It was a big night for the Norwood News, picking up three awards at the 14th annual Ippies Awards on June 2. The awards ceremony, sponsored by the Center for Community and Ethnic Media and CUNY School of Journalism, is the only awards show to honor multi-language newspapers and community press. The almost 28-year-old newspaper once again took home a First Place prize for Best Small Circulation Publication, this time tying with The Riverdale Press.

“Both Bronx news outlets prove that small independent news outlets that serve their communities well can survive and thrive in this era of journalistic turbulence,” read Tom Robbins, CUNY’s investigative journalist in residence. “Both publications give voice to local frustrations and suggested solutions on their editorial and op-ed pages. They cover local sports, offer robust lists of community and cultural events, and closely track local politics. The picture that emerges is of two communities that are so much more vibrant and complex than their borough’s outdated reputation.”

David Cruz, the editor-in-chief of the Norwood News, won a big prize for Best Investigative/In-Depth Story for “Tenants Turn Heat Up on Landlord,” a series he began writing in February 2015 that explored nagging heat conditions at buildings owned by The Related Companies, a major landlord in New York City. The buildings were bought using funds from the New York City Pension Fund system.

“Norwood News’ stories helped spur…the Office of the City Comptroller, which oversees the Pension Funds to investigate and he pushed Related to improve conditions,” said Mr. Robbins.

Adi Talwar picked up a third place prize for the photograph he took entitled “A Mad Dash Around Oval Park,” which appeared in the Vol. 28 No. 17 edition of the Norwood News, dated Sept. 3-16, 2015. “The judges liked this well-executed feature image for its upbeat image and perfect execution,” read Randall Pinskston, a seasoned journalist who served as the event’s master of ceremonies.

Mr. Talwar scored another win, this time taking a First Place prize for a shot he snapped for City Limits, an online local news magazine.

The Norwood News wishes to thank everyone involved with the paper, specifically Judy Noy, Vivian Carter, Mauro DeLuca, Adi Talwar, David Greene, Jasmine Gomez, Jenny Sharp, Wendy Joan Biddlecombe, Miriam Quinones and Tatyana Turner for bringing all their talents to the publication last year.

The paper’s multiple wins came just a day before the Bedford Mosholu Community Association, a civic group based in the neighborhood of Bedford

Park, awarded Mr. Cruz with its annual community service award. The Jack Kelly Memorial Award, named after one of the 41-year-old group’s founding members, is given someone who has demonstrated consistent community service to the neighborhood. A committee had chosen Mr. Cruz for the award.

“From month to month we’ve discuss different issues and concerns in the neighborhood, be it overdevelopment, be it crime, be it our parks, you name it, it gets discussed here. However, in order for us to get anything done about it, you all know that we need to touch base with our electeds, we need to touch base with our city agencies, we need to get the problem out to the rest of the community,” said Barbara Stronczer, the group’s president, before revealing Mr. Cruz’s name. “This individual has done a great job doing that.”

Mr. Cruz has been in the news industry for 12 years. His first job was working as an assignment desk coordinator for News 12 the Bronx. He remained there for exactly one year, and later found work as a desk assistant for WCBS-AM, a 24-hour news radio station. He spent five years at the radio station, working alongside great radio news professionals. He worked his way from doing basic clerical tasks as a desk assistant, later conducing off-air interviews as a tape operator, then serving as a fill-in writer before finally becoming a producer.

After learning all he could, he decided to switch gears and enter the print business. He began his reporting career at The Bronx Times Reporter, staying there for close to two years before landing the role as editor-in-chief of the Norwood News  in 2013.

Editor’s Note: A full video of the Ippies Awards presentation can be found at http://bit.ly/1U62Z5E.