The Best Philly Journalists of the Year

This week the venerable Pen & Pencil Club, of which I am a member, handed out its first ever journalism awards. The P&P crafted the ballots; you (we?) voted for the winners. Here they are. (Oh, and booooo for not electing any Philly Mag people.)

1. Data Journalist of the Year for best use of the web, mobile or other digital means for oversight and informing communities:

   • Andrew McGill, PhillyCrimeMap [WINNER]
   • Rob Kandel, Inquirer

   • Casey Thomas, AxisPhilly AVI map

   • Faye Anderson, consultant various health and education apps

   • Mark Headd, City of Philadelphia Chief Data Officer

2. Best Use of Multimedia for the best photography, videography, podcasting, design or other non-text methods of conveying information.

   • Joe “Kaz” Kaczmarek, GunCrisis.org

   • Neal Santos, Citypaper [WINNER]

   • Pete Woodall, Hidden City

   • David Maialetti, Daily News

3. Social Media Use of the Year for exemplary work in breaking news, providing information or context on Twitter, Facebook or other social networks

   • Jim MacMillan, on Twitter himself and GunCrisis [WINNER]

   • Shannon McDonald, facebook.com/northeastphiladelphia @newsworksWHYY

   • Morgan Zalot, Daily News, personal Twitter

   • @Jane_Roh, City Council

   • Matt Katz, Inquirer, @mattkatz00

4. Sports Reporter of the Year for valuable breaking news, commentary and perspective on the sports around our region.

   • Howard Eskin, Fox 29

   • Mike Missanelli, 97.5

   • Les Bowen, Daily News

   • Sarah Baicker, Comcast SportsNet [WINNER]

   • Todd Zolecki, MLB.com

   • Phil Sheridan, Inquirer

   • Kyle Scott, CrossingBroad.com

5. Non-Traditional News Provider of the Year for exemplary and innovative work in informing communities outside of traditional news media roles.

   • Larry Eichel, Philadelphia Research Initiative, Pew Charitable Trusts

   • Ellen Kaplan, Committee of Seventy

   • Kevin Gillen, Econsult

   • Philadelphia police social media [WINNER]

   • SEPTA Customer Service, @septa_social

   • Ralph Cipriano, BigTrial.net

6. Outstanding Arts Journalism for exemplary work in covering and creating community around arts and other creative pursuits.

   • John Vettese, The Key at WXPN

   • Drew Lazor, Daily News [WINNER]

   • Peter Crimmins, WHYY

   • George Miller, JUMP magazine

   • Toby Zinman, theater Inquirer

   • libby rosof, the art blog

7. Breaking News of the Year for unexpected, sudden general news, this person is well-sourced, quick and accurate enough to depend on.

   • Troy Graham, Inquirer

   • Kathy Matheson, Associated Press

   • Alex Wigglesworth, (former) Metro

   • Brian Hickey, NewsWorks.org [WINNER]

   • Damon Williams, Philadelphia Tribune

8. Community Reporting of the Year for reporting on neighborhoods, niche focuses or other narrow or hyperlocal work with impact.

   • Emaleigh Doley, Rockland Street

   • Jared Brey, PlanPhilly

   • Juliana Reyes, Technically Philly [WINNER]

   • Albert Stumm, Passyunk Post

   • Aaron Moselle, Newsworks.org/WHYY

   • Tom Waring, Northeast Times

9. Broadcast News Personality of the Year for representing the journalism aesthetic on local TV, radio or other.

   • Jim Gardner, 6ABC [WINNER]

   • Claudia Gomez, Fox News

   • Renee Chenault Fattah, NBC10

   • Cherri Gregg, KYW 1060

   • Marty Moss-Coane, WHYY Radio Times

10. Commentary of the Year for columnists, voice-driven bloggers or others offering perspective and analysis of community work.

    • Dave Davies, WHYY [WINNER]

    • Nathaniel Popkin, Hidden City

    • Will Bunch, Philly.com

    • Inga Saffron, Inquirer

    • Daryl Gayle, Philadelphia Tribune

    • Joey Sweeney, Philebrity

11. Editor of the Year for exemplary and innovative work in leading the editorial vision of a news or media organization.

    • Matt Golas, PlanPhilly

    • Tom McGrath, Philadelphia magazine

    • Paul Socolar, Public School Notebook

    • Chris Satullo, NewsWorks WHYY [WINNER]

    • Hernán Guaracao, Al Dia

12. Reporter of the Year for consistent work of high quality in the calendar year showing impact. [Chris Brennan]

    • Patrick Kerkstra, freelance for Phillymag, PlanPhilly and others

    • Walt Hunter, CBS 3 [WINNER]

    • Jason Fagone, freelance, Philly mag, author of Ingenious

    • Susan Phillips, WHYY/NPR State Impact

    • Daniel Denvir, CityPaper

13. Outstanding Achievement in Investigative Reporting for breaking, finding or discovering new and important information that has a civic, public affairs impact.

    • David Gambacorta, Daily News [WINNER]

    • Steve Volk, Philadelphia magazine

    • Holly Otterbein, WHYY

    • Ben Herold, NewsWorks.org/Public School Notebook