PRESS CLUB OF LONG ISLAND 2007 MEDIA AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Newsday Cartoonist Walt Handlesman named Outstanding Long Island Journalist for 2007

WOODBURY, N.Y., June 14 – Press Club of Long Island, a chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, announced the winners of its 2007 Media Awards contest at its annual dinner today at the Woodbury Country Club.

Newsday cartoonist Walt Handelsman took top honors as this year’s Outstanding Long Island Journalist for his body of animated work, which also won him a Pulitzer Prize this year.

The Public Service Award went to Jennifer Sinco Kelleher and John Hildebrand of Newsday for their investigative series, “State of Shock: Extreme Discipline with Special Ed Students,” which detailed the treatment of disabled students.

Howard Schneider, former Newsday editor and current dean of Stony Brook University’s new School of Journalism, received the club’s Phil Spahn Award, for his role in launching the school last year. The Phil Spahn Award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to journalism and the Long Island community.

In all, PCLI doled out 129 awards in 55 categories covering print, television, radio and online media.

PCLI also recognized the outstanding efforts of local college journalism students with three $1,000 college scholarships. The scholarships, co-funded by PCLI and Newsday, went Andrea Fasano, Kandi Lynn and Jennifer Rampersad, all students at New York Institute of Technology.

Additionally, PCLI presented the Hank Logeman/News 12 High School Journalism Award to Rachel Gutner of George W. Hewlett High School. The $2,000 award, funded by New 12 Long Island, honors the late UPI reporter who worked out of the Garden City press room.

Also at the dinner, PCLI members elected the club’s leadership for 2007-2008. Island Publication’s Robert Lipper was re-elected to a third term as PCLI president. John O’Connell of Herald Community Newspapers was elected executive vice president. Also elected were Dawn Wotapka Hardesty of Dow Jones, vp/print; Michael DelGiudice of WNBC-TV, vp/electronic; Bill Bleyer of Newsday, treasurer; Meredith Daniels of Newsday.com, recording secretary; and David North of David North Media and WALK, corresponding secretary.

The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s largest and most broad-based journalism organization with 60 pro chapters and 250 student chapters totaling 8,700 members nationwide. SPJ is dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

For a complete list of winners, click here.