KPRC-TV Team Honored with Lone Star Emmy Awards, HABJ Media Powerhouse Award

Two of KPRC-TV’s team members, producer Erica Young and video editor Bill Carruthers, have been honored with prestigious Lone Star Emmy Awards.

On November 11, Erica Young received the esteemed award for Outstanding Achievement as a Live News Producer, a testament to her exceptional contributions to the dynamic field of live news production. Bill Carruthers, a skilled video editor, was bestowed with the Lone Star Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement as a News Editor for his specialty edits for KPRC Investigates and KPRC Originals.

The Lone Star Emmy Award, recognized as the pinnacle of achievement in the television industry, symbolizes the celebration of excellence and professional accomplishments. The award is conferred through a rigorous and confidential peer review of broadcast work and related media, highlighting the exceptional talent and dedication of individuals within the industry.

In addition to the Lone Star Emmy Awards, Raybin Dockery, Morning Streaming Manager at KPRC+, was honored with the Media Powerhouse award at the 2023 Sneaker Ball Scholarship Gala, presented by the Houston Association of Black Journalists (HABJ) on December 2. This annual gala diverges from tradition, encouraging participants to highlight their most unique sneakers and other footwear while celebrating community and media pioneers in Houston, TX.

"We are immensely proud of Erica Young, Bill Carruthers and Raybin Dockery for their well-deserved recognition with Lone Star Emmy Awards and the HABJ," said Bernice Kearney, News Director at KPRC-TV. "Their commitment to excellence and innovation has significantly contributed to the success of our programming, and we congratulate them on this outstanding achievement."

WJXT & WKMG Honored with Emmy Awards by Suncoast Chapter of National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

The Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards celebrate excellence in television broadcasting, and Graham Media Group’s Florida stations, WJXT-TV in Jacksonville and WKMG-TV in Orlando, were honored as recipients of the distinguished awards.

WJXT earned a total of seven Emmy Awards, including honors in the Health/Medical News category, where contributors Jodi Mohrmann, Kenna Rodgers Bear, Melanie Lawson, Ashley Harding, Ciara Earrey, and John McCormick earned Emmys for their impactful report titled "Ending Overdose." Additionally in this category, Jodi Mohrmann and Joy Purdy were honored for "Ready for Rescue," while Anne Maxwell and Leeann Walker claimed victory for "Surgery Scandal."

In the Diversity/Equity/Inclusion-News category, Tarik Minor's work on "Gang Unit Sgt. Under Investigation" earned him an Emmy. The collaborative efforts of Amanda DeVoe, Foad Zabaneh, Hunter Vaughn, and Alfonso Campbell were recognized with Emmys for their compelling story, "The Ripple Effect."

The Historical/Cultural-News category saw Scott Johnson, Kathryn Bonfield, and Michael Jones obtaining Emmys for their impactful report on "Emmett Till: Back to Mississippi."

WJXT contributors Kaitlyn Shemenski, Sasha Garcia, Kent Justice, Tarik Minor, Isaac Levitan, and Renee Beninate further added to the station's success by acquiring Emmys in the Evening Newscast – Medium Markets category for their coverage of "Hurricane Nicole: The 10 O’clock News."

WKMG was honored with two Emmy Awards. Erik Sandoval-Rinderle, James Cavanaugh, and Jeremy Allen earned an Emmy in the Societal Concerns-News category for their Solutionaries story, "Book Bans: Are They the Solution?" Erik Sandoval-Rinderle, James Cavanaugh, and Paul Giorgio were recognized in the Health/Medical – News category for their impactful work on the Solutionaries feature "Battling Brain – Eating Amoeba."

The 47th Annual Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards ceremony was held on Dec. 2, 2023.

WDIV's Investigative Report Reveals Concerns Over Aging Oil Pipeline Threatening Michigan's Water Supply

In a groundbreaking investigative report, WDIV, Graham Media Group's NBC affiliate in Detroit, revealed alarming details about the aging Line 5 oil pipeline, raising significant concerns about its potential threat to Michigan's water supply.

