PGN is the nation’s most-awarded LGBT publication. We’ve garnered at least 243 awards in our 40 years from local, state and national press associations. For our 40th anniversary, we scoured our archives and compiled a full list of our accolades.
1983-1988
Gay & Lesbian Press Association
• Tommi Avicolli — Local News Reporting
• Victoria Brownworth — Ongoing Coverage of Non-Medical Issues, Ongoing Coverage Health Coverage, National News Reporting
• Joseph DeMarco — Award for Excellence in Feature Writing
• Nathan Fain — Community Service Award
• John Hanson — National News Reporting
• Karla Jay — Award for Excellence in Interviews
• Lawrence Mass, M.D. — Community Service Award
• Michael Melquist — Ongoing Coverage of a Specific Non-Medical Issue
• Staff — Editorial Writing and Commentary, Coverage of Lesbian Issues, National News Reporting (3), Local News Reporting (2)
• Staff — The Wallace Hamilton Award for Cultural Reporting
1989-1995*
1996
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Keystone Press Awards
• Brian Caffall — 2nd place, Column; 2nd place, Feature Beat Reporting
• Victor Havens — 1st place, Page Design
• Sarah Miller — 2nd place, Public Service/Investigative Reporting
• Al Patrick — 1st place, Editorial
1997
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Keystone Press Awards
• Brian Caffall — 2nd place, Column
• Victor Havens — 1st place, Graphic/Photo Illustration; 2nd place, Page Design
• Kevin Melrose — 1st place, Front Page Design
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Newspaper of the Year Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Newswriting Excellence
— 2nd place, Advertising Excellence
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Display Advertising Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Single Ad, Half-Page and Over — “This is a Test”
— 2nd place, Single Ad, Half-Page and Over — “Everyday”
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Classified Advertising Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Commercial/Non-Commercial Ad — “Danny’s Adam and Eve”
1998
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Display Advertising Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Single Ad, Over Half-Page — “The Raven: Cabaret”
— 2nd place, Single Ad, Over Half-Page — “The Raven: 4 Knights”
— 3rd place, Single Ad, Over Half-Page — “The Raven: Sunday Brunch”
— 3rd place, Single Ad, Under Half-Page — “Today’s Male”
— 3rd place, Use of Clip Art Service — “I Am Proud”
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Classified Advertising Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Commercial/Non-Commercial Ad — “Tropical Paradise”
— 2nd place, Classifieds/Special Section — “PGN Telepersonals”
— 2nd place, Promotion of a Classified Section — “Win a Trip for Two”
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Newspaper of the Year Contest
• Staff — 2nd place, Editorial/Opinion Page Excellence
— 2nd place, Newswriting Excellence
— Honorable mention, Layout and Design
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Keystone Press Awards
• Robert DiGiacomo — 2nd place, Feature Beat Reporting
• Karen Goulart — Honorable mention, News Beat Reporting
• Kevin Melrose — 2nd place, Business and Consumer Story
• Harriet Schwartz —1st place, Feature Beat Reporting
• Patti Tihey — 2nd place, Headline Writing
1999
SPJ: Greater Philadelphia Chapter Excellence in Journalism Awards
• Bob Adams — 3rd place, Deadline or Spot News Story
• Karen Goulart — 2nd place, Non-deadline Writing
• Karen Goulart — 3rd place, Deadline or Spot News Story
• Kevin Melrose — 3rd place, Page Design
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Newspaper of the Year Contest
• Staff — 2nd place, Editorial/Opinion Page Excellence
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Keystone Press Awards
• Bob Adams — 2nd place, Feature Story
