The Brooklyn Paper has been named “Newspaper of the Year” by one of the nation’s largest newspaper trade associations.
Calling The Brooklyn Paper “strongly and brightly written throughout,” judges for the Suburban Newspapers of America specifically praised “Brooklyn’s Real Newspaper” for its reporting on Bruce Ratner’s Atlantic Yards mega-development.
“The Brooklyn Paper’s aggressive, readable coverage of local developer Bruce Ratner stood out,” they wrote, adding that The Paper’s “use of graphical elements … illuminates and draws readers into stories.”
They also loved our back pages. “Colorful classifieds were accessible and reader-friendly,” the judges said, citing The Paper for “general excellence.”
Publisher Ed Weintrob was particularly pleased that The Paper’s Atlantic Yards coverage was front and center.
“This story — the biggest Brooklyn story in our lifetimes — is one we’ve followed intensely for four years, despite strong commercial pressures to do otherwise, and despite appearing to be out on a limb, given the determination of other New York newspapers to ignore it or misreport it.”
Publisher Celia Weintrob said her staff “should be rightfully proud to receive this recognition of their outstanding work,” though Paper Editor Gersh Kuntzman was less florid.
“It is customary for editors who bring home awards like this to get hefty raises,” Kuntzman quipped. “I will use a portion of mine to take the entire staff out for a well-earned drink.”
The SNA represents more than 2,000 daily and weekly newspapers in both suburban and urban community markets across the country. The contest was judged by the American Press Institute.
The award will be presented during the SNA’s Publishers’ and Advertisers Directors’ Conference, in October in Philadelphia.
