The Youngstown Press Club recognizes excellent work in journalism, media and communications through awards that honor those with distinguished careers in the media through it's Hall of Fame, those who are currently doing exemplary work in the media through the Excellence in Media Award, those who have defended the freedoms in the First Amendment through the First Amendment Award, and press club members who have made significant contributions to the club through the Medal of Merit.
Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame 2023 Inductees
Four distinguished Mahoning Valley journalists were inducted into the Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame on Sept. 7, 2023.
They are: Dennis B. Mangan, retired Vindicator editorial page editor; Emily Webster Love, former associate metro editor at The Tribune Chronicle; Gerry Ricciutti, senior reporter at WKBN and WYTV; and the late Ann N. Przelomski, who was managing editor of The Vindicator.
The inductions occurred at the press club's Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave.
Dennis B. Mangan
Having joined The Vindicator as a reporter in 1971, Mangan served as assistant state editor, Trumbull editor, assistant city editor, and city editor before becoming editorial page editor.
As city editor, he supervised dozens of reporters and several photographers and played a decisive role in planning and overseeing day-to-day local news coverage.
During Mangan's 41-year tenure, The Vindicator crusaded against corrupt politicians and mob influences in the Mahoning Valley.
In his 25 years as the paper's award-winning editorial page editor, he wrote thoroughly researched and sharply worded editorials that expressed the official views of the publisher.
A voracious reader, Mangan was always well-prepared for the intense campaign season schedule of editorial board interviews with candidates for local and statewide office, who sought the paper's highly coveted endorsement.
While taking copious notes, he would ask probing questions to determine the candidates' level of knowledge and qualifications for the offices they sought.
Emily Webster Love
Emily Webster Love began her newspaper career as a proofreader at The Tribune Chronicle, then worked briefly for a Warren advertising agency before joining The Vindicator in 1968 as a Warren Bureau reporter.
In 1987, she returned to The Tribune Chronicle as a feature writer, associate metro editor and copy editor.
She then became executive editor of The Town Crier weekly newspapers and later was an outside contractor for USA Today's Life, Money and News desks.
After that, she spent more than a decade at the Vic Rubenstein marketing firm.
Her long and varied award-winning journalism career continues today as she remotely covers news for a small weekly newspaper in southwestern Virginia's coal fields.
In all of her journalism roles, Love has been a passionate advocate for newspapers being an important and integral member of the communities they cover.
She recently published a history book based on the letters and memoirs of an early settler's family and a book about a historic-house-turned-country inn and is working on two other books.
Gerry Ricciutti
With his unmistakable, authoritative broadcast voice and thorough knowledge of the Mahoning Valley, Gerry Ricciutti has been an icon of local television news here for 35 years.
Born in Baltimore, Md., and raised in Sharpsville, he received his bachelor's degree in political science and speech communications from Penn State University in 1982.
Ricciutti effectively cultivates news sources, who give him tips that often result in his being the first journalist to report major local news stories.
Riccuitti has covered many important stories throughout his distinguished career, including the 2012 Presidential Election.
From March to December 2007, he was managing editor and acting news director at WYTV.
The impeccably dressed Ricciutti exudes the image of a professional journalist by consistently wearing a suit and tie, and often, his signature fedora hat.
Ann N. Przelomski
Ann N. Przelomski rose to top leadership positions at The Vindicator at a time when the newsroom was largely a male-dominated world.
Having joined the paper in 1942, she was a reporter, rewrite person, assistant city editor, city editor and managing editor.
She was the first female assistant city editor, city editor and managing editor of The Vindicator.
Przelomski’s father, Ernest “Nemo” Nemenyi, was the long-time industrial editor of The Vindicator.
Przelomski was a demanding taskmaster, who insisted on factual accuracy, objectivity, and fairness, and correct spelling, grammar and word use. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Mahoning Valley and its institutions and leaders.
Przelomski retired in 1988 and died at the age of 82 in 2001.
They are: Dennis B. Mangan, retired Vindicator editorial page editor; Emily Webster Love, former associate metro editor at The Tribune Chronicle; Gerry Ricciutti, senior reporter at WKBN and WYTV; and the late Ann N. Przelomski, who was managing editor of The Vindicator.
