A First Place Sweep For The Rockaway Times in NYPA’s Better Newspaper Contest

The Rockaway Times had a first place sweep in Saratoga Springs in this year’s New York Press Association 2025 Better Newspaper Contest, with Managing Editor Katie McFadden hitting a triple, for four first place awards total, making The Rockaway Times an award-winning newspaper for the 11th year.

On Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24, NYPA hosted their spring conference at the Saratoga Hilton upstate, where they awarded newspapers across the state awards for work conducted in 2025. One hundred and fifty newspapers across New York submitted 2,732 entries across 67 editorial and advertising categories in the contest. A total of 389 awards were presented during the spring conference. The entries were judged by members of the Michigan Press Association in January. Among some of the big winners were newspapers like AMNewYork, Newsday and Times Union.

The Rockaway Times wins included Katie McFadden winning first place for Feature Story, Headline Writing and Feature Photo, and a first place win for Spot News photo for a photo by Krzysztof Koscikiewicz. It was the most first place awards The Rockaway Times won in one contest. A gold-plated wooden plaque was given for each award.

On Thursday, McFadden won first place for headline writing across the state. Her headline submissions included “A Miracle on 134th Street,” “Another Sudden Stop,” “The Empire Strikes Out,” “Rockaway Food Festival Ready for Second Rounds,” and “Rockaway to Lose a Part of Our Sole as Leon Retires.” In the comments, the judge said, “McFadden’s headlines drew me in and made me want to read these stories.”

On Friday, McFadden won first place for Feature Story-Lifestyle, Human Interest or Personality Profile in Division 4 and first place for Feature Photo in Division 2. The Feature Story award was for an April 2025 story called “Limbitless: A Man with No Arms or Legs to Take on Rockaway Marathon.” This story featured Chris Koch, a Canadian man born with no legs or arms, who was coming to Rockaway to compete in the Rockaway Track Club’s spring marathon, his 20th marathon, utilizing a skateboard. In the comments, the judge said, “A touching and inspiring story about the triumph of the human spirit!”

The first place Feature Photo was from a December 2025 story about the Rockaway Track Club’s Santa Run. The Feature Story category was among the biggest category for entries with 64 submissions total. The winning photo was of a runner dressed in a Santa suit and beard, holding up a carton of eggnog as he crossed the finish line. In the comments, the judge said, “This photo made me laugh. The movement that is caught – especially the beard, the red against the brown background, and the eggnog held high. I kept going back to this photo. It captured the moment, told a story, and I wanted to know more. In this category – it is more than just a ‘perfect’ picture. It has to be the ‘perfect’ picture for a newspaper reader. It must tell a story, it must be news worthy, it must be genuine, and it must still have technical quality. Great job capturing this event.”

Last but not least, on Friday, The Rockaway Times won first place for Spot News Photo in Division 1. The photo, by Krzysztof Koscikiewicz, captured an off-season ocean rescue in which an NYPD helicopter was lowering a rescue diver. In the comments, the judge said, “I love this photo. The fact that you can make out the flippers on the person dangling from the helicopter tells you it’s a water rescue, even though the water isn’t in the shot.”

We’re proud to say that when you’re reading The Rockaway Times, you’re reading an award-winning newspaper. Thank you for reading and supporting. Here’s to continued success!