Harrisburg (Oct. 24, 2008) - Pennsylvania Bar Association President C. Dale McClain has announced the winners of the 2008 William A. Schnader Print Media Awards, which were presented today during the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's "Newspaper of the Year" luncheon in Pittsburgh.

Funded by the national law firm of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, the awards competition was founded 29 years ago in memory of former state attorney general and PBA president William A. Schnader. The awards recognize excellence in print journalism, particularly articles and writings fostering greater public understanding of the legal system and the roles of society and the law, the courts, law enforcement agencies and the legal profession.

The competition was expanded to five categories this year. A new category was added to honor journalistic excellence in editorial and commentary writing about the legal system and its operations.

The competition is overseen by the PBA Bar/Press Committee. Entries are judged by lawyers, newspaper and magazine editors and college professors.

The winners are as follows:

Beat Coverage: Daily Newspapers 49,000+ Circ.
1st Place: Reading Eagle, Holly Herman, Three Beat Coverage Articles
2nd Place: York Daily Record/Sunday News, Rick Lee, Three Beat Coverage Articles

Beat Coverage: Daily Newspapers Under 49,000 Circ.
1st Place: Pocono Record, David Pierce, Beat Coverage Articles
2nd Place: Lancaster New Era, Janet Kelley, Three Beat Coverage Articles

Beat Coverage: Weekly Newspapers
1st Place: Montgomery Newspapers, Linda Finarelli, Three Beat Coverage Articles
2nd Place: Central Penn Business Journal, David Dagan, Three Beat Coverage Articles

Special Report/Series
1st Place: Capitolwire.com, Christopher Lilienthal, Series on Supreme Court Candidates
2nd Place: Philadelphia Inquirer, Mark Fazlollah, Dylan Purcell and Keith Herbert, "Suburban Cops, Tough Tactics"

Editorial/Commentary
1st Place: York Daily Record/Sunday News, Scott Fisher, "Legal Opinions"
2nd Place: The Legal Intelligencer, Hank Grezlak, Judicial Retention and Gaming Law Commentaries

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 29,000 lawyers who are members of the association.