Pictured: The winning team from WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News. Photo credit: Bob Giglione

The most impactful stories. The highest journalistic standards. The gold standard for the modern media landscape.

The Fair Media Council is proud to announce the 2025 Folio Award winners in the prestigious Best in News categories. These awards recognize the news stories and teams that made a lasting impact—stories that kept the public informed, upheld the highest standards of accuracy and fairness, and strengthened the connection between the media and the communities they serve.

From breaking headlines to in-depth investigations in local, regional and national news, these are the stories that shaped the year.

Chosen by a jury of community leaders, journalism educators, notable former journalists and everyday news consumers—the ultimate critics—this year’s winners reflect what matters most in journalism today: truth, trust, and public service.

Here are the winners of the 2025 Best in News Folio Awards:

Fair Media Council Signature Award: Truth & Impact – Multimedia, Local

Newsday

Sex Trafficking on Long Island

Sandra Peddie, Investigative Reporter

Jan. 28- Oct. 13, 2024

Environmental & Sustainability Reporting – National, Audio

WSHU Public Radio

Higher Ground: Community Science is Special

J.D. Allen, Host

Sabrina Garone, Reporter & Producer

Harriet Jones, Editor

May 1, 2024

Lifestyle & Entertainment Coverage – Local, Audio

WSHU Public Radio

New York Made State Park Pools Free

Eda Uzunlar, Reporter

Aug. 27, 2024

Health Innovations Reporting – Local, Audio

WSHU Public Radio

LI Doctors Use AI To Help Veterans Suffering From Burn Pits

Desiree D’Iorio, Reporter

Jan. 24, 2024

Employment & Work Issues – Metro, Video

WNYW FOX 5 News

Changing Perspectives: Employing Adults with Autism

Jodi Goldberg, Reporter

James McLoughlin Jr., Photographer

Nov. 18, 2024

WNYW FOX 5 News- Metro, Video

Lifestyle & Entertainment Coverage

Donna McKechnie’s “Wicked” return to Broadway

Alexander Wallick- Writer/Producer

Natasha Verma- Reporter

Brian Kartagener- Editor

Christian Perez- Photographer

Aug. 1, 2024

Housing Reporting – Local, Audio

WLIW-FM and The Express News Group

Express Sessions: Real Estate Pros Take the Pulse of the Real Estate Market

WLIW-FM General Manager Diane Masciale

WLIW-FM Producer Delaney Hafener

WLIW-FM Senior Broadcast Engineer Brian Bannon

WLIW-FM Production Kyle Lynch

WLIW-FM Production Mike Longo

WLIW-FM Production Assistant Brianna Coccia

Express News Group Executive Editor and Host Joseph P. Shaw

Express News Group Managing Editor and Host Bill Sutton

Express News Group Executive Producer and Publisher Gavin Menu

Express News Group Director of Events Ellen Dioguardi

Express News Group Publisher Kathryn Menu

May 4, 2024

Best News Special Report – Local, Audio

WLIW-FM and The Express News Group

1st District Matters

For WLIW-FM:

Moderator: Michael Mackey

Executive Producer: Diane Masciale

Producer: Delaney Hafener

Production: Kyle Lynch

Senior Engineer: Brian Bannon

Legal Services: Marta Castaing

For The Express News Group:

Executive Producer and Moderator: Joseph P. Shaw, Executive Editor

Managing Editor: Bill Sutton

Deputy Managing Editor: Brendan O’Reilly

Moderator and Staff Writer: Christopher Walsh

Production Managers: Kerri Cunningham, Sara Mannino Kent 

Publishers: Gavin Menu, Kathryn G. Menu

Sept. 26, 2024

Historical Reporting – Metro, Video

WLIW PBS

Treasures of New York: Tenement Museum

Diane Masciale, Executive Producer

Meredith Coleman, Producer

Yeliz Alakas, Associate Producer

Jan. 21, 2024

Best News Documentary – Metro, Video

WABC-TV

Eyewitness to Gilgo Beach

Emily Hartmann – Senior Producer, Shooter, Writer, Editor

Rolando Pujol – Executive producer, digital content, strategy and innovation

Cheryl Meaney – Executive Producer Special Projects

Peter Kunz – Assistant News Director

Brett Cohen – Photographer

Stephen Cioffi – Photographer

Josh Einiger – Talent

Kristin Thorne – Talent

Darla Miles – Talent

Tony Saturno – Talent

Bill Ritter – Talent

Liz Cho – Talent

Chantee Lans – Talent

Stacey Sager – Talent

Zahir Sachedina – Talent

NJ Burkett – Talent

Scott Matthews – Vice President & News Director

Marilu Galvez – President & General Manager

January, 2024

Enterprise Reporting – Metro, Video

WABC-TV

Long Island Drugged Drivers

Chantee Lans – Reporter

Emily Hartmann – Senior Producer, Editor

Joseph Tesauro – Photographer

Aug. 5, 2024

Environmental & Sustainability Reporting – Metro, Video

WABC-TV

Saving the Sea Turtles

Stacey Sager, Reporter

Joseph Tesauro, Photographer

Dec. 6, 2024

Health & Wellness Reporting

WABC-TV

3 Decades, 3 Cancers

Stacey Sager – Reporter

Joe Tesauro – Photographer

Emily Hartmann – Senior Producer, Shooter, Editor

Cheryl Meaney – Executive Producer Special Projects

Kim Dillon – Assistant News Director

Peter Kunz – Assistant News Director

Scott Matthews – Vice President of News

Marilu Galvez – President & General Manager

Feb. 15, 2024

Historical Reporting – Metro, Video

WABC-TV

Hamas Terror Attack Survivor: One Year Later

Chantee Lans – Reporter

Tony Saturno – Photographer

Oct. 7, 2024

News Podcast Series

WABC-TV

Eyewitness To Gilgo Beach: The Podcast

Emily Hartmann – Senior Producer, Shooter, Editor

Rolando Pujol – Executive Producer, Digital Content, Strategy and Innovation

Cheryl Meaney – Executive Producer Special Projects

Josh Einiger – Talent

Kristin Thorne – Talent

Darla Miles – Talent

Tony Saturno – Talent

Bill Ritter – Talent

Liz Cho – Talent

Chantee Lans – Talent

Stacey Sager – Talent

Zahir Sachedina – Talent

Peter Kunz – Assistant News Director

Scott Matthews – Vice President of News

Marilu Galvez – President & General Manager

Environment & Infrastructure Reporting – Metro, Video

PIX11

Offshore Wind Project Up Close And Personal

Keith Lopez, Photojournalist

Oct. 9, 2024

Feature or Interview – Metro, Video

PIX11

Tas Paralympics Training

Keith Lopez, Photojournalist

Aug. 26, 2024

Health & Wellness Reporting – Metro, Video

PIX11

Morgan Project Cancer Kids Graduation

Keith Lopez, Photojournalist

June 3, 2024

Breaking News – Local, Written

Patch.com

4.0 Earthquake Aftershock In NJ Rattles Homes Across LI

Lisa Finn, Editor

Peggy Spellman Hoey, Editor

Jerry Barmash, Editor

April 5, 2024

Investigative Reporting – Multimedia, Local

Newsday

Fatal Stakes

Jim Baumbach, Reporter

June 24, 2024

Feature or Interview – Video, Local

NewsdayTV

Working Above The Clouds

Virginia Huie, Reporter

Ed Quinn, Photographer

Jason Roseman, Editor

Sept. 11, 2024

Self-Care, Recovery & Positive News Coverage – Multimedia, Local

Newsday

Beating breast cancer: How 5 women made a lifesaving decision to stop cancer in its tracks