Led by Karen Drew, WDIV's investigative reporter and anchor, the in-depth examination brought to light the risks associated with the 645-mile pipeline that carries 22 million gallons of oil daily, 4.5 miles of which lie underwater in the volatile currents where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan converge.

The investigation sheds light on the pipeline's critical condition, surpassing its intended 45-year lifespan by more than 25 years. The company that owns Line 5 had a previous pipeline spill in 2010, involving over a million gallons of oil, stands as one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history. Drew uncovered that many viewers were unaware of the pipeline's existence, emphasizing the broader impact on the community.

"The way the currents shift, you could have an oil problem in many ways," says WDIV's VP and general manager Bob Ellis. "You're talking about the most precious resource we have in the state of Michigan, which is water."

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, WDIV took an unprecedented step by dedicating a 15-minute investigative package to Line 5 during its 5:30 evening newscast, airing without commercials as reported by TV NewsCheck. Karen Drew employed innovative storytelling techniques, incorporating 3D animation and dynamic visuals to maintain viewer engagement throughout the extended report. The station also utilized its digital streaming platform, Local 4+, to broadcast a half-hour special, reaching audiences on multiple platforms.

To further engage the community, WDIV has scheduled a town hall meeting for later this month. The meeting will feature the oil pipeline company, environmental groups, elected officials, and community experts, with the Line 5 investigation taking center stage to kick off the program.

The Line 5 investigation by WDIV underscores the importance of investigative reporting in bringing critical issues to the forefront and mobilizing communities for positive change.

KSAT-TV wins Lone Star Emmy Award for “One Year In: Uvalde”

KSAT-TV, Graham Media Group’s ABC affiliate in San Antonio, Texas, won a Lone Star Emmy Award for their coverage of the Uvalde elementary school massacre and its year-long aftermath.

Reporter Leigh Waldman, Photojournalist Gavin Nesbitt, Editor Valerie Gomez, and Digital Journalist Andrew Wilson accepted the award on November 11 on behalf of a larger team from the KSAT newsroom that created the special, "One Year In: Uvalde."

"This was a labor of love for a community who went through the unimaginable. Everyone in this team wanted to make sure people heard the stories and remembered the names of the 21 lost in Uvalde," stated editor Valerie Gomez while accepting the award on behalf of the team.

"One Year In: Uvalde" was a look back at the year following the tragedy at Robb Elementary in 2022. In the one-hour broadcast and digital special, KSAT examines the past 12 months, the victims and survivors, and how their legacy spreads outside their local community. In the one-hour broadcast and digital streaming special, KSAT examined the past 12 months, the victims and survivors, and how their legacy continues to spread outside their local community.

KSAT sat with the families of the victims to see how they have been coping for the last year. Most have turned to activism to ensure their children are not forgotten. Many shared how they chose to honor their children and create lasting memories of the 21 victims. Expanded coverage of these tributes was featured on KSAT.com, and also included an updated investigation into what happened.

"We are incredibly honored and humbled for this recognition, but this has never been about us,” reporter Leigh Waldman clarified. “This is for our 21+1."

The Emmy Award-winning "One Year In: Uvalde" special is available to view on KSAT.com, KSAT’s app on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV and Google TV and on KSAT’s YouTube channel.

WDIV VP and GM Bob Ellis Named Top Local TV Leader By Radio + Television Business Report

Bob Ellis

 

Bob Ellis, Vice President and General Manager of WDIV-TV, has been named the #1 Top Local TV Leader in the Fall 2023 edition of Radio + Television Business Report (RBR+TVBR).   

Ellis began his tenure as VP & GM at the Graham Media Group NBC affiliate in Detroit, Michigan, in October 2021, following his 12 year run as VP & GM at WJXT-TV/WCWJ-TV, GMG’s duopoly in Jacksonville, Florida.  

