Independent recognized with 1st place Keystone Media Award

The Susquehanna County Independent earned a first place honor in the statewide 2021 Keystone Media Awards.

Independent editor Staci Wilson received a first place award in the Breaking News category for her May 2020 story: SusqCo sees RED.

Wilson said, “It is an honor to be recognized among the talented journalists working across Pennsylvania. The award serves to reinforce the belief that quality, community journalism plays a vital role in keeping the public informed, especially throughout this past year. The Independent continues to be the local newspaper that Susquehanna County residents can count on to bring them important and accurate information.”

In past years, Wilson has been recognized in several categories of the Keystone Media Awards.

The Susquehanna County Independent entry was among about 2,600 in 54 regular categories and 11 specialty categories submitted by 117 news organizations, according to the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, which is the Harrisburg-based official trade organization for many Pennsylvania news companies. The Independent competes in Division VI, for weekly general news publication.

The Keystone Media Awards – formerly called the Keystone Press Awards before merging with the PAPME Media Awards in 2020 – 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.