Emily L. Barr, president and CEO of Graham Media Group to retire; Catherine Badalamente named as successor

Emily L. Barr, president and chief executive officer of Graham Media Group, the local media division of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC), has announced that she will retire from that position later this year. Catherine Badalamente has been named her successor.

“Emily’s leadership has been critical to the company’s success. Graham Media Group has continued its tenure as a best-in-class operator, and Emily has led the organization to receive numerous awards and achieve record earnings," said Timothy J. O’Shaughnessy, chief executive officer of Graham Holdings Company. "(Emily's) deep commitment to the communities we serve has been unparalleled. But perhaps the greatest element of her legacy is the excellence of the team she has built, as evidenced by her successor, Catherine Badalamente. On behalf of everyone at Graham Holdings, I want to thank Emily for her decade of service to the company.”

Current Graham Media Group President and CEO Emily Barr

Badalamente joined Graham Media Group (formerly Post-Newsweek Stations) in 2000. She has served in a number of executive leadership roles, spearheading the organization’s digital efforts since 2009; most recently as vice president and chief innovation officer.

Graham Media Group and Graham Digital have received numerous awards under Badalamente’s management, recognizing the organization for excellence in digital, podcast and local news production. Under her direction, the company has been at the forefront of developing NextGen TV monetization strategies and models for both digital and broadcast.

An industry thought-leader and award-winning presenter, Badalamente is active in several industry forums, including serving as chair of the board of directors of the Local Media Association, treasurer of the board of directors of the Local Media Foundation, and immediate past chair of the National Association of Broadcasters Digital Officers Committee. She earned a BA in communications from John Carroll University.

The next GMG President and CEO, Catherine Badalamente

“I could not be more pleased to appoint Catherine the new CEO of Graham Media Group," O’Shaughnessy said. "Catherine has helped keep GMG ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing industry, including her leadership in growing each of our digital news sites to be Comscore-ranked No. 1 in their local markets. As the next generation of Graham Media Group unfolds, we have a next generation leader to help steer the ship.”

Barr joined Graham Media Group, then Post–Newsweek Stations, in 2012. Under her leadership, she has transformed the organization from a broadcast-based model to seven local media hubs — each in a top-71 market, representing just under 7% coverage in the U.S.

The television stations, web and mobile platforms are recognized as news leaders across the media spectrum. During Barr's tenure, Graham Media Group acquired Social News Desk, a leading provider of social media software utilized by thousands of newsrooms around the world. Barr is also responsible for the creation of Graham Digital, a digital media and technology development group based in Detroit.

Graham Media Group was awarded the 2021 Broadcaster of the Year honor by TV NewsCheck, the 2016 Station Group of the Year by Broadcasting and Cable Magazine, and has received numerous accolades during Barr’s tenure.

In 2020, Barr received the Broadcaster of the Year award from Broadcasting & Cable Magazine; and, later this spring, she will be inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. Honored for her civic involvement, Barr is also the 2018 recipient of the Golden Mike Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America, and was inducted into the 2016 Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She was also awarded the 2014 Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year by the Illinois Broadcasters Association. Most recently, Barr was elected to the 2021 class of the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation’s Giants of Broadcasting and Electronic Arts.

WKMG News 6's Allison McGinley named News Director of the Year

Graham Media Group is proud to announce that Allison McGinley, News Director of WKMG News 6, has been named News Director of the Year by Broadcasting and Cable.

Each December, Broadcasting and Cable selects the winners of its annual awards, saluting the top broadcasters in local television. This year, that honor goes to long-time WKMG employee Allison McGinley.

McGinley began working with WKMG News 6 as an intern in 1994. From intern to news director, she has served the Central Florida community through a variety of roles at the station.

Upon promotion to News Director in 2015, McGinley has also led the newsroom through some of its toughest challenges, beginning with the massacre of 49 people at Pulse Nightclub in June of 2016. Recently, she led her team through the COVID-19 pandemic, successfully innovating new ways of communicating with viewers on all platforms, 24/7. One of those innovations includes the launch of “Solutionaries” with Graham Media Group. “Solutionaires” is a new digital newscast that focuses on solutions-based journalism and highlights people who are making a difference for others.

McGinley’s commitment to Central Florida is best reflected in the many community causes that she has advanced through the power of the station, such as WKMG’s ”Make Ends Meet” segment. The segment, with investigative reporter Mike Holfeld, has recovered nearly $2 million in missing, misplaced or stolen benefits, due to viewers who suffered the most during the pandemic.

Beginning in 2016, the station, along with anchor Matt Austin, also led the charge to make texting and driving a primary offense in the state of Florida. In 2019, the bill to do just that was signed into law by the governor.

“Allison brings a remarkable understanding of our communities and uses it to tell stories in a way that both inform and inspire audiences on each of our platforms," said WKMG Vice President and General Manager Jeff Hoffman. “Her superior skill set allows her to be both advocate and supporter of the people she leads and the audience she serves in the best traditions of journalism.”

Honoring her commitment to journalism and the community, WKMG has been a finalist for the National Association of Broadcasters Community Service to America award each of the past four years, winning the award in 2019 and 2020. WKMG is also the current Florida “Station of the Year,” as recognized by the Florida Association of Broadcasters, and the newsroom has won a bevy of Murrow Emmy awards, as well as statewide honors.

In 2018, Allison was named to the Board of Directors of Radio Television Digital News Association and was recently appointed Chair of the Association for 2022.

“This honor is a testament to the team and culture we have here at WKMG,” McGinley said. “When we align around a singular vision and a common purpose -- to reflect and be of service to our community -- our work echoes that passion. This award demonstrates the success and effort of our entire team.”

