PNA’s H&D – Final call: Verify your PNA directory info, catch up on member visits, help connect students with journalism opportunities

November 12, 2026

Supporting local news media organizations in the commonwealth for over 100 years

PNA MEMBER NEWS

Max Duke and Jackie Palochko of WITF

The PNA team receives a tour of the WITF studio and creative space.

Shown from left, Steve Gargasz, Bill Cotter, Jim Rust and Caleb Stright stand in front of The Record-Argus.

Shown from left, Luka Krneta, Bill Cotter, Paul Hess and John Phillips tour The Derrick.com's new office on the Venango campus in Oil City.

PNA connects with members during three news organization visits

PNA continued its outreach to member news organizations this week with visits to WITF, The Record-Argus and The Derrick.com, providing opportunities to strengthen relationships, learn about members' priorities and discuss the evolving news media landscape.

Bill Cotter, PNA president and CEO, and Jane Hungarter, director of marketing and membership, visited WITF, meeting with Max Duke, president and CEO of Pennon/WITF, and Jackie Palochko, WITF news director. Both joined the organization within the past six months, bringing extensive leadership experience in journalism and public media. Duke previously served as vice president of station strategy and development at PBS, while Palochko held editorial positions at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Morning Call. During the visit, they discussed WITF's commitment to reaching and engaging audiences across multiple platforms, emphasizing the importance of delivering relevant, meaningful journalism in ways that reflect how people consume news and information today.

In Greenville, Cotter visited The Record-Argus, which is celebrating 188 years of serving its community. He met with Steve Gargasz, publisher and owner; Jim Rust, minority owner and marketing director; and Caleb Stright, managing editor. With its offices located along downtown Greenville's main street, the newspaper continues its longstanding tradition of delivering local journalism and keeping residents informed about the issues that matter most to their community.

Cotter also traveled to Oil City to meet with the leadership team at The Derrick.com, including John Phillips, president and CEO of the Oil Region Alliance and the publication's new owner; Paul Hess, publisher and advertising director; and Luka Krneta, editor. The visit included a tour of the Venango campus, where The Derrick.com is now located, and a discussion about the organization's goals and priorities as it looks ahead to 2027.

These visits are part of PNA's ongoing commitment to connecting directly with members across Pennsylvania, understanding their opportunities and challenges, and ensuring the association's programs, services and advocacy efforts continue to support their success.

The Altoona Mirror newsroom shown during a member visit.

Final call: Verify your PNA directory information by Friday, Nov. 13

Please take a moment to verify your organization’s contact information for the 2027 PNA Member Directory by Friday, Nov. 13.

Even if no updates are needed, we ask that you submit your verification by the deadline. Thank you for helping us keep this valuable resource accurate and up to date!

Lori Falce

Constitution Under Construction: The tools shaping our elections

Lori Falce | TribLive

In the latest installment of Lori Falce’s yearlong series, Constitution Under Construction, explore how constitutional amendments have shaped modern American elections and the way we cast our ballots. From voting rights to the Electoral College, the piece examines the tools that have transformed the election process and considers what changes may still lie ahead.

John Derr

Editor & Publisher Sponsored Case Study

The Center Square

“Every newsroom knows its community and what its audience needs,” said John Derr, director of affiliate partnerships for The Center Square. “Our job is to give those editors more useful reporting to choose from, so they can build on the journalism they already do best.”

Learn how newsrooms at the Tahoe Daily Tribune and Sierra Sun in California, TH Media in Iowa, and WITF in Pennsylvania use The Center Square’s open-access newswire for nonpartisan reporting on government accountability, public policy and economic issues.

From left, PNA Foundation interns Feixu Chen, Claira Tokarz, and Jason Alpert-Wisnia pose at Public Source.

Help connect students with journalism opportunities

Applications are now open for the 2027 PNA Foundation Internship Program!

The program provides opportunities for emerging journalists to gain hands-on experience in Pennsylvania newsrooms, develop professional skills and contribute to local journalism.

Please share this opportunity with students interested in journalism careers through your department communications, newsletters, career services offices, student media organizations and social media channels.

One hundred students culled from numerous applicants are invited to participate in The Eddie Adams Workshop.

PNA Foundation interns selected for prestigious photojournalism workshop

Two PNA Foundation Newsroom Internship Program students, Jason Alpert Wisnia and Aidan Gallo, were among 100 photographers selected to participate in The Eddie Adams Workshop, a tuition-free, merit-based, four-day photojournalism seminar held annually in upstate New York. Participants work alongside veteran photojournalists, editors and producers on community assignments, gain feedback from industry leaders and showcase their work. Read about Jason’s experience here, and Aidan’s experience here.

Shown from left are Lexi Belfulfine and Bellevue Mayor Bri Erskine speaking with Talk Pittsburgh hosts Mikey Hood and Heather Abraham.

Local leaders champion the future of community journalism at Newsapalooza

Talk Pittsburgh | CBS Pittsburgh

Two southwestern Pennsylvania women are working to strengthen the future of community journalism. Bellevue Mayor Bri Erskine and Lexi Belfulfine, managing director of Point Park University's Center for Media Innovation, discuss this year's Newsapalooza and the importance of supporting local news organizations, including Pittsburgh's Post-Gazette, to keep communities informed and connected.

Newsapalooza panel explores how to sustain local journalism

Who pays for local news, and what does it take to keep it sustainable? Newsapalooza 2026 brings together industry leaders Tammy Schuey, publisher and general manager of the Butler Eagle; Jess deRivera, associate director of programs for LION Publishers; and Cindi Lash, vice president of news at 90.5 WESA, for a candid discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing local journalism. Join the conversation Nov. 12-13 at Point Park University to explore what's working, what's changing and the future of community news.

Zachary Gibson, a student at Slippery Rock University, speaks about his experience with the Trib Total Media Scholarship for Diversity in Media.

Trib Total Media offers $30,000 scholarship for diverse journalism students

Trib Total Media is investing in the next generation of journalists with its Scholarship for Diversity in Media, designed to support talented Western Pennsylvania students pursuing degrees in journalism, communications or English writing who are culturally, ethnically or racially diverse.

Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 17, 2027. Email questions to LBock@triblive.com.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The House was in session Monday and Tuesday of this week for limited matters and transition procedures, and the Senate will return next Tuesday for the same. The 2025-26 legislative session concludes Nov. 30, and the House has added Nov. 19 as a session day.

Heather Boyd

Boyd introduces bill to protect juvenile justice records

Rep. Heather Boyd (D-Delaware) introduced HB 2891, which would remove the offenses of burglary, robbery, robbery of a motor vehicle, and violations of Pennsylvania's Uniform Firearms Act from the list of offenses that allow for public disclosure of a child's court and law enforcement records and files. The public and media cannot reach most juvenile justice records under current law, but records concerning more serious offenses are accessible when the minor adjudged delinquent is aged 14 or older.

Aaron Bernstine

Matthew Bradford

Bernstine faces censure resolution

Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence), who retained his House seat in the Nov. 3 election, was the subject of a resolution brought by House Majority Leader Matthew Bradford (D-Montgomery) on Tuesday and unanimously passed in a 33-0 vote by the House Rules committee the same day. The resolution seeks to censure Rep. Bernstine for conduct unbecoming a member of the House of Representatives.

The resolution does not go into detail as to what the conduct in question is alleged to be, although it says the conduct has been ongoing since 2020, occurring as recently as September 2026.

The House plans to convene on Thursday, Nov. 19 for a full vote on the resolution.

Joanna McClinton

Jesse Topper

House sets leadership for upcoming session

On Tuesday, House Democrats and Republicans caucused to vote on leadership for the 2027-28 legislative session.

House Democratic incumbents all retained their leadership positions, with Rep. Joanna McClinton (D-Delaware/Phila.) retaining the Speaker of the House position, Rep. Bradford retaining the House Majority Leader position, and Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Phila.) staying as House Appropriations Chair.

On the Republican side, Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) will retain the position of House Minority Leader, Rep. Timothy O'Neal (R-Washington) will remain as Minority Whip, and in a change-up, Rep. James Struzzi (R-Indiana) will replace Rep. Jamie Barton (R-Berks/Schuylkill) as House Appropriations Minority Chair.

LEGAL HOTLINE

Q: At a recent borough council meeting, residents and officials discussed concerns that kratom sold by local retailers can be addictive. Council considered a possible local ban but took no action. Our story accurately reports the discussion and does not name any retailers. Could a business successfully sue us?

A: On those facts, the risk of a successful claim appears low, although no story is immune from a lawsuit. The strongest protection comes from reporting fairly and accurately on the public meeting, clearly attributing disputed statements, and distinguishing discussion from official action.