The Bethlehem Press was named a Sweepstakes Winner in the 2025 Professional Keystone Media Awards.

The award is in Division VI, Weekly General News Publications, for work published during 2024 in the Bethlehem Press. George Taylor is editor of the Bethlehem Press.

It was the eighth time that the Bethlehem Press was a Sweepstakes Winner in the Professional Keystone Awards, having previously been named a Sweepstakes Winner in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014. The Bethlehem Press is celebrating its 20th year.

The Sweepstakes Award is given to a newspaper that garners the most points in a division. The Bethlehem Press won 16 Keystone awards.

Two additional Keystone awards were won for a total of 18 Professional Keystone Media Awards received in 2025 for The Press newspapers.

Whitehall-Coplay Press and Parkland Press each won an award.

The awards, to be presented at an Oct. 16 luncheon in Harrisburg, were announced June 20 on the Keystone NewsMedia website:

Whitehall-Coplay Press

- Second Place, Editorial, for Kelly Lutterschmidt, editor, Whitehall-Coplay Press: “What’s on your bucket list?; The importance of a fact-checker; Community newspapers; A ‘true asset’ to you and your family

Parkland Press

- Honorable Mention, Column, Bonne Lee Strunk: Life’s injustices are everybody’s problem; Romantic hearts never grow old; Each of us has enormous power within

Bethlehem Press

- News Feature Story, First Place, Nate Jastrzemski: Remembering Clennon; Rainbow

- Sports-Outdoor Column, Second Place, Jeff Moeller: PSU bowl game; Dark side; Confrontational

- Personality Profile, Second Place, Dana Grubb: Train layout a labor of love and friendship

- Lifestyle-Entertainment Beat, First Place, Therese O’Brien: Lehigh Valley health and public affairs

- Lifestyle-Entertainment Beat, Second Place, Paul Willistein: 18th Annual ABEs Salute Lehigh Valley Stage

- Sports Action Photo, Second Place, Mark Kirlin: Rodney Vasquez and the Pates made quick work of Allen in last week’s game

- Photo Story-Essay, Second Place, Ruth Grady: Gumdrops, Hershey kisses, Skittles and more

- News Page Design, Second Place, George Taylor: Keeping dream alive; Biden visits Emmaus; Blues and berries; Feast of St. Joseph; Taps; Dream Boyd Theater

- Feature Page Design, Second Place, George Taylor: Backpack to school; Chocolate trail; Class of 74 reunion; Life goes on rally; Musikfest safe and sound; Tucker’s toy run

- Feature Page Design, Honorable Mention, Dave Rowe, Paul Willistein: Holiday ballet; Disability and the arts; Strike up the band!; It will mean a thing; 18th Annual ABEs; The original Sgt. Pepper’s Band?

- Sports Page Design, First Place, Scott Pagel: Liberty baseball; Liberty softball; Becahi baseball;

Comes down to this; City champs; Becahi falls

- Headline Writing, First Place, Paul Willistein: Dune Part 2: Spice oddity; Fries frame: Film to tell of rebellion in time for America 250; Sweet 116: Bach Festival of Bethlehem; Whose adagio is it anyway?; The sounds of silents: ‘Nosferatu’ scary movie score; Sticky ‘Wicked’

- Headline Writing, Honorable, Mention, Ed Courrier, Nate Jastrzemski, George Taylor: Lift; Duct; Feat

- Graphic-Photo Illustration, First Place, Ed Courrier: We’re still waiting for pre-authorization

- Special Section, Second Place, Scott Pagel: 2924 fall sports season preview

- Excellence in Reporting on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Honorable Mention, Tami Quigley, Dennis Glew, Jennifer Rago, Lori Patrick

According to the Keystone NewsMedia website: 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. Further, the Keystone Media Awards stimulate journalists to improve their craft and ultimately improve their community.

2025 Professional Keystone Media Awards:

https://panewsmedia.org/contests-and-awards/keystone-media-awards-professional/