The inductions occurred at the press club's Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave.
Dennis B. Mangan
Having joined The Vindicator as a reporter in 1971, Mangan served as assistant state editor, Trumbull editor, assistant city editor, and city editor before becoming editorial page editor.
As city editor, he supervised dozens of reporters and several photographers and played a decisive role in planning and overseeing day-to-day local news coverage.
During Mangan's 41-year tenure, The Vindicator crusaded against corrupt politicians and mob influences in the Mahoning Valley.
In his 25 years as the paper's award-winning editorial page editor, he wrote thoroughly researched and sharply worded editorials that expressed the official views of the publisher.
A voracious reader, Mangan was always well-prepared for the intense campaign season schedule of editorial board interviews with candidates for local and statewide office, who sought the paper's highly coveted endorsement.
While taking copious notes, he would ask probing questions to determine the candidates' level of knowledge and qualifications for the offices they sought.
Emily Webster Love
Emily Webster Love began her newspaper career as a proofreader at The Tribune Chronicle, then worked briefly for a Warren advertising agency before joining The Vindicator in 1968 as a Warren Bureau reporter.
In 1987, she returned to The Tribune Chronicle as a feature writer, associate metro editor and copy editor.
She then became executive editor of The Town Crier weekly newspapers and later was an outside contractor for USA Today's Life, Money and News desks.
After that, she spent more than a decade at the Vic Rubenstein marketing firm.
Her long and varied award-winning journalism career continues today as she remotely covers news for a small weekly newspaper in southwestern Virginia's coal fields.
In all of her journalism roles, Love has been a passionate advocate for newspapers being an important and integral member of the communities they cover.
She recently published a history book based on the letters and memoirs of an early settler's family and a book about a historic-house-turned-country inn and is working on two other books.
Gerry Ricciutti
With his unmistakable, authoritative broadcast voice and thorough knowledge of the Mahoning Valley, Gerry Ricciutti has been an icon of local television news here for 35 years.
Born in Baltimore, Md., and raised in Sharpsville, he received his bachelor's degree in political science and speech communications from Penn State University in 1982.
Ricciutti effectively cultivates news sources, who give him tips that often result in his being the first journalist to report major local news stories.
Riccuitti has covered many important stories throughout his distinguished career, including the 2012 Presidential Election.
From March to December 2007, he was managing editor and acting news director at WYTV.
The impeccably dressed Ricciutti exudes the image of a professional journalist by consistently wearing a suit and tie, and often, his signature fedora hat.
Ann N. Przelomski
Ann N. Przelomski rose to top leadership positions at The Vindicator at a time when the newsroom was largely a male-dominated world.
Having joined the paper in 1942, she was a reporter, rewrite person, assistant city editor, city editor and managing editor.
She was the first female assistant city editor, city editor and managing editor of The Vindicator.
Przelomski’s father, Ernest “Nemo” Nemenyi, was the long-time industrial editor of The Vindicator.
Przelomski was a demanding taskmaster, who insisted on factual accuracy, objectivity, and fairness, and correct spelling, grammar and word use. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Mahoning Valley and its institutions and leaders.
Przelomski retired in 1988 and died at the age of 82 in 2001.
YPC Medal of Merit Awarded to Mary Beth Earnheardt
The Youngstown Press Club awards its Medal of Merit to Mary Beth Earnheardt, a former club executive director, for her work in re-establishing the press club in 2018 and guiding it in the years that followed.
Earnheardt is the chairwoman of Youngstown State University's communication department and a professor in the Anderson Journalism Program.
She teaches communication law, journalism history and content creation and has published articles and book chapters on war reporting, political motives and the First Amendment.
Earnheardt is the chairwoman of Youngstown State University's communication department and a professor in the Anderson Journalism Program.
She teaches communication law, journalism history and content creation and has published articles and book chapters on war reporting, political motives and the First Amendment.
Hall of Fame
The Youngstown Press Club established this award to commemorate those members of our community who have had long and distinguished careers in media. This award will be given to people nearing the end or at the end of their careers.
Click here to see all Hall of Fame honorees
Criteria:
Click here for the Nomination Form.
