Firefighters group honors TL reporter

A staff reporter for The Times Leader won second place in the International Association of Fire Fighters 2009 Media Awards Contest about a story regarding firefighter staffing numbers in Wilkes-Barre.

Reporter Bill O’Boyle won the award for his story, “Wilkes-Barre firefighter staffing questioned.” The article ran in late October 2008.

Harold A. Schaitberger, IAFF general manager, wrote O’Boyle a letter congratulating and thanking him for highlighting the need for more firefighters to be hired, instead of just paying the current staff overtime.

“IAFF members across the United States and Canada appreciate the work you have done to expose the important work that professional firefighters perform in communities across North America,” Schaitberger wrote.

“Bill has been a hard-working and dedicated employee since he’s been working at this newspaper,” said Joe Butkiewicz, managing editor of The Times Leader. “We appreciate his ability to find news and get it to our readers in print and online. It’s not surprising that his work was recognized in this media contest.”

O’Boyle was flattered to win, but humbly noted it was just all part of his job.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the IAFF, but it is more important that The Times Leader be recognized for presenting critical issues – like fire fighting – to the public. The newspaper dedicated a lot of space to present all sides of this issue. That’s our job and it’s good to know organizations like the IAFF appreciate the effort,” O’Boyle said.

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Bill O’Boyle won 2nd place in international firefighters group’s 2009 Media Awards.

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