best Sports Coverage: First Place, “Turning Point: Nittany Lions deal with coaching change” (Cailey Thalman/Centre County Report)
- Best Sports Feature: First Place, “Penn State Adaptive Athlete pushes past doubters” (Jake Hernick/In the Game)
- Best Sports Feature: Second Place, “Molly Workman excels in the water and the classroom" (Anneke Wagner/After the Whistle)
- Best Enterprise Reporting: Second Place, “Fighting to Survive: PA volunteer fire companies battle funding and staffing challenges” (Sarah Grosch)
- Best Public Service: Second Place, “From Grief to Grace: How the Piazza family turned a tragedy into a positive mission” (Eric Morris)
- Best Newscast: Third Place, “Centre County Report” (April 4, 2025)