PNA’s H&D – PNA celebrates National Newspaper Week at the Pennsylvania Capitol | Journalism Excellence Convention explores AI, audience trust and legal challenges

October 15, 2026

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

PNA CELEBRATES NATIONAL NEWSPAPER WEEK

Photos from the special flipbook recap include this one featuring Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and members of the PNA Day on the Hill tour of the Capitol.

National Newspaper Week 2026: A look back at a memorable week

From advocacy at the state Capitol to professional development, recognition of journalistic excellence and celebration of industry leadership, National Newspaper Week brought Pennsylvania's news media community together Oct. 4-10 for a series of meaningful events and activities.

The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association and PNA Foundation were proud to celebrate the people, organizations and shared commitment that make local journalism an essential part of communities across the commonwealth.

Relive the highlights of National Newspaper Week 2026 through our special flipbook recap of the week's events and celebrations.

Day on the Hill participants gathered on the House floor for a photo with Rep. Justin Fleming (D-Dauphin), on left.

The fountain at the Pennsylvania state Capitol is flowing pink this month to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Attendees enjoyed an hourlong tour of the Treasury Department’s Unclaimed Property Vault.

PNA Day on the Hill

National Newspaper Week was celebrated at the Pennsylvania Capitol over two days, beginning Tuesday with the distribution of small gift bags to legislators that included an Americana-themed coaster and candy.

On Wednesday, 15 editors and publishers traveled to the Capitol for an action-packed Day on the Hill. The day began with meetings with local lawmakers, followed by remarks from House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Delaware/Philadelphia), House Local Government Committee Chairman Robert Freeman (D-Northampton) and Rep. Justin Fleming (D-Dauphin).

The group then gathered in the ornate House chamber, where McClinton recognized them from the rostrum while they were seated in the gallery. From there, they headed to the Governor's Reception Room, where Will Simons, Gov. Josh Shapiro's communications director, discussed the wide-ranging responsibilities of his role.

Capitol Historian Jason Wilson provided a lunchtime presentation on the history of the Ryan Office Building, the oldest structure on the Capitol Complex. Later, the group met briefly with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, toured his Capitol office and took in the sweeping view of State Street down to the Susquehanna River from its balcony.

The day continued with visits to the stately Senate chamber and Senate Library before concluding with an hourlong tour of the Treasury Department's Unclaimed Property Vault. The vault houses an eclectic collection of unclaimed items, including military medals, jewelry, guitars and other valuables left behind by Pennsylvanians.

Although unclaimed cash is not stored in the vault, Treasury staff told the group that the newspapers represented on the tour collectively have about $54,000 in unclaimed funds waiting to be recovered from the state. For pictures from the day, click here.

John M. Humenik leads the “What News Consumers Value Most About How Newsrooms Use AI” session.

Michael Berry and Kaitlin Gurney lead the “AI Doubleheader: Legal and Legislative Perspectives” session.

Holly Lubart discusses federal legislative efforts to protect news content.

Attendees take notes at the conference.

Convention sessions explore AI, audience trust and legal challenges

Artificial intelligence and its growing impact on journalism took center stage during two professional development sessions presented by the PNA Foundation's Center for Journalism Excellence on Oct. 8 as part of the 2026 Journalism Excellence Convention in Harrisburg.

The morning session, “What News Consumers Value Most About How Newsrooms Use AI,” featured John M. Humenik, chief strategy and operations officer of Local Media Association and Local Media Foundation. Drawing on research conducted in collaboration with Trusting News, Humenik explored consumers' perceptions of AI in local journalism, including their openness to its use for routine reporting tasks and expectations for transparency and human oversight. Among the research findings, 98.8% of respondents said they want a human involved in a newsroom's use of AI, particularly before content is published.

The afternoon's “AI Doubleheader: Legal and Legislative Perspectives” examined the evolving legal landscape surrounding journalism and artificial intelligence. Michael Berry and Kaitlin Gurney, partners at Ballard Spahr, addressed Pennsylvania defamation law, anti-SLAPP protections and related legal considerations for news organizations. Holly Lubart, vice president of government affairs at News/Media Alliance, discussed federal legislative efforts to protect news content and intellectual property, including emerging issues surrounding AI licensing.

Together, the sessions provided attendees with perspectives on navigating AI's opportunities and challenges while protecting the credibility, independence and value of local journalism.

Explore the materials from the morning session, including a newsroom AI report by Local Media Association, and the presentation from the afternoon session, “AI Doubleheader: Legal and Legislative Perspectives.”

Chris Bohinski accepts a second place award for Best Reporter / Anchor - Division TV II for his work with WBRE/WYOU-TV (Wilkes-Barre), presented by Jan Murphy, PNA director of government affairs.

Chris Krug addresses attendees during the celebration.

PNA Foundation celebrates outstanding journalism at the Professional Keystone Media Awards Luncheon

Journalists and news media professionals from across Pennsylvania gathered Oct. 8 in Harrisburg for the PNA Foundation's 2026 Professional Keystone Media Awards Luncheon, celebrating outstanding journalism and the individuals and news organizations whose work informs and strengthens communities throughout the commonwealth.

The luncheon, held as part of the Journalism Excellence Convention during National Newspaper Week, recognized award-winning reporting, photography, video, investigative journalism and other achievements across print, digital and broadcast media.

Chris Krug, CEO of Franklin News Foundation and publisher of The Center Square, addressed attendees during the celebration, which also featured the presentation of special honors recognizing distinguished journalistic achievement and service.

The annual awards program highlights the talent, dedication and important contributions of Pennsylvania's journalists and reinforces the essential role of a strong, independent press in the communities they serve.

View photos from the luncheon, explore the 2026 Professional Keystone Media Awards program and watch videos highlighting this year's Sweepstakes winners.

James McClure accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award.

John Finnerty accepts the 2026 Benjamin Franklin Award for Excellence.

Lisa Hughes receives the News Media Industry Executive of the Year award, presented by PNA President and CEO Bill Cotter.

Leah Duffy is a Foundation-sponsored intern at The Philadelphia Tribune.

Erin Carroll from The Philadelphia Inquirer discussed the importance of internships in developing future newsroom talent.

Evening of Excellence honors Pennsylvania journalism leaders and outstanding news organizations

The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association celebrated exceptional leadership, distinguished careers and outstanding achievement in journalism during its 2026 Evening of Excellence, held Oct. 8 at the Central Hotel & Conference Center in Harrisburg.

The celebration, a highlight of the Journalism Excellence Convention and National Newspaper Week, recognized James McClure, retired editor of the York Daily Record, with the Lifetime Achievement Award; John Finnerty, managing editor of CapitolWire, with the Benjamin Franklin Award for Excellence; and Lisa Hughes, publisher and CEO of The Philadelphia Inquirer, as News Media Industry Executive of the Year. McClure and Finnerty were also inducted into the PNA Hall of Fame, along with Joseph H. Zerbey IV, retired newspaper executive.

Four news organizations received PNA's News Organization of the Year honors: PennLive/The Patriot-News, first place, multi-day publications; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, second place, multi-day publications; TheBurg, first place, weekly publications; and Chestnut Hill Local, second place, weekly publications.

The evening also featured perspectives on the changing landscape of Pennsylvania journalism from Bob Cohn, president and CEO of The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism; Mike Orren, CEO and publisher of LNP | LancasterOnline; and Andrew Conte, Ph.D., director and editor of Newsworks Lab.

The program also showcased the impact of the PNA Foundation's newsroom internship program through firsthand accounts from interns and newsroom leaders. Leah Duffy, a Foundation-sponsored intern at The Philadelphia Tribune, reflected on her experience and the skills she developed, while the newspaper's managing editor, Barnett Wright, emphasized the value of mentoring emerging journalists. Attendees also viewed a video produced by Ben Shapiro, a Foundation-sponsored intern at the Bucks County Courier Times/The Intelligencer, offering a behind-the-scenes look at a typical day in the newsroom.

Erin Carroll, vice president of people and culture at The Philadelphia Inquirer, discussed the importance of internships in developing future newsroom talent. Jaison Nieves, the Inquirer's social platform editor and a former PNA Foundation-sponsored intern, shared how his internship experience opened doors to professional opportunities and ultimately led to full-time employment. Brian Nelson, a current Foundation-sponsored intern at the Inquirer, also reflected on his internship experience and the opportunities it has provided. Together, their perspectives illustrated how the program helps aspiring journalists develop their skills while enabling news organizations to cultivate the next generation of newsroom professionals.

From honoring distinguished careers to investing in emerging talent, the Evening of Excellence celebrated the people and organizations shaping the present and future of Pennsylvania journalism.

View photos from the Evening of Excellence and explore the 2026 Evening of Excellence program.

Thank you to our 2026 Journalism Excellence Convention sponsors

The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association and PNA Foundation extend our sincere appreciation to the organizations whose generous sponsorships supported events and activities held during the 2026 Journalism Excellence Convention.

Your contributions helped make possible opportunities to celebrate outstanding achievement, recognize industry leadership and bring Pennsylvania's news media community together for meaningful connections and shared experiences.

We are grateful for your generosity, partnership and commitment to Pennsylvania's news media industry.

PNA MEMBER NEWS

Join the PNA Foundation on Oct. 26 for a 90-minute Google News Initiative webinar covering AI tools for content creation, research, analysis and verification, including Gemini, NotebookLM and Pinpoint. Registration is required to receive the Google Meet link.

Chestnut Hill Local marks turnaround year with new Board, $35K grant, Film Festival

Hoodline (Philadelphia)

A year after the Chestnut Hill Community Association took over management of the Chestnut Hill Local during an emergency appeal, the paper is reporting several new initiatives: four board appointments, a $35,000 grant for election coverage and plans for a neighborhood film festival.

Spotlight PA’s first Ideas Festival brought Berks County together to tackle local challenges

Spotlight PA

The impact of community involvement was a theme across panels at Spotlight PA’s Ideas Festival, an all-day forum that brought together Berks County residents, subject matter experts, and journalists.

Medill report examines state of local news in Pennsylvania

Northwestern University's Medill Local News Initiative has released its 2026 State of Local News report, providing an updated look at the local news landscape across the country, including Pennsylvania.

According to the report, Pennsylvania has 310 news outlets, including 176 newspapers, 36 digital news sites, 66 network sites, eight public broadcasting outlets and 24 commercial television stations.

While Pennsylvania has no counties without a local news source, 18 counties have just one, underscoring the continued importance of sustaining local journalism across the commonwealth.

The state's newspaper count remained unchanged from 2025, with 176 publications, including 69 dailies and 107 weeklies. Pennsylvania's 36 digital news sites include 28 for-profit and eight nonprofit operations.

Explore the 2026 State of Local News report.

There's still time to register: Criminal Justice Reporting Training

Law & Justice Journalism Project

Join the Law & Justice Journalism Project and Joshua Vaughn, investigative reporter at PennLive and adjunct lecturer at Penn State University, for a conference covering crime rates, gun violence prevention, recent Supreme Court cases, and more. The conference will take place Oct. 23 - Oct. 24 at Temple University.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The House and Senate will be in session for three days next week before recessing until after the Nov. 3 election.

Briggs seeks ban on mug shot removal fees

Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery) introduced HB 2840, which would prohibit websites from charging individuals to remove booking photographs. He wrote in his cosponsorship memo that 16 states have enacted similar laws and it’s time for Pennsylvania to follow suit.

Lawmaker wants study to evaluate AI impact on work

Rep. Tim Brennan (D-Bucks) introduced HR 653, which would direct the Joint State Government Commission to evaluate whether Pennsylvania is collecting the data to assess artificial intelligence’s impact on the workforce. The resolution also calls for recommendations on what additional data that should be collected.

LEGAL HOTLINE

Q: Is my online news site required to take down a previously posted deed transfer notice if the person involved has enrolled in a victim protection program in Pennsylvania?

A: Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s long-standing rule from Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, once a government places truthful information into an official record open to public inspection, it cannot later punish the press for publishing that information.