MVI staff captures 2024 Keystone Press Awards

Jeff Helsel

Carl Hill

Stacy Wolford

More than 2,660 entries were submitted in the annual statewide contest.

By the MVI

The Mon Valley Independent earned three Keystone Press Awards in the 2024 Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association’s annual competition for work published last year.

The Keystone awards reinforce excellence by individuals in the news media profession by recognizing journalism that consistently provides relevance, integrity and initiative in serving readers and faithfully fulfills its First Amendment rights/ responsibilities, the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association said in announcing the winners.

More than 2,660 entries — the most since 2020 — came from nearly 125 news organizations across Pennsylvania. Entries — in 53 regular categories and 12 specialty ones across seven circulation and four broadcast divisions — were judged by journalists from the Wisconsin Press Association.

Honored for their work at the MVI are:

• Staff photographer Jeff Helsel won first place in the Feature Photo category for his entry “Snowy Trot.”

Helsel joined MVI as a sports photographer in 2020 and became a staff photographer in 2022. He is an adjunct professor of photography and digital media technology at PennWest University.

• News Editor Carl Hill won second place in Headline Writing for the entries: Appealing ‘Banana Car’ in Monessen; Cat fight in Charleroi; ‘Yinzercon’ celebrates Pittsburgh culture n’at.

A veteran editor and journalist, Hill was a news editor at the former Valley Independent since 1996 and joined the MVI staff when it opened in 2016.

• Managing Editor Stacy Wolford won honorable mention for Column Writing for her entries: “Why you can’t change anyone’s political opinions;” “The value of local journalism depends on community support;” “Reflections on turning 50 and Christmases past.” A veteran journalist, Wo l f o r d started her career at the former Valley Independent in 1995 as an intern and reporter. She joined the MVI when the company formed. Over the years, her work has garnered awards by the Pa. NewsMedia Association and Associated Press Managing Editors.

“We have quite a team here at the Mon Valley Independent,” Wolford said. “Our entire staff here values community journalism and is dedicated in delivering the best for our readers. This is a great accomplishment for our staff. We work hard each day and it’s always special to be recognized by those in our industry.”