“When I was growing up, WDIV was my station," Ellis commented, having started his career at the Detroit station as a young producer soon after he graduated from Michigan State University. "When I was coming up in the industry, WDIV is where I learned what it meant to produce great TV every day and serve a community.”   

Radio + Television Business Report highlighted Ellis’ recognition of the significance of local news and its impact on the community. He told RBR+TVBR that he believes that live coverage provided by the local TV station is more reliable and trustworthy than any other medium, including apps or social media. According to him, they can deliver real-time news from a reliable source the community trusts. He emphasizes that it is crucial to embrace this concept and focus on providing live coverage since people still prefer it. In times of natural disasters or unfolding tragedies, the local TV station still serves as the lifeline for the community, and this role is just as crucial today as ever. 

“There’s never been a better time for our industry to serve the desires of our consumers by producing great content,” Ellis said. “Learning about how each platform can be used most effectively is what excites me about our future. It should excite all of us who work in local broadcast. The local television station with a great local website and now a great local streaming channel has an enormous role to play in the future. It has the opportunity to become more relevant than ever if we use each platform effectively to inform and educate in our communities.” 

The RBR+TVBR introduced its inaugural Top Local TV Leaders list in 2019. This honor roll recognized the tireless efforts and unwavering dedication of local television station leaders during a time when the United States faces unprecedented challenges. 

KSAT Launches New Community-Oriented News Campaign, 'Know My Neighborhood'

KSAT-TV is continuing its long-serving promise of dedication to the San Antonio and South Texas communities by introducing a new, inside perspective and guided tour of area neighborhoods, conducted by people who know it best, the residents.

Each month, Know My Neighborhood takes viewers on a walk through a different South Texas community, showcasing the history and public safety concerns including food insecurity, police presence, and crime rates, and revealing neighborhood mysteries that many are unaware of.

KSAT launched the first Know My Neighborhood on Oct. 18, giving viewers a deeper look into the Westwood Square community of north San Antonio. This segment alone heard the voices of dozens of residents, sparking cries of food insecurity, school, and crime issues.

Conducted by residents, for residents – Know My Neighborhood’s mission is to bring a voice into each community that makes up our home here in South Texas, spotlighting what needs to be changed, and bringing awareness to the problems many have left forgotten.

The campaign was recently featured on TVNewsCheck, as seen here.

"'Know My Neighborhood' is San Antonio's story. Grassroots, local journalism that will serve as our newsroom blueprint for future coverage. As a lifelong San Antonian, I know the pride people have for their neighborhoods. I love that our team is highlighting the history, listening to the people, and getting the answers they demand,” said KSAT News Director Mario Orellana.

Know My Neighborhood segments are set to run every month on Wednesdays during KSAT's 6 p.m. newscast. In addition to on-air segments, an interactive web page takes viewers through an even more detailed breakdown of neighborhood challenges, with breakout and story links to each struggle many neighbors face.

“We are getting out in our local communities and covering the things that really make a difference in people’s daily lives. We are 100% committed to our audience and the well-being of their families. Bottom line we want to make a real difference,” said KSAT Vice President and General Manager, Ashley Parker.

WKMG-TV News Director Allison McGinley Honored with RTDNA Distinguished Service Award

Allison McGinley receives RTDNA Distinguished Service Award.

Allison McGinley, news director at WKMG-TV News 6, the Graham Media Group CBS affiliate in Orlando, Florida, has been honored with a prestigious Barney Oldfield Distinguished Service Award by the Radio Television Digital News Association. 

The Barney Oldfield Distinguished Service Award was created in honor of RTDNA founder Barney Oldfeld, formerly known as RTDNF at the time it was founded. The Distinguished Service Award is awarded annually to an individual who, through their own efforts, has contributed to the growth and success of RTDNA.

“I’m thankful to RTDNA for this incredible honor,” said McGinley. “I continue to be deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve working journalists and aspiring journalists and to work in earnest to preserve the integrity and the freedom of the press.”