Click here to see all Hall of Fame honorees
Criteria:
- Nomination must be made by a member in good standing of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Nominee does not have to be a member of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Members of the YPC Awards selection committee may not be nominated or nominate anyone.
- Nominee must have a minimum of 20 years professional media experience including journalism, public relations, advertising, writing, etc.
- Nominee must have made notable contributions in the Mahoning Valley media market.
- The Club may induct no more than two people posthumously a year.
- The Club will induct no more than four members a year but is not required to induct anyone.
Click here for the Nomination Form.
Excellence in Media Award
The Excellence in Media Award may be given in any category (journalism, PR, adverting, etc.).
The Excellence Award was established to honor those who are currently doing exemplary work in one of the mass communication fields.
Criteria:
Click here for the Nomination Form.
The Excellence Award was established to honor those who are currently doing exemplary work in one of the mass communication fields.
Criteria:
- Nomination must be made by a member in good standing of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Nominee does not have to be a member of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Award can go to an individual or an organization.
- Members of the YPC Awards selection committee may not be nominated or nominate anyone.
- Excellence in this award category should focus on one field of mass communication. Nominations can focus on excellence as it relates to a one-time project or excellence as shown by a body of work.
- Work must have been done in the Mahoning Valley media market.
- This award will only be given when candidates merit recognition.
Click here for the Nomination Form.
First Amendment Award
The First Amendment Award was established to honor those who have engaged in behavior in defense of the freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The award honors a person or organization who has taken a stand with the risk of personal or professional harm. It was created to honor those who have staunchly defended the freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The nominee must have a connection to the Mahoning Valley region. This award is given in instances where the actions of the awardee are exceptional.
In 2021 the Vindicator Printing Company received the First Amendment Award.
The Vindicator Printing Company, along with the Brown Family, provided a family-run newspaper to the Mahoning Valley for 150 years. The paper began in 1869 when it launched as The Mahoning Vindicator. It became the Youngstown Vindicator shortly after.
Its reporting on the mafia, political corruption, and big business matters garnered the paper a reputation of fearlessness. In 1984, the paper became The Vindicator. The paper provided a heritage of reporting to uncover corruption and to be the watchdog for a community, the importance of good story-telling, and the celebration of the past while emphasizing the importance for future First Amendment rights through journalistic freedom and longevity.
Criteria:
Click here for the Nomination Form.
In 2021 the Vindicator Printing Company received the First Amendment Award.
The Vindicator Printing Company, along with the Brown Family, provided a family-run newspaper to the Mahoning Valley for 150 years. The paper began in 1869 when it launched as The Mahoning Vindicator. It became the Youngstown Vindicator shortly after.
Its reporting on the mafia, political corruption, and big business matters garnered the paper a reputation of fearlessness. In 1984, the paper became The Vindicator. The paper provided a heritage of reporting to uncover corruption and to be the watchdog for a community, the importance of good story-telling, and the celebration of the past while emphasizing the importance for future First Amendment rights through journalistic freedom and longevity.
Criteria:
- Nomination may be made by anyone.
- Nominee does not have to be a member of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Award can go to an individual or an organization.
- Members of the YPC Awards selection committee may not be nominated or nominate anyone.
- This Award is given to honor a person or organization that has taken a stand with the risk of personal or professional harm. The nominator must make this case in the nomination materials.
- The winner must have a connection to the Mahoning Valley region.
- This award will only be given in instances where the actions of the awardee are exceptional.
- The action meriting this award must be done in the past five years.
Click here for the Nomination Form.
Medal of Merit
The Medal of Merit is an internal award for a member of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Nomination must be made by a standing committee chair or member of the Board of Governors.
- Nominee must be a member of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Members of the YPC Awards selection committee may not be nominated or nominate anyone.
- This Award is given to honor a person who has contributed to the Club.
All awards nominations are due by June 1 of the given year. A separate form is required for each nomination. Letters of support and documentation in support of the nomination should be attached, with the form, and emailed to the Youngstown Press Club at youngstownpressclub@gmail.com. Questions should be directed to youngstownpressclub@gmail.com.
Awards will be presented at the Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet on Sept. 7, 2023.
Awards will be presented at the Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet on Sept. 7, 2023.