• Kevin Melrose — 1st place, Front Page Design
2000
SPJ: Greater Philadelphia Chapter Excellence in Journalism Awards
• Karen Goulart —2nd place, Non-deadline Writing
• Patti Tihey — 3rd place, Editorial
PA Newspaper Publisher’s Association: Display Advertising Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Use of One or More Colors — “A Night at the Speakeasy”
— 1st place, Single Ad, Quarter Page and Under — “Mark Watkins”
— 1st place, Single Ad, Over a Quarter Page — “Hard Surfaces”
— 2nd place, Single Ad, Over a Quarter Page — “The Raven”
— 1st place, Ad Campaign or Series — “Trellis Florist”
— 2nd place, Self-Promotion Advertising — “Dating Can be Confusing”
— 2nd place, Use of One or More Colors — “After 20 Years”
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Newspaper of the Year Contest
• Staff — 2nd place, Diversity, 2nd place, Advertising Excellence
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Keystone Press Awards
• Karen Goulart — Honorable mention, Series/Special Project
• Victor Havens — 2nd place, Page Design
• Kevin Melrose — 2nd place, Feature Beat Reporting
• Kevin Melrose — Honorable mention, Business or Consumer Story
• Eddy Palumbo — 1st place, Photo Story
• Patti Tihey — 1st place, Headline Writing
2001
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Display Advertising Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Single Ad, Over a Quarter-Page — “CHR Construction”
— 2nd place, Single Ad, Over a Quarter-Page — “Do Not Attempt This at Home”
— 2nd place, Single Ad, Under a Quarter-Page — “London Calling”
— 2nd place, Website Promotion — “Point & Click”
— 3rd place, Single Ad, Over a Quarter-Page — “Travel”
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Keystone Press Awards
• Mark Segal — 2nd place, Column
• Patti Tihey — 2nd place, Page Design
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Newspaper of the Year Contest
• Staff — 2nd places, Layout and Design, Special Section
2002
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Keystone Press Awards
• Karen Goulart — 1st place, Weeklies: General News
• Staff —1st place, Weeklies: Special Project
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Newspaper of the Year Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Diversity
2003
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Newspaper of the Year Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Special Section
— 2nd place, Layout and Design
— 2nd place, General and Departmental News Coverage
— 2nd place, Editorial/Opinion Page Excellence
2004
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Display Advertising Contest
• Staff — 2nd place, Use of One Color — “Sun Worshippers”
— 3rd place, Self-Promotion Advertising — “EPGN Web Advertising”
2005
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Display Advertising Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Special Section — “Home Décor”
— 3rd place, Single Ad — “Cat Call”
Society of Professional Journalists: Spotlight Awards
• Staff — Overall Weekly
2006*
2007
Suburban Newspaper Association: Editorial Contest
• Casey Bell — 1st place, Arts Writing/Feature
— “Out cartoonist serves up a somber dose of ‘fun’”
• Victoria Brownworth — 1st place, Investigative Reporting
— “Our dirtiest secret: Domestic violence in our community”
• Larry Nichols — 3rd place, Continuing Coverage
— “Couples grapple with UPS over benefits”
• Mark Segal — Honorable mention, Column Writing — “Mark My Words”
2008
Suburban Newspaper Association: Editorial Contest
• Larry Nichols — 1st Place, A&E Writing/Feature
— “Actor chronicles long walk along celebrity lane”
• Larry Nichols — 2nd Place, A&E Criticism/Commentary
— “They want to keep you movin’ and groovin’”
• Larry Nichols — 3rd Place, A&E Writing/Feature
— “Cyndi Lauper launches new album and second True Colors tour”