Since starting as an intern at the station in 1994 to becoming news director in 2015, McGinley has always focused on serving the community, from changing Florida’s state law on texting and driving to helping Floridians in need get back money with "Make Ends Meet" during the pandemic. Through Allison's leadership, News 6 has produced award-winning local news - including Regional Murrow Awards - while sharing stories that celebrate and highlight our diverse communities, local businesses, and those who innovate and generate solutions. 

“Allison’s recognition on a national level is a reflection of the talent, effort and leadership she brings to her team at WKMG each day.” said Jeff Hoffman, VP & General Manager of WKMG.  “Over the past 27 years at WKMG, Alison has managed not only to “make good” but to “do good.””

KPRC-TV wins 2 Lone Star Sports Emmy Awards

KPRC-TV sports reporter Ari Alexander was awarded 2 Lone Star Sports Emmy awards from the Lone Star Chapter of the National Association of Television Arts & Sciences.

Alexander has been a reporter for KPRC since 2019, and is a 2013 graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism.


The Emmy Award is regarded as the most prestigious peer-judged award recognizing excellence in professional achievement with annual awards of merit in the television industry through extensive, confidential peer review of broadcast work and related media.

WKMG-TV wins big at Florida Association of Broadcast Journalist Awards

WKMG-TV is the winner of seventeen Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists (FAB) Awards, and WKMG-TV anchor Erik Von Ancken is the winner of an individual achievement award. More than 55 radio and television stations submitted more than 650 entries in this contest, featuring content produced in 2022.

WKMG-TV won nine awards in the following categories of the Television I/Large Market competition: Television Newscast - Evening, Television Newscast - Morning/Midday, Breaking News - Individual, Politics/Government -Single, Politics/Government -Series/Program, Feature - Hard, Consumer/Economic, Transportation Reporting, and Health Reporting - Single. WKMG-TV anchor Erik Von Ancken won an individual achievement award for Anchor.

WKMG-TV also won eight awards in the Television II/Medium Market competition in the following categories: Television Newscast - Evening, Television Newscast - Morning/Midday, Investigative: Series, Politics/Government: Series Program, Politics/Government: Station, Series/Franchise: Hard, Feature: Hard, and Education Reporting. WKMG-TV also was a finalist in eleven other categories.

The Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists is a not-for-profit organization supported by broadcast journalism professionals employed by commercial and public television and radio stations and those employed by and enrolled in college-level broadcast journalism operations. The mission of the Board of the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists is to advocate the advancement of broadcast journalism through various means.

Graham Media Group Stations Awarded Five 2023 Regional Murrow Awards

The Edward R. Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious, sought-after awards in broadcast and digital news. The Murrow Awards recognizes local and national news stories that demonstrate technical expertise and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community. Graham Media Group stations WDIV-Detroit, WKMG-Orlando, WJXT-Jacksonville, and WSLS-Roanoke were all honored with a national 2023 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award.     

WDIV-Detroit is the recipient of two coveted Murrow Awards for Breaking News and Excellence in Writing. WDIV was awarded for their Breaking News coverage of Detroit firefighters trapped while battling a fire. And anchor Devin Scillian won Excellence in Writing for his story about a local woman who nearly lost her home. “The Murrow Award is a remarkable honor and one of the highest in broadcast journalism,” said Vice-President and General Manager Bob Ellis. “To see our commitment to serving Southeast Michigan rewarded with this honor is a testament to the hard work our news department does each and every day.”

Breaking News

For coverage of the Detroit firefighters trapped while battling a house fire on Detroit’s East Side. Local 4 anchors and reporters were on the air throughout the afternoon and into the evening newscasts and there was aerial coverage, as well as cameras on the ground at the scene as the rescue unfolded.

Excellence in Writing

Local 4 anchor Devin Scillian won for his story on June Walker, the woman who nearly lost her home because of a fake landlord – but the generosity of one man helped her reclaim the house she worked so hard to own. This is the second time the station has won this award.

