Longtime newsman Marc Gronich, a regular reporter for The Jewish Press and other Jewish publications, has taken home another Simon Rockower award for Political/Government reporting from the Chandler, AZ-based American Jewish Press Association (AJPA). The award was presented to Gronich on Monday, June 23 at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. Gronich, 64, has been covering events at the state capital in Albany, N.Y., for more than 47 years. This is his fifth prestigious Rockower award in the last six years. He began writing for The Jewish Press eight years ago.
“The award I won this year was for writing about New York City’s congestion pricing toll below 60th Street in Manhattan. The $9 toll is allegedly to pay for MTA repairs, improvements and upgrades,” Gronich said. “I have not been below 60th Street since the cameras began rolling for the toll charge. One of the ironic parts of winning the award this year never ceases to amaze me. While the bulk of my stories are from Albany, this was a New York City-centric story.” Gronich’s “Congestion Pricing Stalled for Now – Will Congress Fill MTA’s Budget Gap?” was first published in the print edition of June 21, 2024.
“I’m ecstatic about receiving this award. The Jewish Press owners, the Klass and Greenwald families, have provided me with a wonderful opportunity to have my articles published in such a prestigious national weekly publication,” Gronich said. “Without them, this award would not have been possible. I feel blessed to be part of their writing team.”
The competition was steep this year. There were 241 winners chosen by 31 judges in 40 categories. There were divisions within the categories. The divisions included weekly and biweekly newspapers; monthly newspapers and magazines; web-based outlets focused on digital only, website only and wire services. The winners were placed into subcategories including first place, second place and honorable mentions within each division. Some of these slots had no winners.
Gronich began covering the state capital during the Hugh Carey administration for Albany’s NPR affiliate while in college at UAlbany and has reported on the six successive governors since then under the company he started in 1981, Statewide News Service.
He has excelled in a broadcast career, reporting for 50 radio stations across New York for 16 years. He then began as a co-host for a television program, The Jewish View. He has held positions as a government and political reporter for newspapers, both weekly and monthly publications.
Gronich will soon begin a new venture later this summer. He will begin a video podcast titled “It Matters: The Truth Begins Here.” The podcast will be live-streamed and have guests appear via remote location.
