The Times News Media Group editorial and advertising staffs were recognized by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association for work published in 2020.

Photojournalist Bob Ford won four awards in the Keystone Media Awards – Professional division for his photos and illustrations.

Ford, who died Jan. 23, from COVID-19, won two awards in the sports action photo category. He captured first place for “A Good Try,” a photo of a Jim Thorpe Olympian football player, and honorable mention for “Tear Away,” a Marian Colt football photo.

Ford swept the division for graphic/photo illustration, with a first for field hockey player of the year Lauren Schellhamer of Northwestern Lehigh and second place for girls basketball player of the year Emma Kuczynski of Tamaqua.

Donald R. Serfass, retired features editor and Times News correspondent, captured first place for the lifestyle beat called “Living History,” a collection of works about history throughout the region.

He took second place for a news photo titled “Glimpse of Comet Neowise.”

Lehigh Valley Press

The Lehigh Valley Press, a member of the Times News Media Group, received 21 Keystone awards, with the Bethlehem Press named the Sweepstakes winner in its category.

The Bethlehem Press received 11 Keystone awards, including first place in the diversity category, lifestyle-entertainment beat and feature page design.

East Penn Press and Parkland Press each won three, with Whitehall-Coplay Press earning two.

Northampton Press and Northwestern Press each received one.

Close to 2,600 entries were received from 117 news organizations were entered in the contest.

Advertising awards

The Times News advertising department won 11 awards in the PNA Foundation Advertising Contest, and won the sweepstakes award for the most awards in the circulation division.

The department won second place for Best Ad Campaign or Series-Second Place for a campaign for “Tribe Pride.”

The Times News swept the Best Ad Campaign Using Multiple Products category, with first place for Carbon County Music and More, second place for Serina’s Bakery and honorable mention for a Sapore’s campaign.

The 2020 Reader’s Choice category took second place in the Best Special Section/Niche Publication category.

The Times News 30-second radio commercial won a second place award for Best Self Promotion Advertising. In that category, the “Sizzlin’ Summer” promotion took an honorable mention.

The “Shop Eat Local” promotion won first place for Best Business-Building Idea.

A Stan Graver auto promotion received an honorable mention for the Best Automotive/Transportation category.

An Iron Valley Real Estate advertisement captured first place in the Best Real Estate/Builders/Renters category. The department also won first place for in the Best Recruitment or Commercial category for an Embrovac promotion.

Awards will be presented at virtual ceremonies later this year.