WKMG-Orlando won a Murrow Award for Excellence in Innovation, highlighting the News 6+ Takeover programming block to change how the audience views local news. In November 2022, WKMG revamped its afternoon lineup by taking over its regular scheduled 5:30 pm newscast with new programming. This new programming included News 6 locally produced podcasts and longer format journalistic shows hosted by their news anchors and reporters. “We are using our broadcast to be a billboard for our digital assets,” said Jeff Hoffman, WKMG’s General Manager. “We are a multiplatform content provider, and we want our community to know they have options for local news, information, and new content on any of our News 6 platforms.” 

WSLS-Roanoke anchor and reporter Jenna Zibton, and Photojournalist Jeff Perzan won the Murrow Award for their Solutionaries series and continuing commitment to solutions journalism. The award submission includes several stories from WSLS in 2022, including how Danville, VA drastically cut crime and murder after having the most homicides per capita in Virginia. In addition to this, WSLS also discussed how local communities are fighting inflation. WSLS talked to a cattle farmer in Bedford County about how he is cutting costs so you do not pay more for meat and how urban gardening is taking off. WSLS also highlighted how a local nonprofit delivers milk to keep their neighbors fed during trying times. The “Moo Crew” raises the money and then picks up and delivers milk in Franklin County. WSLS highlights the creative people in Virginia communities working to make the world a better place, one solution at a time. 

WJXT-Jacksonville was awarded a Murrow Award for News4JAX anchor Mary Baer’s feature story “Child Unsafe,” exposing the life-threatening dangers of children ingesting commonly used lithium batteries. Jodi Mohrmann, Chris O’Rourke, and former colleagues Joe Drumm and Dylan Smith made up the team that produced this award-winning story. “It is unrelenting dedication that earned News4JAX this wonderful recognition. The WJXT team works hard every day to help keep local families safe. I am so proud their hard work is being honored,” said Vice President and General Manager, Terri Cope Walton. 

 

The Edward R. Murrow Awards are presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to broadcast and digital journalism excellence. 

For links and a complete list of winners, click or tap here.  

Jane Marshall named VP, Co-General Counsel of Graham Media Group

Graham Media Group, the local media division of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC), announced today that Jane Marshall has been named to the position of Vice President, Co-General Counsel.

Marshall joined Graham Media Group in 2006 and was promoted to Associate General Counsel in 2013, and Deputy General Counsel in 2021. The promotion to VP & Co-General Counsel is effective May 1.

In this role, Marshall will continue to provide legal advice and counsel to the senior management team on a broad range of issues involving employment and labor relations, defamation, privacy, media and intellectual property law, litigation, and regulatory matters, working along with GMG VP & Co-General Counsel Heidi Schmid Whiting.

“Jane is a highly accomplished attorney that has advanced our strategic priorities while thoughtfully navigating complex issues,” said Catherine Badalamente, President and CEO of Graham Media Group. “I am so thankful for her counsel and expertise.”

Marshall previously worked in employment litigation for the law firm of Bodman, LLP in Detroit, the Michigan Attorney General, and was also a law clerk for the Honorable Paul J. Komives, United States Magistrate Judge. Prior to becoming a lawyer, she had a career in sales and marketing, working five years for General Motors. 

Marshall received her J.D., with honors, from the University of Michigan Law School, and is a graduate of Michigan State University (B.A. & M.B.A, with honors). She is a member of the American Bar Association.

Aaron King named Vice President, General Manager of Social News Desk

Graham Media Group announced that Aaron King has been named Vice President and General Manager of Social News Desk, the leading social media management solution for news.

The announcement comes as Kim Wilson, founder and president of SND, shared her plans to depart the company at the end of April, along with co-founder Elisa DeFoe.

