Brooklyn Paper, Schneps Media’s award-winning publication covering Kings County, earned top honors at the 2025 New York Press Association (NYPA) Better Newspaper Contest, including first place in the prestigious Past Presidents’ Award for General Excellence — a recognition of its excellence in local journalism and deep commitment to serving Brooklyn communities.
The publication’s strong performance was part of a sweeping showing by its parent company Schneps Media, which collected dozens of awards during NYPA’s annual spring conference in Saratoga Springs on April 23–24.
Overall, Schneps Media publications dominated the contest. It earned what is believed to be a record 945 points overall and more than 80 first-, second- and third-place prizes combined in reporting, photography, design, digital, video, newsletter and advertising. Brooklyn Paper earned multiple top-three finishes across reporting and multimedia categories, underscoring its strength in both enterprise journalism and community storytelling.
“These honors from the New York Press Association reflect the passion, creativity, and commitment of our entire team,” said Joshua Schneps, CEO of Schneps Media. “Being recognized at the highest level in New York State reinforces our mission to deliver trusted local journalism that informs and connects the communities we serve. I couldn’t be prouder of what our team continues to accomplish.”
“I am over the moon with joy and pride and appreciation for the spectacular staff that has created our award-winning media,” said Victoria Schneps, founder and president of Schneps Media. “As the founder, I believed that my community newspapers should provide quality journalism in an attractive environment, and that has come true. How grateful I am!”
Brooklyn Paper achievements
Schneps Media purchased Brooklyn Paper in September 2018 as part of its purchase of Community News Group (CNG), and has continued to strengthen its focus on hyperlocal reporting that impacts Brooklyn residents every day. Its team, under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Meaghan McGoldrick O’Neil, works relentlessly to cover the borough’s most important stories while delivering exclusive reporting readers won’t find anywhere else.
Most notably, Brooklyn Paper took home first place in the Past Presidents’ Award for General Excellence. Judges praised the paper’s “exceptional use of space and community interaction,” noting that “every page feels like a completely new picture of a community, seamlessly blending and capturing the various stages of the area. Not too heavy handed, not too flowery; a perfect mix in great packaging and a joy to read. The entries show a complete commitment to any topic and a balanced approach to the community.”
Kirstyn Brendlen, Brooklyn Paper’s digital editor and a previous winner of the NYPA Writer of the Year Award, won first place in the Crime/Police/Court Story Division 1 for her coverage of a program aiming to restore trust between the NYPD and the community it serves. She also earned second place in Health, Health Care & Science Story, third place in Feature Story (News), and second place in Feature Story (Lifestyle, Human Interest or Personality Profile).
Additional honors for Brooklyn Paper included third place for Investigative/In-Depth Reporting, awarded to Olivia Seaman for a deeply reported piece examining nursing home neglect. In multimedia, Gabriele Holtermann earned second place for News Video, while Olivia Seaman also secured third place in the category.
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Brooklyn Paper’s sister publication, Bay News, also earned recognition in headline writing, as well as in Special Sections/Niche Publications for a thoughtful section highlighting the people and places of Coney Island, and Sports Feature (Olivia Seaman) for a feature on the heart of the Brooklyn Cyclones: its fans.
Additional Schneps Media honors
Other Schneps Media publications also earned top honors across the state.
amNewYork was a major contributor to Schneps Media’s overall success, earning 13 first-place awards and the prestigious Newspaper of the Year designation, along with 425 of the company’s record 945 contest points. The publication also received the Stuart Dorman Award for overall editorial excellence for the first time, with judges commending its authoritative voice and ability to balance breaking news with in-depth reporting.
amNewYork Police bureau chief Dean Moses was named Photographer of the Year for the second time and also received the Michelle Rea Freedom of Information Award for his coverage of immigrants detained by ICE. Across the newsroom, staff earned top honors in categories including Front Page, Editorials, Newsletter, Online Breaking News, Spot News Coverage, and multiple reporting beats, with recognition going to team members across editorial, design and internships.
Dan’s Papers, the magazine devoted to the Hamptons, won first-place awards for Best Overall Digital News Platform and Best Sales Promotional Materials.
Emma Grimes, a writer for Dan’s Papers, also secured a first-place plaque in the Local Government Story Division 2 for a story on a local government program assisting Long Islanders during the housing crisis.
Long Island Press took home two first-place prizes, with Nicole Formisano winning for News Story Division 4 for a story about the fallout over the prosecution of former Congress Member George Santos; and Isabella Reilly winning Feature Story-News, Division 6 for the aftermath of a deadly fire at a cat sanctuary.
Isabella Gallo won two first-place awards for her work with Schneps Media’s Nassau County newspapers, taking home the award for Education Story Division 1 for the New Hyde Park-Floral Park Herald Courier regarding a teen detained by ICE agents; and News Story Division 2 for the Port Washington News about a Mineola school’s video program.
The Ridgewood Times/Times Newsweekly, the historic weekly newspaper based in western Queens, won first place for Historical Story, Division 2, for its coverage of the dismantled St. Saviour’s Church in Maspeth.
