The New Jersey Press Association named Teaneck Suburbanite and staff reporter Howard Prosnitz the first place winners of its annual First Amendment Award, which recognizes "excellence in reporting that highlights the importance of a free press."

Specifically, the NJPA identified the newspaper’s role in attempting to answer "Who sent this literature?" That innocent question had plagued Teaneck for more than one year and stemmed from the 2006 municipal elections.

The distribution of anonymous and allegedly illegal campaign literature from that campaign season raised red flags throughout town in the months following the election. Teaneck Suburbanite followed the debate, which included the cries of outspoken and angry residents who demanded to see the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office file regarding the investigation.

As reported by Mr. Prosnitz, County Prosecutor John Molinelli granted two attorneys access to the file but rejected their requests to take notes as well as Teaneck Suburbanite’s official request to also see the documents. The two attorneys, Martin Cramer and Ronald Schwartz, reported their findings to the newspaper.

Soon thereafter, the editorial board, with the assistance of North Jersey Media Group’s legal counsel, published "Literature still in question." Under Mr. Prosnitz’s byline, the article unveiled the campaign tactics that elected officials deemed "tainted" and "slanderous." The piece also created a flurry of letters to the editor and new opinions and questions regarding campaign practices and the attorneys’ motive.

The prize, part of the press association’s 2007 Better Newspaper Contest, will be presented to writer and newspaper during April ceremonies in Trenton. The competition is comprised of all New Jersey weekly newspapers with a circulation of more than 4,500.