• Staff — 2nd Place, A&E/Lifestyle Section — Detour
2009
Keystone Pro chapter of SPJ: Spotlight Contest
• Victoria Brownworth — 1st Place, Enterprise Story — “Hiding in Plain Sight”
• Scott A. Drake — Honorable mention, Feature Photo — “Gone But Not Forgotten”
• Mark Segal — 2nd Place, Commentary, Non-Daily — “Mark My Words”
PA Newspaper Publishers Association: Display Advertising Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Wild Card Category — “Metrodate”
— 1st place, Special Section/Niche Publication — “Gayborhood”
— 1st place, New Media — “It Only Feels Like an Emergency”
— 1st place, Classifieds Section — “It’s Time to Read the Writing on the Wall”
— 1st place, Self-Promotion Ad — “Detour”
— 2nd place, Classifieds Section — “We’ve Got Your Color”
Suburban Newspaper Association: Editorial Contest
• Scott A. Drake — 1st place, Feature Photo — “Love Park”
• Scott A. Drake — 2nd place, Feature Photo — “Gone But Not Forgotten”
• Larry Nichols — 3rd place, A&E Writing/Feature
— “Reality TV comic to get real live in New Hope”
• Mark Segal — 1st place, Column Writing — Mark My Words
2010
Keystone Pro chapter of SPJ: Spotlight Contest
• Jen Colletta — 2nd place, Health and Medical Story
— “Researchers: Gays excluded from clinical trials”
• Jen Colletta — 3rd place, Spot News Story
— “Obama Extends Benefits to LGBT Federal Employees”
• Sarah Blazucki — 2nd place, Editorial
• Scott A. Drake — 2nd place, News Photos — “PDA with a Purpose”
• Mark Segal — 2nd place, Commentary, Non-Daily — “Mark My Words”
National Newspaper Association
• Jen Colletta — 2nd place, Feature Story
— “Kelly McGillis talks marriages, divorces and civil union”
• Mark Segal — 2nd place, Serious Column — “Mosque issue is an LGBT issue”
Suburban Newspaper Association
• Scott A. Drake — Honorable mention, Photojournalism — “OutFest”
• Scott A. Drake — Honorable mention, News Photo — “Historic Storm”
• Gary M. Kramer — 1st place, A&E Writing — “John Waters is my role model”
• Larry Nichols — 2nd place, A&E Writing — “The many faces of Meshell”
• Staff — 1st place, Special Section — World AIDS Day Supplement
2011
Local Media Association: Editorial Contest
• Jen Colletta — 1st place, Continuing Coverage
— Coverage of Stacey Blahnik murder
• Jen Colletta — Honorable mention, In-depth Reporting
— “Crystal Meth: Club, culture and the gay community”
• Larry Nichols — 3rd place, A&E Criticism
— “These women want to rock you with new music”
• Larry Nichols — Honorable mention, A&E Writing/Feature
— “Author brings her story to the stage in Philly”
• Aaron Stella — 1st place, Column Writing — “Millennial Poz”
• Mark Segal — 3rd place, Opinion Column — “Mark My Words”
• Staff — 1st place, Graphic Artwork
— November election, Regional civil union/marriage laws, PGN 35th timeline
— 1st place, A&E/Lifestyle Section — Arts & Culture
— 1st place, Non-Page One Layout — Arts & Culture feature story covers
— 3rd place, Special Section — World AIDS Day Supplement
National Newspaper Association
• Jen Colletta — 2nd place, Feature Writing
2012
Local Media Association: Editorial Contest
• Jen Colletta — 1st Place, Breaking News
—“Penn to offset tax burden for gay employees”
• Jen Colletta — 3rd Place, Breaking News
— “PA legislature gets first-ever LGBT caucus”
• Jen Colletta — 3rd Place, Feature
— “‘Berlin Patient’ tells Philadelphia his story”
• Jen Colletta — Honorable mention, In-depth Reporting
— “Funding fallout for HIV/AIDS orgs”
• Tim Cwiek — 3rd Place, Continuing Coverage
— “Coverage of the Boy Scouts dispute”
• Larry Nichols — 3rd Place, A&E Writing
— “New documentary highlights musicians’ exploration of love and gender”
• Larry Nichols — 2nd Place, A&E Criticism
— “New restaurant sings for your supper”
• Staff — 2nd Place, Community Service Award — “Weigh it Forward”
— 2nd Place, A&E/Lifestyle Section — Arts & Culture
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association: Newspaper of the Year Awards
