Express News Group Wins Honors in PCLI Media Awards, Folio Awards

Express News Group publications, staff members and photographers won multiple honors this month at both the Press Club of Long Island Media Awards and the Fair Media Council’s Folio Awards.

The Express News Group won the Robert W. Greene Public Service Award from the Press Club of Long Island for “A College at Southampton: Past, Present and Future.”

In addition to the in-depth three-part package that appeared in Express News Group newspapers and an editorial at the conclusion of the series, the effort culminated with a live “Express Sessions” panel discussion and a podcast.

Coming out of the live event, there was palpable change in the public conversation about the future of the college campus — which was aided by the fact that Stony Brook University sent a literal bus full of administrators to the Express Sessions event to listen, and came away impressed with the community's interest in and affection for the campus.

For “A Helping Hand,” The Express News Group won second place in the Solutions Journalism category, in the narrative division.

Executive Editor Joseph P. Shaw, Managing Editor Bill Sutton, Features Editor Michelle Trauring, staff writer Cailin Riley and freelancers Julianne Mosher and J.D. Allen contributed to “A Helping Hand,” a special section on the struggles that South Fork nonprofits are currently facing, accompanied by an editorial and a live Express Sessions panel that took place at the Southampton Arts Center and was also turned into an episode of the “Sessions Report” podcast. The project culminated in a new South Fork Nonprofit Directory hosted permanently at 27east.com/south-fork-non-profit-directory.

The Southampton Press earned second place in the Best Community Weekly Newspaper category, and The Express Magazine earned third place for Best Magazine.

“This newspaper has relevant content to the community it serves,” the judges wrote of The Southampton Press. “From news, to arts, to local sports, it keeps the local community informed.”

Photo Editor Dana Shaw earned second place in the Photo Essay or Gallery category for “Backstage at the Nutcracker,” published in the 2024 holiday edition of The Express Magazine.

In the Feature Photograph category, Marianne Barnett won second place for “Trail of Truth Riders Stand in Solidarity With Shinnecock Nation,” published in The Southampton Press-Eastern Edition.

“Dramatic composition, powerful image,” the judges wrote.

Ron Esposito won third place Sports Photograph for “Westhampton Senior Dives and Scores a Touchdown,” published in The Southampton Press-Western Edition.

Express News Group cartoonist Peter Waldner won second place in the Cartoon category. “Compelling way of making a political point,” the judges wrote.

The Press Club of Long Island, a chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, swapped judging duties with SPJ’s San Diego chapter, with the exception of special awards, such as the Greene Award, which are selected by the Press Club of Long Island Board of Directors.

The Express News Group also shared honors with Southampton-based public radio station WLIW-FM.

The weekly news discussion “Behind the Headlines,” co-hosted by Shaw and Sutton and produced by WLIW, earned third place in the Government & Politics category in the radio division.

“Well done,” the judges wrote, adding that the example episodes entered into the contest show “a deep understanding of the issues discussed.”

In addition to Shaw and Sutton, the individuals named on the award included WLIW General Manager Diane Masciale, WLIW Producer Delaney Hafener, WLIW Producer Kyle Lynch, Senior Broadcast Engineer Brian Bannon, WLIW host Brian Cosgrove, Express News Group Co-Publisher Gavin Menu, East End Beacon Editor and Publisher Beth Young and RiverheadLocal Editor and Publisher Denise Civiletti.

At the Folio Awards, WLIW and The Express News Group won in the Housing Reporting category, for “Express Sessions: Real Estate Pros Take the Pulse of the Market,” a live event at Page Sag Harbor broadcast as a radio program, and in the Best News Special Report category for “1st District Matters,” a six-part podcast in which Shaw, then-Express News Group reporter Christopher Walsh and WLIW’s Michael Mackey interviewed U.S. Representative Nick LaLota and 2024 election challenger John Avlon about important issues in the race.