The Long Island Press took home four awards at the 2023 New York Press Association Better Newspaper Contest – four out of 49 won by Schneps Media, the Press’s parent company.
The ceremony was held April 26 and 27 at the Association’s Spring Conference in Saratoga Springs.
“I am incredibly proud of our team for these awards and recognition by our media peers,” said Joshua Schneps, CEO of Schneps Media.
Brienne Doskoez, the Press’s sales and operations manager, took home First Place in the Best Special Sections – Advertising category.
“Very consistent in content, layout, design, color usage and information,” the judges wrote.
Long Island Press editor-in-chief Timothy Bolger, as well as digital editor Michael Malaszczyk, won Second Place in the Best News or Feature Series category for their three-story package on the Gilgo Beach investigation throughout 2023. Bolger has been with the Press since 2003, while Malaszczyk joined in 2023. One story in the package, written by Bolger discussed how alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann lived very close to the Nassau County Police Academy. Another, also by Bolger, discussed if “Fire Island Jane Doe” Karen Vergata had last been seen at Heuermann’s house. A story by Malaszczyk analyzed every murder – both on Long Island and nationwide – that Heuermann has been potentially linked to, either by news media or investigating authorities.
Bolger also took home two Third Place honors. One was by himself in the Coverage of Crime/Police/Courts division. The stories that won this award included coverage of a bitcoin scam, a piece about prosecutors declining to press charges in the killing of Baldwin teenager Tyler Lewis, and a piece analyzing how Rex Heuermann was an “ogre” who defied the years-old myth of a maniacal genius.
The other was also in the Best News or Feature Series category, and it was won alongside reporters Claude Solnik and James Bernstein. Bolger won for an exclusive story investigating the 2022 Suffolk County cyberattack, which was complimented by a story written by Bernstein on potential Chinese connections to the attack. A story by Solnik discussed the aftermath of the attack.
Schneps Media newspapers and websites achieved 440 points during the contest, the most of any news group in New York state. Two of its newspapers ranked among the top five in total contest points: Dan’s Papers, serving the Hamptons (125) and amNewYork Metro, New York City’s free daily newspaper (110).
“To be number 1 in New York state is a great testament to the talent, hard work and dedication of our staff,” added Victoria Schneps, President of Schneps Media.
Award-Winning Long Island Press Stories:
Second-Place, News or Feature Series:
Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Suspect Rex Heuermann Lived Near Nassau Police Academy
Gilgo Beach Murders: Which Killings Are Rex Heuermann Accused Of?
Third Place, Coverage of Crime/Police/Courts:
Illegal Bitcoin Mining Partly Blamed for Suffolk Cyberattack
Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Suspect Rex Heuermann an ‘Ogre’ Who Defies Supervillain Myth
Baldwin Teen’s Buffalo Killing Deemed Justified Homicide Is a Rare Case
Third Place, News or Feature Series:
