Steve Novak

Writer, copy editor, journalist

Blue to red in 30 miles: What 1 Pa. road tells us about America’s electorate

2021 TONER PRIZE WINNER | 2021 OJA FINALIST | SOCIETY OF NEWS DESIGN 2020 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE | 2021 KEYSTONE MEDIA AWARD WINNER: As co-lead reporter in the Swing County, Swing State project, I helped develop unique 2020 Election coverage, including coordinating and writing this centerpiece feature on the diversity of one of Pennsylvania's most important counties. For a month, I headed up and down one county road — at times even going door to door — asking people of different political persuasions to talk about their motivations. The result is an award-winning story told in a way never before seen on our website.

Local air quality improves (slightly) during coronavirus shutdown. Why science will benefit.

2021 NEW JERSEY PRESS ASSOC. AWARD WINNER: An unexpected benefit from the pandemic shutdowns, air quality was widely reported to have improved. But what did that look like locally? Through collaboration with colleagues at nj.com, I seized an opportunity to take a simple look at a complicated science, collecting and verifying data and seeking context from experts in the field.

Interview with a Nobel physicist

The James Webb Space Telescope is all over the news now, but I interviewed one of the brilliant minds behind it years ago! It was 2007, and Dr. John Mather was fresh off his Nobel Prize in physics for his work with the COBE satellite analyzing leftover radiation from the Big Bang, and I was fresh out of school where I had studied astronomy. I spoke with him (and some of his former high school teachers) at length. The resulting story and sidebar about his research remains a career highlight.