Former Eagle photographer named Newspaper Hero of the Year
Former Butler Eagle photographer Morgan Phillips was honored as one of two inaugural recipients of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation’s Newspaper Hero of the Year award on Thursday, Sept. 25, at the its advertising conference in State College.
The award recognized how Phillips continued to stand and take historic photographs while gunshots rang out at the Butler Farm Show grounds where then-candidate President Donald Trump was campaigning on July 13, 2024. The assassination attempt resulted in the death of Butler County resident Corey Comperatore and the serious injury of two other spectators.
“Morgan is passionate in her belief that community journalists are vital to democracy and at that critical moment she chose to step up and continue to do her job,” said Donna Sybert, Butler Eagle managing editor. “Her dedication to journalism and serving the community is an inspiration to us all.”
Tracy Leturgey, Butler Eagle newsroom assignment editor, nominated Phillips for her bravery and Margaret Weaver of Sample News Group for her support of the Eagle newsroom while members continued to cover developments related to the assassination attempt.
When gunfire erupted, Leturgey said Phillips didn’t flinch, and instead of running for cover, she lifted her camera.
“When bullets flew across the Butler Farm Show venue on July 13, 2024, Morgan Phillips didn't duck,” Leturgey said. “She stood and photographed the moment that made international history. In that moment, Morgan risked her life for the greater good. She saw a need to capture that news, and thank goodness she did.”
Butler Eagle Publisher Tammy Schuey said Phillips’ photographs became a defining record for what will be looked back upon as a dark day in United States history.
“Morgan showed great strength and courage during a very dangerous event on July 13,” she said. “She took powerful photographs of what was a very chaotic and frightening situation. She knew how important it was to photograph the event that thrust Butler into the world spotlight. Morgan truly deserves this award for facing her fears and recording history for our community and nation.”
When speaking at the conference, Phillips said the true heroes that day were Comperatore who shielded his family, the first responders who jumped into action as the shots rang out and the attendees who helped each other in leaving the event.
“I risked my life to carry out my duties as a photojournalist I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of what we do,” she said. “While so much of the world is satisfied remaining aloof, photojournalists are experiencing history first hand and documenting it for the world making sure the events of our time are permanently on the record and never forgotten.”
While those images told the story to the world, Weaver was working behind the scenes to make sure the Eagle’s newsroom could keep up with the workload.
As managing editor at Sample News Group, she recognized that the Eagle’s staff would be stretched thin, so she quickly mobilized colleagues at the Indiana Gazette, 50 miles away, to help coordinate news coverage.
Days later, she drove to the Eagle office herself, spending a weekend working alongside the exhausted newsroom so its staff could rest.
“She set the bar for collaboration high and embodied what it means to ‘support local journalism’ in that moment,” Leturgey said of Weaver’s actions.
Weaver, currently also interim publisher at the Latrobe Bulletin, is a veteran journalist who understands the critical role of community newspapers and what a toll that job can take on a newsroom, Sybert said.
“We can never thank her enough for being there for our team,” Sybert said.
Weaver, however, shined the spotlight on the Eagle’s staff, saying the experience strengthened the ties between the journalists who were committed to covering the story.
“They are the true heroes,” Weaver said. “The relationships that have emerged between our newsrooms have been an incredible source of support in many ways for all of us. As we look to shape its future in Pennsylvania, I'm thankful to do so among many dedicated journalists within Sample News Group and other companies across the state who work tirelessly to keep communities informed and engaged.”
