ProPublica’s Investigative Editor training

Posted in Awards and Accolades by Lillian M. Ortiz

I’ve got exciting news: I was selected to participate in ProPublica’s investigative editor training program! I cannot tell you how thrilled I was when they told me! I LOVE ProPublica—it’s one of the best, if not THE BEST, investigative news outlet out there.

Here’s more about the program and the selection process: https://www.propublica.org/article/propublica-editor-training-cohort-2023?fbclid=IwY2xjawFRH9hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVb0PmxrJpi5ZR_9CW6fE-9VtN_mu_AMD2Qkn9tQYni_-MAXgrrU3rexnw_aem_-rDx-rlsug_w3pnjqBeo_g

24Apr2016

Verona-Cedar Grove Times named best weekly in NJ again

Posted in Awards and Accolades by Lillian M. Ortiz

From left, editorial assistant Joseph Klieber, editor Joshua Jongsma, sports editor Zach Gewelb, and former editor Lillian Ortiz.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Verona-Cedar Grove Times was named best small weekly in New Jersey during the annual New Jersey Press Association Better Newspaper Contest for 2015.

Since Lillian Ortiz became the newspaper’s editor in 2011, the Times has secured more than 100 editorial awards, including the top honor each year.

During this round, Ortiz earned a first-place award for “Editorial Section Layout and Content,” and third place for “Graphics and Illustrations” and “Front Page Layout.”

7Jun2015

The Verona-Cedar Grove Times named best small weekly in New Jersey

Posted in Awards and Accolades by Lillian M. Ortiz

Staffers of the Verona-Cedar Grove Times pose with their

The Verona-Cedar Grove Times team poses with their “General Excellence” award in April. From left, Photographer Adam Anik, Managing Editor Joshua Jongsma, former Sports Editor Chris Leyden, Editor Lillian Ortiz, Editorial Assistant Joe Kleiber, and former Editorial Assistant Carolyn Maso.

For the third consecutive year, the Verona-Cedar Grove Times was named the best small weekly newspaper in New Jersey after earning the “General Excellence” award. The honor was announced in mid-April by the New Jersey Press Association during Press Night in Hamilton, New Jersey.

The Times secured the win after receiving 22 editorial, photography, and layout awards in the NJPA’s 2014 Better Newspaper Contest. In the past three years, the Times has won over 70 awards in the annual contest.

16Mar2015

A look back at my favorite newspaper graphics, packages

Posted in Awards and Accolades, Layout and Design by Lillian M. Ortiz

‘Cedar Grove’s 14.8M referendum at a glance.’ We wanted to strip away all the talk and focus on the numbers. This graphic won a 2014 New Jersey Press Association award for “Fresh Approach to Routine Reporting.”

How high can Cedar Grove athlete David Njoku jump? Pretty high, it turns out. We thought this would be a fun way to illustrate the story. This graphic won a 2014 New Jersey Press Association award.

The Times took a look back at a decade-old movement to secede from the county.

A two-page spread about the hidden gems found at the Verona and Cedar Grove public libraries. The Verona-Cedar Grove Times won a 2014 New Jersey Press Assocation award for this project.