“I cannot overstate how proud I am of what we have accomplished as a team at Social News Desk,” said Wilson. “But the time is right for me to start a new chapter focused on my family, my health, and personal projects I’m passionate about. And while I will remain SND’s biggest fan, I could not be more confident in the leadership of Aaron King to take Social News Desk to new heights. It has been the privilege of my professional life to build the business, brand and culture that have defined SND for the past 12 years. What was once little more than a conversation between Elisa and myself has now become an essential tool for an industry that we love.”

King, known as an innovative, hands-on software executive with a history of cultivating winning development teams and successful startups, joined Social News Desk in 2015 as its Chief Technology Officer. As CTO, he spent the past 8 years overseeing SND’s best in class technology platform while working closely with Wilson to set roadmap goals and company vision.

“It is a real honor to be entrusted with the future of SND,” said King. “We have a world-class product and team positioned for success thanks to the hard work of our founders. Over the past 8 years I’ve been privileged to work with outstanding colleagues and fantastic customers who love and appreciate the value of our products and services. For their sake, I look forward to stoking the innovative spirit that got us here and to leading us into a prosperous future.”

Prior to joining Social News Desk, King co-founded Varsity Outreach, a private community platform for college admissions and alumni engagement. Before that he led software engineering teams for companies including Amazon, New World Systems and TicketsNow.com. 

A Detroit native, King previously served on the board of The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW). He has also supported various organizations including Detroit Regional Chamber, ACCESS Detroit, Southwest Detroit Business Association (SBDA) and the Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC).

King currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he and his wife Jennifer have four children.

WJXT, WKMG Honored With Emmy Awards By NATAS Suncoast Chapter

The 46th Annual Suncoast Regional Emmy Award winners were announced on Dec. 10, 2022, and Graham Media Group stations WJXT-TV in Jacksonville and WKMG-TV in Orlando were honored as recipients.

WJXT took home 6 Emmy Awards. In the category of News Feature-Serious Feature, WJXT anchor Joy Purdy and managing editor of special projects Jodi Mohrmann won Emmys for the report “High Anxiety.

In the category of Diversity/Equity/Inclusion-News, reporter Marilyn Parker and photojournalist Ciara Earrey won for their report “A Second Shot.”

In the Health/Medical category, anchor Bruce Hamilton won for his report “Scoping Out Cancer: My Personal Story,” and in the same category, anchor Mary Baer and Mohrmann won for their story “Child Unsafe.”

In the Promotion: News Promotion (Campaign) category, Sherry Carpenter, Chrissy Sellers and Dylan Smith, all of News4JAX’s Creative Services Department, won Emmys for the campaign “News4JAX: They Are Who They’ve Always Been.”

In the Hard News Report category, WJXT anchor Vic Micolucci and Mohrmann won for the report “Manhunters.”

WKMG was given an Emmy for Business and Consumer News as reporter Mike Holfeld and Robert Breuer received the award for “Gas Pump Thieves.”

KPRC Wins 4 Lone Star Emmy Awards

KPRC-TV in Houston has been honored to receive 4 Lone Star Emmy Awards recognizing excellence in television news coverage in the Texas region.

KPRC 2 was awarded Best Evening Newscast for the breaking news coverage of the Ulvade school shooting. Executive producer Steve Ljuljdjuraj and producer Chanel Preston were presented with the Emmy.

In the category of Investigative Report, KPRC’s team of reporter Amy Davis, producer Andrea Slaydon, editor 
Bill Carruthers and photojournalist 
Adrian Montes received an Emmy for the feature “License To Fraud: Crime Rings Litter Roadways With Paper License Plates.”

In the Crime News category, KPRC won for “What Happened To Jason Landry?” with reporter Joel Eisenbaum, producer Debbie Strauss, editor 
Bill Carruthers and photographer 
Adrian Monte taking home the awards.

And KPRC Producer/Director/Editor Glorianne Quintero along with photographer 
Robert Grant were awarded Best Program Promotion for the campaign “Anthony’s Back!”

