DNAinfo.com New York Wins Top Awards at 2014 IPPIES Journalism Competition

NEW YORK, June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- DNAinfo.com New York, the city's leading neighborhood news source, congratulates its reporters Mathew Katz, Jeff Mays, Ben Fractenberg and Sonja Sharp for winning prizes at the 2014 IPPIES Awards given by the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

Specifically, Mathew Katz, DNAinfo.com's Chelsea reporter, won "best investigative/in-depth story" for his examination of the misuse of funds by prominent AIDS charity, Gay Men's Health Crisis, in his story titled, "Millions Raised by AIDS Walk Spent on Rent, Not HIV Services."

"Mathew spent more than a year reporting on the GMHC and was the first journalist to uncover a disturbing pattern of bureaucratic waste that included a $389,000 monthly rent bill," said Michael P. Ventura, managing editor at DNAInfo.com New York. "We're proud he was recognized for his in-depth reporting on one of the city's most important charities."

Third place awards were given to DNAinfo reporters Jeff Mays for his coverage of Islan Nettles, the transgender woman beaten to death in Harlem; Ben Fractenberg for his photo of a laborer in the Worksman Cycles factory in Queens; and Sonja Sharp for her coverage of Brooklyn's yeshiva schools' failure to teach English and math.

The Ippies Awards are given by the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. The New York-area competition recognizes excellence amongst journalists, photographers, graphic artists, editors, and publishers from the community media.

About DNAinfo.com New York
DNAinfo.com New York (www.DNAinfo.com/New-York) is the city's leading neighborhood news source. We deliver up-to-the-minute reports on entertainment, education, politics, crime, sports, and dining. Our award-winning journalists find the stories – big or small – that matter most to New Yorkers. The inspiration, funding, and strategic vision for DNAinfo.com come from entrepreneur and Ameritrade (AMTD) founder Joe Ricketts.

SOURCE DNAinfo.com New York