The Overlook won five awards in the New York Press Association’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest, including first place for photographic excellence.
The awards were presented April 23 and 24 at the association’s spring convention in Saratoga Springs. This year’s contest drew 2,732 entries from 150 publications across 67 categories, with members of the Michigan Press Association serving as judges. Fewer than 15% of entries received honors.
The Overlook, a reader-supported nonprofit newsroom that launched in early 2025, was recognized for work that included accountability reporting, public service news, local culture coverage, and photography from across the Catskills.
Noah Eckstein, The Overlook’s editor-in-chief, was recognized in two reporting categories: local government and elections and politics. The elections and politics story was honored for its watchdog reporting, with judges writing that it “underscores the importance of watchdog journalism in holding local officials to account, particularly when public safety and trust are at stake.”
The local government story received second place, with judges noting its “good use of background and explanatory material” and saying the reporting showed initiative in exposing that a public employee “was a potential danger to the public.”
The Overlook received first place for photographic excellence for a portfolio that included photos by Roy Gumpel and Michael Sofronski. Gumpel also received awards for feature photography and art photography, with judges praising his work as “unique,” “fun,” and visually striking.
“The Overlook is on a great trajectory,” said Scott Widmeyer, the board president and co-founder of The Overlook. “The recognition from the New York Press Association for our local reporting and photographic excellence is a testament to what has been accomplished by our team since launching in early 2025.”
“My sincere thanks to our Editor-in-Chief Noah Eckstein for the great talent he has brought to The Overlook. And that includes his own superior news and creative skills as well as that of our phenomenal photographers, both Roy and Michael,” Widmeyer said. “The growing team at The Overlook is laser-focused on bringing the best of hyperlocal news to the seven towns we serve. And the best is yet to come.”
Jacqueline Kellachan, co-founder and board secretary of The Overlook, said the awards affirmed the newsroom’s founding mission.
“When Scott and I founded The Overlook, we believed there was a real hunger for thoughtful, accountable local reporting,” Kellachan said. “This recognition from the New York Press Association confirms that The Overlook’s reporting is resonating.”
She added: “I’m incredibly proud of our editor-in-chief, Noah Eckstein, as well as our photographers Michael Sofronski and Roy Gumpel. This work requires persistence, curiosity, and a deep sense of responsibility to our readers and communities. These awards reflect the strength of that collective effort.”
The recognized work examined the people, institutions, and issues shaping life in the Catskills, from questions about public safety and affordable housing to local culture, literature, and the arts.
Sofronski said he was grateful to be part of the newsroom’s early growth.
“I’m sincerely honored to receive this recognition,” Sofronski said. “Contributing to The Overlook has been a rewarding experience, and I’m grateful for the chance to be part of such a wonderful team.”
Gumpel said attending the NYPA conference for the first time left him energized.
“It was a very inspiring event, with so much creative work and talented and caring people in the journalism field in our state,” Gumpel said. “After meeting so many of our peers and receiving a number of awards for The Overlook’s stories from last year, I am ready to up my game even further with the stories we do going forward.”
Eckstein said the awards were especially meaningful for a young newsroom still building its foundation.
“Helping build The Overlook has been one of the great privileges of my life, and it’s deeply gratifying to see our young newsroom recognized by the New York Press Association,” Eckstein said. “I’m grateful to our board of directors for believing in this work, and to the photographers, journalists, and readers who have helped make The Overlook part of the communities we serve. We’re just getting started, and I’m excited for what comes next.”