• Staff — 2nd Place, Diversity
— 2nd Place, Editorial Page
— Honorable Mention, Newswriting Excellence
SPJ Keystone Pro Chapter: Spotlight Contest
• Jen Colletta — 2nd Place, Editorial Writing
• Jen Colletta — 3rd Place, Spot News — “Philly rated top in nation for LGBT equality”
• Scott A. Drake — 3rd Place, Photo Story — “Philly Pride 2012”
• Scott A. Drake — 3rd Place, News Photography — “Acting to End AIDS”
• Scott A. Drake — 3rd Place, Sports Photography — “Taking it to the Mats”
• Mark Segal — 3rd Place, Commentary — “Mark My Words”
2013
Local Media Association
• Dan Calhoun — Advertising Director of the Year
National Newspaper Association: Better Newspaper Contest
• Scott Drake — Honorable mention, Photo Essay — “Pride 2012”
• Larry Nichols — Honorable mention, Feature Story
— “New documentary highlights musicians’ exploration of love and gender”
National Newspaper Association: Better Newspaper Advertising Contest
• Staff — 1st place, Newspaper Promotion
Pennsylvania News Media Association: Keystone Press Awards
• Jen Colletta — Honorable mention, General News
— “Antigay incident sparks media controversy”
• Jen Colletta — Honorable mention, Series
— “Philly marks 30 years of gay-rights protections”
• Mark Segal — Honorable mention, Column Writing — “Mark My Words”
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association: Newspaper of the Year Awards
• Staff — 2nd place, Editorial Page Excellence
— 2nd place, Community Service
— Honorable mention, Use of Photography
— Honorable mention, Diversity
— Honorable mention, General News
Local Media Association: Editorial Contest
• Jen Colletta — 2nd place, Editorial Writing
• Jen Colletta — 2nd place, Continuing Coverage — Coverage of Pennsylvania’s marriage-equality progress
• Jen Colletta — 2nd place, Breaking News: “Philly’s only lesbian bar shuts down”
• Larry Nichols — 3rd place, A&E Writing: “Artist features trans portraits in exhibition”
• Staff — Honorable mention, Special Section: World AIDS Day Supplement
— Honorable mention, A&E Section: Arts & Culture
2014
Local Media Association: Editorial Contest
• Jen Colletta, Angela Thomas, Scott A. Drake, Sean Dorn
— 1st place, Breaking News Story — “Pennsylvania says ‘I do’”
• Jen Colletta — Honorable mention, Breaking News Story
— “PA treasurer enters marriage fray”
• Larry Nichols — 2nd place, A&E Writing/Feature
— “Meshell Ndegeocello’s new album burns bright”
• Larry Nichols — Honorable mention, A&E Writing/Feature
— “Runaway singer to perform in Philly”
• Mark Segal — 2nd place, Opinion Column — “Mark My Words”
• Staff — 1st place, Coverage of Life Under 30 — LGBTQ Youth Supplement
— 2nd place, Front Page
— 2nd place, Special Section — World AIDS Day Supplement
— 2nd place, Local Election Coverage —“Philadelphia 2014 Primary Election
— 2nd place, Non-Page-One Layout — Arts & Culture Feature Story
— 3rd place, Community Service
Pennsylvania News Media Association: Keystone Press Awards
• Victoria Brownworth — 2nd place, Series — “Trans sex workers”
• Jen Colletta — 2nd place, Editorial
• Scott Drake — 2nd place, News Photo — “Exposed to the Elements”
• Scott Drake — Honorable mention, Sports Photo — “Spartans Tournament”
• Angela Thomas — Honorable mention, General News — LGBT equality bill
• Angela Thomas — 2nd place, Ongoing News Coverage — Russian sister city
Pennsylvania News Media Association: Newspaper of the Year Awards
• Staff — 1st place, Community Service — World AIDS Day and LGBTQ Youth
SPJ Keystone Pro Chapter: Spotlight Contest
• Victoria Brownworth — 1st place, Enterprise Reporting — “Trans sex workers”
• Jen Colletta — 1st place, Spot News — “PA couples sue for marriage equality”
• Jen Colletta — 2nd place, Editorial
• Scott Drake — 1st place, News Photography — “Exposure for Closure”
• Mark Segal — 3rd place, Column Writing
