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“Spotlight PA”

Distinguished Service to the First Amendment, honoring Edward Willis Scripps

Spotlight PA, 2026

Author(s): Staff

In 2025, reporting from Spotlight PA secured government documents and data, prompted court battles to enforce the state’s open-meeting law, spurred legislation expanding public access to key records and created new opportunities for citizen engagement.

Honoring Edward Willis Scripps

E.W. Scripps is largely responsible for today’s free and independent press. In 1878, E.W. started his own newspaper in Cleveland designed to reach the greatest number of people by being affordable. Most importantly, it was completely independent, which left no party, cause, business or individual above criticism.