Beth Whitehouse, Reporter

Oct. 15, 2024

Feature or Interview – Video, Local

Newsday

Sex Trafficking on Long Island

Joye Brown, Host

Melissa Carfero, Producer

Heather McGowan, Director

Michael Drazka, Audio Engineer

Jocelyn Cruz, Camera Operator

Susan Yale, Video Editor

Sandra Peddie, Reporter

March 20, 2024

Best News Documentary – Local, Video

Newsday

Tatyana’s Story: A Documentary

Alejandra Villa Loarca, Producer / Videographer / Video Editor

Sandra Peddie, Reporter / Producer

John Keating, Producer

Keith Herbert, Producer

Robert Cassidy, Producer

Rochell Sleets, Producer

Steve Pfost, Videographer

Matthew Golub, Assistant Editor

Gregory M. Stevens, Art Director

Jan. 26, 2024

Historical Reporting – Local, Written

Newsday

They Call Him Mayor

John Hanc

Aug. 4, 2024

Community & Service Reporting – Local, Written

Newsday

Nana’s love in every bundle

Donna Kutt Nahas

Sept. 1, 2024

Best Reporter – Local, Multimedia

Newsday

‘Ghost’ Plates Rise At Bridges Despite Crackdown

Alfonso A. Castillo, Reporter

Nov. 11, 2024

Data Journalism – Local, Multimedia

Newsday

Why Suffolk’s roads are among the deadliest in NY

Peter Gill, Reporter

Arielle Martinez, Reporter

Dec. 30, 2024

Story of the Year – Local, Video

Newsday

The Forgotten

Henry Salmaggi, Producer / Director

John Keating, Producer

Keith Herbert, Producer

Robert Cassidy, Producer

Sandra Peddie, Reporter

Shari Einhorn, Reporter

Jeffrey Basinger, Videographer

Morgan Campbell, Videographer

Randee Daddona, Videographer

John Paraskevas, Videographer

Steve Pfost, Videographer

Ed Quinn, Videographer

Drew Singh, Videographer

Matthew Golub, Video Editor

Gregory M. Stevens, Art Director

Eric Minkoff, Graphic Artist

Joe Diglio, Digital Production

Caroline Curtin, Research

Laura Mann, Research

Oct. 11, 2024

Business & Development Reporting – Local, Written

Long Island Business News

$100M redevelopment aims to reimagine Long Island mall

David Winzelberg, Reporter

June 12, 2024

Business News Coverage – Local, Written

Long Island Business News

In Port Washington, plans to convert an old theater into a cultural hub

Adina Genn, Reporter

Nov. 20, 2024

Best Column – National, Written

Leader’s Edge Magazine

The Many Truths About Drug Prices

Joel Wood, CEO, The Council

Oct. 1, 2024

Business News Coverage – National, Written

Infectious Disease Special Edition

Going Dark: What Happens When the Last AMR Researcher Turns Off the Lights in the Lab?

Marie Rosenthal, Managing Editor

Matt White, Art Director

Elizabeth Zhong, Senior Copy Editor

Kristin Jannacone, Senior Copy Editor

Aug. 1, 2024

Visual & Multimedia Storytelling – National, Multimedia

IEEE Spectrum

Where’s My Robot?

Erico Guizzo, Digital Innovation Director

Randi Klett, Photography Director

Nov. 11, 2024

Historical Reporting – National, Audio

Doha Debates

The Negotiators, Season 4: “The Afghan Impasse”

Executive Producer:

Karen Given, Foreign Policy

Producers:

Amjad Atallah, Doha Debates

Jigar Mehta, Doha Debates

Japhet Weeks, Doha Debates

Dan Ephron, Foreign Policy

Rosie Julin, Foreign Policy

Laura Rosbrow-Telem, Foreign Policy

Rob Sachs, Foreign Policy

Claudia Teti, Foreign Policy

Host:

Jenn Williams

Reporters:

Shirin Jaafari

Ashley Jackson

Ali Latifi

Soraya Lennie

Andrew North

Sebastian Walker

Original Music:

Arson Fahim

May 14, 2024

Feature of Interview – Metro, Multimedia

CBS News New York

Interview: Nelson Demille. Locals in Garden City remember the accomplished author as someone who championed others with warmth and grace

Jennifer McLogan, Reporter/Producer

Frank Maestre, Photographer/Editor

Sept. 18, 2024

Local Reporting on National Issues – Metro, Multimedia

CBS News New York

Personal Reflections-Death Of 9-11 Local Hero, Bob Beckwith/ Iconic Photo With Bush

