Steve Novak

2022 NEW JERSEY PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNER: PFAS-contaminated wells were slowly being identified in a New Jersey neighborhood, but no one was talking about how extensive the problem really was. I went door to door to find out what neighbors were experiencing, and pressed the issue with local and state officials.

2022 NEW JERSEY PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNER | 2022 KEYSTONE MEDIA AWARDS HONORABLE MENTION: As we hit one year of COVID-19, our coronavirus coverage team presented personal stories of challenge — a reminder of what we have all endured, and what we still faced. For me, it was a chance to reconnect with my friends who endured a life-threatening bout with the pandemic virus.

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.

2021 NEW JERSEY PRESS ASSOC. AWARD WINNER: A history feature that compared local storylines from the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic to the present day COVID-19 news. Inspiration for developing an ongoing historical headline feature, Lehigh Valley Then. Submitted to the NJPA in a portfolio of history pieces.

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.

2021 KEYSTONE MEDIA AWARDS WINNER: An AA group was getting the cops called on them during the COVID-19 shutdown. They needed someone to tell their story. Submitted under the news diversity category.