About the Jones Award
Honors excellence in political journalism
The Keith B. Jones Award for Excellence in Political Journalism recognizes a member of AKSM Media's White House Division who exemplifies the highest standards of integrity, tenacity, and excellence in political journalism.
This prestigious award is bestowed annually upon the team member whose reporting demonstrates an exceptional commitment to:
Unbiased and Rigorous Reporting: Delivering accurate, contextualized, and objective coverage of the U.S. Presidency, the Administration, and the complex workings of the White House.
Investigative Tenacity: Fearlessly pursuing truth and clarity on critical national issues, offering depth and insight beyond the daily headlines.
Journalistic Integrity: Maintaining unwavering ethical standards, fostering trust, and ensuring the public is served with reliable, impactful information.
The recipient of the Keith B. Jones Award embodies the core mission of AKSM Media: to innovate, inform, and inspire those who come next and celebrates the vital role of the White House press corps in a free democracy.
Our Namesake
Keith B. Jones
emmy award winning journalist
Photo courtesy of The Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova
Keith Jones is a 21-time Emmy Award winning anchor for NBC10 News. You can watch Keith weekday mornings anchoring NBC10 News Today from 5 AM to 7 AM. He also co-hosts The Lineup, a digital newscast streamed on the NBC10 apps on Roku and Apple TV.
A native of New Egypt in Ocean County, New Jersey and graduate of Villanova University, Keith enjoys writing and telling stories that affect the communities in which he grew up.
Along with anchoring, Keith has field anchored sporting events for the Eagles, Phillies, 76ers, and Flyers. He has also covered college sports, Super Bowls, the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games.
His favorite stories include stepping over the border into North Korea during the Winter Games and covering the national title runs of the Villanova Men’s Basketball team in both 2016 and 2018. The Villanova alumus - who studied communication and philosophy - was a former student-manager under head coach Jay Wright. He even practiced with the team on occasion.
"You were a good enough player that we used you in practice, so you were kind of like half player, half manager,” said Wright in 2016. “You had good length, you had hops."
Prior to joining NBC10 in July 2012, Keith was an anchor and reporter at WHSV, the ABC affiliate in Harrisburg, Virginia; the same station that one of our own - Ryan Hartnett - would transfer to after his time at AKSM Media’s White House Division, where he served as a senior White House producer. Keith then went on to work as a reporter and fill-in anchor at WTAE, the ABC affiliate in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Since 2013, Keith has served as an adjunct professor of broadcast journalism at Villanova University. In 2018, Keith received Villanova’s Young Alumni Medal, which is given annually to one alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to one or more areas of society, including professional, academic, and service to the university. In 2023, Keith was honored with a significant teaching award from Villanova University - The Tolle Lege Award - which acknowledges excellence in teaching in the University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
In 2014, he was honored with the university’s annual Ethos Award, which recognizes an alumnus who serves as a role model to students by demonstrating character, service, and excellence in the field of communication. The same year, Keith was awarded the University’s annual Young Alumni Medallion, which is given to an alumnus who’d graduated within ten years, excelled in his or her professional endeavors, and demonstrated ongoing service to the community and the University.
Keith has been recognized with five Edward R. Murrow Awards and 16 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Anchor in 2021.
An active member of the community, Keith volunteers on the board of directors for nonprofits including Main Line Deputy Dog, the Philadelphia Fireman’s Museum, and Turning Points for Children. He is also an active volunteer with the American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania and Villanova’s Office of Disability Services.
In 2024, Keith was recognized by the Augustinian Order of the Catholic Church for embodying their values of love, truth, and unity at their annual Profile in Augustinian Leadership event.
Keith resides in outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his wife, Holly, and their son, KJ.
Photo courtesy of Villanova University
Photo courtesy of Keith Jones
The 2026 Keith B. Jones INAUGURAL Honoree
Grace L. Sawyer
Deputy Chief of Staff and Former Chief White House Producer
The 2026 Inaugural Keith B. Jones Award honors Grace L. Sawyer for her extraordinary dedication and unmatched leadership while serving as Chief White House Producer. Miss Sawyer served in the position since May of 2024 and quickly became a leader in the Briefing Room, on the campaign trail, and beyond. Miss Sawyer led the logistics, planning and coverage for the entire White House Division as well as spearheading the coverage of the 2024 election, the 2024 Russia-United States prisoner swap, the State Funeral of Former President Jimmy Carter, and oversaw the transition between the Biden and Trump administrations. Miss Sawyer established AKSM Media's relationship with the new administration and fostered it to become one of the best non-partisan working relationships in the White House press corps.
In selecting Miss Sawyer as the first recipient, the Award committee recognizes her remarkable performance during two uniquely challenging political eras. She has successfully navigated the complexities of covering both the Biden and Trump Administrations, a feat demanding exceptional adaptability, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to professional standards.
Miss Sawyer's leadership has been critical in maintaining the rigor and integrity of AKSM Media's White House Division through periods of rapid change and intense public scrutiny. Her work behind the scenes ensures that members of the White House Division are equipped to deliver clear, unbiased, and consequential reporting to the public, regardless of the political climate.
This award honors Grace Sawyer, not only for her individual journalistic excellence, but also for her role as an essential mentor and anchor for the entire White House team. Her commitment to the truth serves as the gold standard for all future recipients of the Keith B. Jones Award.
Miss Sawyer departed the White House Division prior to the end of 2025 to serve as a deputy chief of staff at AKSM Media. She was replaced by Ava Petrosky who served in an interim position as a transitional role until Abigail Gambla fully took over the role in May of 2026.
Miss Sawyer received the award in a surprise ceremony in May of 2026 in Harrisonburg, Virginia with Representative Ben Cline (VA-06) in attendance. Rep. Cline also presented Miss Sawyer with a Congressional Commendation as well as the flag that was flown over the United States Capitol building in honor of Miss Sawyer on her final day at the White House before moving to AKSM Media's executive office. Miss Sawyer was also presented with a gubernatorial citation greeting from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro honoring her impact on society as a Pennsylvanian, where Miss Sawyer currently resides.
Honorees of the Keith B. Jones Award
The Award Committee