Jennifer McLogan, Reporter/Producer

Frank Maestre, Photographer/Editor

Feb. 5, 2024

Global-to-Local Reporting – Metro, Multimedia

CBS New York

Emotions spill over at Holocaust Survivors event

Jennifer McLogan, Reporter/Producer

Frank Maestre, Photographer/Editor

June 20, 2024

Cultural & Youth Reporting – Metro, Multimedia

CBS News New York

Black Men Wear White Coats

Jennifer McLogan, Reporter/Producer

Frank Maestre, Photographer/Editor

Nov. 14, 2024

Enterprise Reporting – Metro, Video

CBS News New York

The Cost of Caregiving Series

Jennifer Bisram, Reporter

Erminia Vacirca, Executive Producer

Carlos Vasquez, Photographer

Scott Newton, Editor

Leslie Peggott, Editor

June 10 – Dec. 16, 2024

Human Rights Reporting- Metro, Video

CBS News New York

Jupiter Hammon House

Carolyn Gusoff, Reporter

Joe Garufi, Photographer

John Applegate, Editor

Feb. 21, 2024

Watchdog Issues – Metro, Video

CBS News New York

Angelica’s Law, Finally

Carolyn Gusoff, Reporter

Joe Garufi, Photographer/Editor

Alex Susskind, Photographer/Editor

Nov. 1, 2024

Breaking  News – Metro, Video

CBS News New York

Suffolk Hit With Historic Summer Storm

Carolyn Gusoff, Reporter

Frank Maestre, Photographer

Joe Garufi, Photographer/ Editor

Aug. 20, 2024

Global-to-Local Reporting- Metro, Video

CBS News New York

Climate Changes Long Island Wildlife

Carolyn Gusoff, Reporter

Joe Garufi, Photographer

Tiffany Duncan, Editor

April 22, 2024

Social Justice Reporting

CBS News New York

Exonerated Father: Life after Three Decades in Prison

Jennifer Bisram, Reporter

Dana Riccardi, Photographer/Editor

Dec. 17, 2024

Self-Care, Recovery & Positive News-Metro, Video

Catholic Faith Network

Talbot House

Danielle Campbell, Writer/Reporter

Ed Sweeting, Videographer

Bryan Butler, Editor

Jan. 24, 2024

Breaking News-Metro, Audio

1010 WINS 92.3 FM

A Healthcare CEO assassinated by a person who hated the system he worked for

Ben Mevorach, News Director

Ivan Lee, News Director

Susan Richard, Anchor

Scott Stanford, Anchor

Lynda Lopez, Anchor

Kevin Rincon, Anchor

Larry Mullins, Anchor

Lori Madden, Anchor

Lane Bajardi, Anchor

Mario Bosquez, Anchor

Justin Schrager, Editor

Jim Maloney, Editor

Kyle McMorrow, Editor

Sweetina Kakar, Editor

Sarah Molano, Writer

Walter Geis, Writer

Gary Sowder, Service Aide

Tanya Mercado, Service Aide

Dec. 12, 2024

Feature or Interview-Metro, Audio

1010WINS 92.3 FM

New York Liberty take the gold

Ben Mevorach, News Director

Ivan Lee, News Director

Susan Richard, Anchor

Glenn Schuck, Reporter

Juliet Papa, Reporter

Student Winners

OWTV/Media Innovation Center

SUNY Old Westbury

Education Reporting

Lt. Governor Delgado visits SUNY Old Westbury

Timothy Coventry, Reporter

Cody Werner, Field Producer/Camera Operator

Feb. 18, 2024

Feature or Interview

WRHU FM / WRHU.org – Radio Hofstra University

Female Youth Hockey Players Display Awesome Skills at Development Event!

Emma Bigg,  Producer / Reporter

Jan. 29, 2024

Best Newspaper

The Hofstra Chronicle

Hofstra University

Makenzie Hurt

Frankie DiCalogero

The Hofstra Chronicle Staff

Data Journalism

The Hofstra Chronicle

Hofstra University

Do Hofstra’s men’s and women’s teams get equal publicity?

Olivia Hillestad

March 11, 2024

Feature or Interview

Hofstra Pulse Magazine

Hofstra University

The Profound and Lasting Impact of ‘The Godfather’ on Long Island

Makenzie Hurt

May 3, 2024

Best News Special

HEAT Network

Hofstra University

Olivia Remusat

Samantha Diamond

Amber Bianchi

Emma Eitel

Alexa Kola

Clara Pedro

Xiomara Trinidad Perez

2024 Hofstra Votes Live Team

Nov. 5, 2024

Best Newscast

HEAT Network

Hofstra University

Hofstra Today, Fall 2024 Episode 1

Julianne Amante

Amber Bianchi

Hofstra Today Team

Best News Documentary

Hawk+ (Montclair News Lab)

Montclair State University

Across The Battleground State: The Road to Pennsylvania

Izzy Conklin, Senior Producer

Dani Mazariegos, Senior Producer

Sean Thrunk, Host and Producer

Tia Singleton, Host and Producer 

Victoria Smith, Senior Editor and Producer

Peter Guziejewski, Editor and Producer

Adam Acoff, Producer

Gloria Perez, Producer

Nov. 4, 2024

Social Justice Reporting

Hawk+ (Montclair News Lab)

Montclair State University

Accessibility for All

Adam Acoff – Producer

Dec. 21, 2024

Best Talk Show/Magazine

Hawk+ (Montclair News Lab)

Montclair State University

Izzy Conklin, Senior Producer

Dani Mazariego, Senior Producer

Isabella Alvarez, Anchor

Terry Dickerson, Anchors

Aylin Alvarez-Santiago, Producer

Nino DeNino, Producer

Brandon Ehly, Producer

Grace Gonzales Quispe, Producer

Maurice Jenkins, Producer

Grace Keane,  Producer

Mollie O’Donnell, Producer

Gloria Perez, Producer

Jennifer Sanchez, Producer

Yazemin Yilmaz, Producer

May 24, 2024

Local Reporting on National Issues

Hawk+ (Montclair News Lab)

Montclair State University

FOCUS: Democracy: Our Election: The 2024 Vote

Izzy Conklin, Executive Producer

Dani Mazariegos, Executive Producer

Sophia Lazaridis, Executive Producer

Cassandra Diaferia, Director

Kimberly Gonzalez, Host

Ava Scott, Host

Victoria Smith, Producer

Peter Guziejewski,  Producer

Nov. 4, 2024