‘Press’ wins top award for community journalism

The Riverdale Press has won an award for best small-circulation publication in the city from CUNY’s Graduate School of Journalism.

The newspaper tied with The Norwood News for first place in the category in CUNY’s annual competition for community and ethnic newspapers, the Ippies.

“Both Bronx news outlets prove that small independent news outlets that serve their communities well can survive and thrive in this era of journalistic turbulence,” judges stated.

They cited Press coverage of teen opioid use, protests against the mayor’s zoning plans and community news such as curbside composting.

“Both publications give voice to local frustrations and suggested solutions on their editorial and op-ed pages,” the judges said. “They cover local sports, offer robust lists of community and cultural events and closely track local politics. The picture that emerges is of two communities that are so much more vibrant and complex than their borough's outdated reputation.”

CUNY’s Graduate School of Journalism describes the Ippies as “the only journalism awards in NYC to honor reporting in English and in languages other than English by the ethnic and community press. The Ippies are considered a benchmark of journalistic excellence and are a coveted prize for the publishers, editors and reporters in New York City’s ethnic and community press.”

Faculty members, adjunct instructors and professional journalists judged the competition.

The Press’ Ippie award comes after the New York Press Association named the publication best community newspaper in the state for the second year in a row.