WKMG News 6 Changes the Way to View Local News

WKMG News 6, the local CBS affiliate in Orlando, Florida is once again innovating the delivery of news and information to its audience by spotlighting- on broadcast television- the content and convenience of their OTT streaming channel News 6+.

On Monday, November 14th, WKMG will take over their 5:30pm newscast with new programming called the “News 6+ Takeover.” For years, News 6 has been producing award-winning local news while sharing stories that celebrate and highlight our diverse communities, local businesses and those who innovate and generate solutions. Now, WKMG will bring those personalities and themes from their owned-and- operated digital platforms, like ClickOrlando.com and News 6+, to the general broadcast audience at 5:30 p.m. every weekday on WKMG.

What will this Takeover look like on air? WKMG General Manager Jeff Hoffman explains, “The News 6+ Takeover will deliver relevant news and information throughout all our platforms. Our audience should expect a more personal and interactive experience with Central Florida’s best news team in a way that is not constrained by a ‘one size fits all’ format of traditional newscasts.”

Starting Monday, instead of a newscast, the audience will be exposed to News 6’s variety of podcasts and longer format journalism.

“In essence, it’s the opposite of our traditional broadcast to digital push. We will be using our vast collection of local, timely, original, digital content to populate our broadcast air”, said WKMG News Director Allison McGinley.

Why are we doing this now? Easy. People’s habits around consuming content and information has changed dramatically. News 6 will meet that desire for inspiring content with local, community-based, and solutions-oriented programming.

“In a market like Orlando with multiple local stations doing dozens of hours of news each day, this is an opportunity for WKMG News 6 to once again be the leader of innovation and crack the mold of what local news is expected to be. At WKMG News 6, we have an incredible team of passionate journalists with varied interests. Their reporting, their stories will help us to better connect with our audience. We are excited to expand it from our owned-and-operated digital platforms like ClickOrlando.com and News 6+ and bring it to our general broadcast audience at 5:30pm,” McGinley added.

The News 6+ Takeover will air weekdays at 5:30pm on News 6 and all content and shows will be available after they air on the News 6+ streaming app that is available for free on any Roku, FireTV, AppleTV, or AndroidTV device. You can also find the same content live streamed or as video on demand on ClickOrlando.com.

Here’s a rundown of what you can expect to see on air after the launch of the News 6+ Takeover:

Monday: Florida’s Fourth Estate Podcast with News 6 anchors Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden. This podcast takes these colleagues and true friends off the traditional news set and into the more casual podcast realm where they sit down to give us their unfiltered take on some of the craziest headlines in Florida.

Tuesday: Solutionaries. It’s probably a word you’ve never heard before, but we didn’t make it up. A Solutionary is someone who recognizes a problem or injustice in society and comes up with creative and innovative ways to tackle those inequities. To give those people a spotlight, News 6 created this digital- only show focusing on issues our community is dealing with while highlighting the potential solutions available locally and around the nation.

Wednesday: Florida Foodie. News 6 anchor Lisa Bell and meteorologist Candace Campos talk with chefs, farmers, small businesses owners, CEOs, and activists with the goal of getting people to think more about the food on their plates.

Thursday: Talk to Tom. We took a popular segment WKMG News 6 features during major weather events and turned it into a weekly show. Viewers can submit any of their weather-related questions online or call into the show. In addition, Tom will share his views on recent weather events, viral videos, and more. He will even talk to experts about weather topics.

Friday: A second weekly dose of Florida’s Fourth Estate featuring hot topics and viewer e-mails will allow the audience to enter the weekend with a light-hearted look at life.

Immediately following the weekday 5:30pm News 6+ Takeover, WKMG will air its regularly scheduled newscast ‘News 6 at 6pm’.

The News 6+ Takeover is expected to continue as alternative special programming for viewers throughout the holidays.