• Angela Thomas — 1st place, Online Breaking News — “Giovanni’s Room to be sold”
• Angela Thomas — 2nd place, Online Breaking News — “City Council passes LGBT equality bill, first in the nation”
2015
PA NewsMedia Association: Keystone Press Awards
• Jen Colletta — Honorable mention, Series
— “After prison, one-half of ‘gay-porn twins’ speaks out”
• Scott A. Drake — 2nd place, Sports Photo — “Crash Landing”
• Staff — Honorable mention, Special Project — LGBTQ Youth Supplement
SPJ: Keystone Spotlight Awards
• Jen Colletta — 2nd place, Editorial Writing
• Jen Colletta, Angela Thomas, Scott A. Drake, Sean Dorn
— 1st place, Spot News Story — “Pennsylvania says ‘I do’”
• Jen Colletta and Sarah Blazucki — 2nd Place, Spot News Story
— “City mourns LGBT director Gloria Casarez”
• Scott A. Drake — 1st place, Photo Story — “Philly Pride 2014”
• Mark Segal — 3rd place, Commentary — “Mark My Words”
National Newspaper Association
• Staff — 3rd place, Newspaper in Education Stories — LGBTQ Youth Supplement
PA NewsMedia Association: Newspaper of the Year Awards
• Staff — 1st place, Promotion
— 2nd place, Diversity
— 2nd place, Special Section — Bucks County and Wedding issues
— 2nd place, Community Service — Youth and World AIDS Day supplements
Local Media Association: Newspaper of the Year Awards
• Staff — 2nd place, Division C
2016
Local Media Association: Excellence in Local News Coverage
• Staff — 1st place, Best Coverage to Reach Millennials — LGBTQ Youth Supplement
— 1st place, Best Local Coverage / Community Contributors — Senior Supplement
— 2nd place, Best Local News Coverage Using Social Media
— 3rd place, Best Local Election Coverage
— 3rd place, Best Feature Series — “Day in the Life Of”
— Honorable mention, Community Service Award — World AIDS Day Supplement
— Honorable mention, Community Service Award — LGBTQ Youth Supplement
• Mark Segal — Third place, Best Opinion Writing — “Mark My Words”
PA NewsMedia Association: Keystone Press Awards
• Jen Colletta — Second place, Editorial
• Jen Colletta, Scott Drake, Sean Dorn — Second place, General News
— “Coverage of SCOTUS marriage decision”
• Jen Colletta First place, Ongoing News Coverage “Coverage of Philadelphia gay-bashing case”
• Staff — Honorable mention, niche publication
• Paige Cooperstein — 2nd place, News Feature Story
— “Sisterhood and brotherhood in Gay Officer Action League”
• Scott Drake, Sean Dorn — Honorable mention, Graphics — “1965-2015 Timeline”
* Denotes no awards were recorded.
NLGJA, Sigma Delta Chi and Other Special Awards
National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association: Excellence in Journalism Awards
2010
• Jen Colletta — Excellence in News Writing
— “Researchers: Gays excluded from clinical trials”
• Scott A. Drake — Excellence in Photojournalism Award — “PDA with a purpose”
2012
• Jen Colletta — Runner-up, Sarah Pettit Journalist of the Year Award
• Jen Colletta — 3rd place, Excellence in News Writing
2013
• Timothy Cwiek — 3rd place, Excellence in News Writing — Coverage of Nizah Morris case
• Scott Drake — 2nd place, Excellence in Photojournalism — “Gay Blades”
2014
• Tim Cwiek — Excellence in News Writing — Coverage of Nizah Morris case
2015
• Scott A. Drake — 2nd place, Excellence in Photojournalism — “Pride in Philly”
• Mark Segal — 1st place, Opinion/Editorial Writing — “Mark My Words”
Miscellaneous
1999
GLAAD: Media Awards
• Staff — Outstanding LGBT Print Media
2001
The Society for News Design: The Best of Newspaper Design Awards
• Doug Gruse — Award of Excellence in A&E Design
2013
Society of Professional Journalists: Sigma Delta Chi Awards
• Timothy Cwiek — Investigative Reporting — Nizah Morris case
2014
PA Bar Association: William A. Schnader Print Media Awards
• Jen Colletta — 1st place, Beat Coverage — “Coverage of marriage equality case”
Society of Professional Journalists: Sigma Delta Chi Awards
• Scott A. Drake — Sports Photo — “Almost Home”