Charles Stile and former ADP CEO Josh Weston to be recognized; reporting on DEI and education, police misconduct, and statewide finances also honored

Charles Stile, political columnist for the The Bergen Record/Northjersey.com for more than 23 years, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in New Jersey Journalism at the third annual Byrne Kean Dinner on Wednesday, October 11. The event, held this year at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, recognizes journalistic excellence on the local, regional, and statewide levels. Proceeds from the gala benefit the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media (CNJLM), a nonprofit organization founded in 2020 to create engaged and informed communities by revitalizing local journalism and innovating for its future.

The nonprofit will also present the Statewide Impact in New Jersey Journalism award, which honors the best story or series of stories that illuminated an issue or issues of statewide importance in New Jersey for the general public, to two esteemed journalists. John Reitmeyer, budget and finance writer for NJ Spotlight News, will receive the honor for his outstanding coverage of statewide budget and finance issues; and Riley Yates, lead data reporter for NJ Advance Media for nj.com and The Star-Ledger, will be recognized for his vital investigative reporting on police misconduct.

Jessie Gomez, who reports on Newark public schools for Chalkbeat Newark, will also be honored with the Local Impact in New Jersey Journalism award, which honors the story or series of stories that illuminated an issue or issues for the general public at a local or regional level in New Jersey, for her work on diversity, equity, and racial justice issues within the school system.

In addition to the Lifetime Achievement and New Jersey Journalism Impact Awards, the Byrne Kean Dinner will recognize philanthropist Josh Weston, former CEO of Automatic Data Processing (ADP), with the Loretta Weinberg Award, which honors non-journalists who have made a significant impact on New Jersey journalism during their careers. Senator Weinberg will attend the event and present the award to Weston in recognition of his consistent and enthusiastic support of local journalism.

“It is important to recognize the critical role that quality professional journalism plays in creating an informed citizenry and fostering civic engagement in a democratic society,” said Amanda Richardson, the executive director of the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media. “These awards not only highlight the best work of individual journalists, but also the importance of preserving and expanding news reporting at both the state and local level.”

“I’m honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from an enterprise devoted to preserving community journalism in New Jersey,” said Lifetime Achievement Award winner Charlie Stile. “It’s a monumental challenge but a necessary one. A vigilant and local press is critical to a thriving Democracy.”
“Nothing is more satisfying than helping New Jerseyans stay informed,” said NJ Spotlight News’s Reitmeyer. “To be recognized for doing the work that I love, in the state I love, while representing public media, is truly an honor.”

“With all the wonderful journalism produced each day in New Jersey, it is an honor to be recognized,” said Riley Yates of NJ Advance Media for nj.com and The Star-Ledger. “I feel blessed to be able to pursue long-term projects like this, and thank my editors and colleagues for all of their support.”

“Every child deserves a fair and equitable education and it starts by reporting on the student experience,” Chalkbeat Newark’s Jessie Gomez said. “As the state waits for a ruling on a school segregation lawsuit that could have historic consequences on public schools, we will continue to track the effects of segregation in Newark schools and other educational inequities in the city.”

Honorees for the New Jersey Journalism Impact Awards were selected by a committee headed by Stefanie Murray, director of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. “There is nothing I enjoy more than lifting up reporters and editors in our state doing the kind of journalism these award winners have done,” said Murray. “Every journalist strives to have an impact on the community they serve, which is what Jessie, Riley, John and Charlie have truly done. I’m so grateful for their work in New Jersey.”

For those wishing to attend the event and support the honorees, tickets and sponsorships for the third annual Byrne Kean Dinner are available at https://go.rallyup.com/byrnekean23/Campaign/Details or by visiting www.newsweneed.org.

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Corporation for New Jersey Local Media creates engaged and informed communities by revitalizing local journalism and innovating for its future. The organization seeks to enhance civic engagement by promoting professional community journalism, fostering public discussion of critical issues, and expanding access to educational programs. Learn more at www.newsweneed.org.