Local Media Digital Innovation Awards Honor WDIV and WKMG

WDIV-TV/ClickOnDetroit and WKMG-TV/News 6 Orlando were each awarded with Local Media Digital Innovation Awards from the Local Media Association. This highly competitive contest recognizes the best in local media across the nation, focusing on 16 categories such as best local website, branded content strategy, and more. The Local Media Digital Innovation Awards honor local media outlets in both large and small media companies, for their outstanding and innovative work in digital media.

WDIV-TV was awarded first place for “Best Audience Listening Strategy” for audience engagement on the station website, ClickOnDetroit. This award recognizes the collective efforts of the newsroom to create a strategy around listening to and engaging with audiences, including the WDIV Insiders membership program.

The winner of the “Best Digital News Project,” with over 750,000 monthly unique visitors, went to WKMG-TV and their website ClickOrlando.com, for Solutionaries, the GMG franchise focused on solutions journalism reporting. Judges commented, “The idea to create a nonlinear viewing/news consumption series is a great idea and keeps people engaged with the content and allows them to engage with what matters most to them.”

Also recognized for their digital work at the Local Media Digital Innovation Awards include KPRC-TV Houston and WSLS-TV Roanoke as runner ups for Best Local Website; WSLS-TV Roanoke, WJXT/WCWJ News4Jax, and KSAT-TV San Antonio as runner ups for Best Product Initiative; and WKMG-TV/News 6 Orlando as runner for Best Contest/Promotion.

Graham Media Group Honored With Four 2022 EPPY Awards

Graham Media Group stations are proud to have been honored with four 2022 EPPY Awards. The EPPY Awards, presented by Editor and Publisher in partnership with the Local Media Consortium, honor the best in digital news publishing across more than thirty diverse categories. This year, WKMG-TV in Orlando and KSAT-TV in San Antonio have each won an EPPY Award, and WSLS-TV in Roanoke was awarded two EPPYs.

WKMG’s website, ClickOrlando.com, was awarded “Best Local TV News Website” with 1 million or more unique visitors. The award recognized new features including the introduction of Solutionaries, a digital newscast that focuses on solutions-based journalism; the multi-platform Make Ends Meet effort that recovered millions of dollars for people struggling with unemployment issues; feature stories that mattered to the community during Black History Month; and enhanced traffic coverage with Florida Highway Patrol trooper, Trooper Steve, answering viewer questions.

KSAT received an EPPY win for “Best News or Event Feature Video” with 1 million or more unique visitors for their feature “Remember Their Names,” a special project from KSAT memorializing the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary shooting.

WSLS earned two EPPY Awards; “Best Local TV News Website” with fewer than 1 million unique visitors and “Best Investigative/Enterprise Video” with fewer than 1 million unique visitors. This category highlights a single story or a series of stories focusing on added information that may or may not be apparent to the public, whose revelations may bear consequences to their lives.

Ashley Parker named Vice President, General Manager of Graham Media Group's KSAT-TV

Graham Media Group, the local media division of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC), announced today that Ashley Parker has been named Vice President and General Manager of KSAT, the ABC broadcast affiliate television station in San Antonio, Texas, effective October 1, 2022.

Parker replaces Phil Lane, who was recently named Vice President and General Manager of KPRC.

Parker has held the role of General Sales Manager at KSAT since 2013. In her 19 years at the station she has been Local Sales Manager, Digital Sales Manager and an Account Executive.

“Ashley has been an integral part of KSAT’s success, helping spearhead major station initiatives and driving KSAT to achieving greater revenue goals year after year,” said Catherine Badalamente, President and Chief Executive Officer, Graham Media Group. “Her commitment to transforming the business and leading KSAT into the future, is, and has always been, a top priority.”

“I am honored and humbled to have this amazing opportunity to lead KSAT,” said Parker. “It has been a lifelong dream that is coming true. I am excited for the future of broadcast television and look forward to serving the San Antonio community through our relentless commitment at KSAT.”

Prior to joining KSAT in 2003, Parker was at KIII/ABC affiliate in Corpus Christi, and KRBC/NBC affiliate in Abilene, Texas. She is a member of the San Antonio Women Leaders Association.