Sep 09, 2020 St. Bonaventure University students Michael Hogan and Hannah Legacy have been named recipients of TAPinto Greater Olean’s first Public Service Journalism Awards.

Hogan was selected for his ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Legacy earned her award for a series of stories on Black Lives Matter protests and related issues in the Greater Olean area.

“The pandemic and social justice were the two biggest stories in the nation during the summer of 2020,” TAPinto Greater Olean Co-editor Anne Lee said. “With their reporting, Mike and Hannah kept the Greater Olean community informed on both stories.”

Hogan and Legacy completed Journalist’ Workshop, the course in which students staff TAPinto Greater Olean, in May, but they voluntarily worked through the summer and continue to report for the online news site.

“These awards not only reflect the Mike and Hannah’s excellent journalism; they recognize the commitment they displayed by going above and beyond what they were required to do for coursework,” Richard Lee, TAPinto Greater Olean’s other co-editor, said.

During the summer, Hogan chronicled daily developments on COVID-19’s impact on the area, cases, including confirmed coronavirus cases, closings and cancelations and health and medical decisions. He wrote more than 100 stories about the pandemic.
Legacy covered Black Lives Matter rallies in Olean and Cuba, as well as several developments in the city of Olean, including a heated Town Hall Black Lives Matter meeting, the Common Council's approval of a resolution supporting Black Lives Matter and the appointment of a Black alderman.

“It is inspiring to see the dedication to important journalism from these students,” Aaron Chimbel, dean of the Jandoli School of Communication, said. “The work Mike and Hannah have done the past few months on two critically important stories show what good students can do with the right platform and energetic mentorship from faculty members like Anne and Rich Lee. Their work exhibits the best of local journalism — and of the Jandoli School.”

“Mike and Hannah exemplify the best of TAPinto's commitment to high quality objective local journalism that truly makes a difference in our communities,” TAPinto CEO Michael Shapiro said. “On behalf of TAPinto, congratulations to Mike and Hannah on this noteworthy achievement.”

For earning TAPinto Greater Olean ‘s Public Service Journalism Awards, each student will receive $100.

TAPinto Greater Olean is an online news site staffed by students in St. Bonaventure’s Jandoli School of Communication.