Graham Media Group President and CEO Emily Barr honored among ‘Giants Of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts’ recipients

Graham Media Group President and CEO Emily Barr has been recognized and honored as one of 10 industry leaders celebrated for her lifetime achievements, at last week’s virtual Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) Giants Of Broadcasting and Electronic Arts awards ceremony.

The Giants of Broadcasting and Electronic Arts is LABF'S annual celebration of the distinguished individuals who have — for the past century — been the creators, innovators, journalists, leaders, performers, and producers who have brought the electronic arts to the prominence they occupy in the United States and the world today, and who have set the stage for the future.

In addition to Barr, the 2021 honorees include:

• Frank Boyle, President/CEO, Frank Boyle & Co
• Bob Costas, Hall of Fame sports broadcaster
• Russell Perry, Founder/President, Perry Publishing & Broadcasting Co
• Robin Roberts, co-anchor “Good Morning America” and President Rock’n Robin Productions
• Marion Ross, Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated film and TV actress and “Happy Days” cast member “Marion Cunningham”
• Neal Shapiro, President/CEO, The WNET Group
• Sen. Gordon H. Smith, President/CEO, National Association of Broadcasters
• Jordan Wertlieb, Senior VP, Hearst Communications and President, Hearst Television.

The event, which was held Nov. 9, included acceptance speeches from each of the winners. Hear Barr's full remarks here.

“I want to express a very humble and heartfelt thank you to the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation and IRTS for this amazing recognition,” Barr said. "At 5 foot 2, I have never described myself as a giant of any kind, but I know that today, I stand on the shoulders of so many courageous journalists, broadcasters, informers and local media peers who have helped educate, celebrate and uplift their communities.”

ABC News' "Nightline" co-anchor Juju Chang hosted.

Watch the entire virtual event by clicking or tapping here.

U.S. Postal Service announces new stamp honoring legacy of Katharine Graham

Katharine Graham. (Getty Images)

A legendary news pioneer will be honored on a new stamp next year.

Katharine Meyer Graham spent nearly two decades of her life as the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of what was formerly known as Post-Newsweek Inc., now known as Graham Holdings and Graham Media Group, respectively.

Well before the movie “The Post” hit movie theaters, which tells the story of her remarkable life, Katharine was cementing her history.

We already know the story well. The Graham family still has ownership of Graham Media Group, which proudly runs TV stations across the country, perhaps, most notably, in Orlando, where WKMG-TV got its call letters from Katharine Meyer Graham herself. Other markets owned by Graham Media Group include Detroit (WDIV-TV), Houston (KPRC-TV), San Antonio (KSAT-TV), Jacksonville (WJXT-TV/WCWJ-TV) and Roanoke (WSLS-TV).

Katharine Meyer Graham faced many challenges, but rose above them, created a name for herself and, as many might say, forever changed history so that her influence still impacts our mission of journalistic integrity to this day.

Graham, who, in the early 1960s took over as president of the Washington Post Company, most famously made the difficult and infamous decision to publish the Pentagon Papers, which delved into the history of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

It caused the Post to face a threat of legal action and it joined the New York Times as a co-defendant when the case went to the Supreme Court.

The decision was one that propelled the Post’s national profile after a court ruled in Graham’s favor, supporting the freedom of the press and stating that the publication of the Pentagon Papers posed no risk to government security.

Not only did Graham face and take head-on tough journalistic decisions -- ones that made a mark in the press world -- but she also taught some important lessons in doing so.

Read more about Graham’s life here.

The postage stamp -- which will feature an oil portrait of Katharine, based on a photograph taken in the 1970s -- will be released in 2022.

Graham Media Group stations win in multiple categories at national EPPY Awards

Graham Media Group stations took home several wins at this year’s national EPPY Awards.

In the company of winning websites like the Boston Globe, CNN and ESPN, GMG stations received top recognition, as well as taking the finalist spot in several categories.

This year, there were more than 400 entries across more than 40 categories in the EPPY Awards.

Those entries were from large and small world-wide media companies that include local news publishing, broadcast networks, cable news and sports networks, international pureplay websites, niche content publishers and numerous colleges and universities.

Graham Media Group won or made it to the finalists in the following categories:

Best Local TV News website (1 million or more unique visitors):

• Winner: KSAT.com
• Finalist: ClickOrlando.com

Best Local TV News website (Under 1 million unique visitors):

• Winner: WSLS.com (two years in a row)

Best cause marketing/corporate social responsibility campaign (1 million or more unique visitors):

• Winner: News4JAX for “Positively Jax”

Best website navigation design (1 million or more unique visitors):

• Winner: Click2Houston.com

Best home page design:

• Finalist: ClickOnDetroit.com

Best news or event feature video (1 million or more unique visitors):

• Finalist: Jeremy Allen, Graham Media Group: “What Lies Beneath: Frontline workers battle COVID-19″

Best incorporation of sponsored/branded content (fewer than 1 million unique visitors):

• Finalist: WSLS: “In A Day’s Drive”

Terri Cope-Walton named Vice President and General Manager of WJXT and WCWJ Jacksonville

Terri Cope-Walton has been named Vice President and General Manager of WJXT-TV and WCWJ, the CW affiliate, in Jacksonville.

Cope-Walton will replace Bob Ellis, who was named Vice President and General Manager of WDIV in Detroit earlier this year.

“Terri is fiercely committed to localism and deeply strategic in her approach to leading multi-platform community-focused media," said Emily Barr, President and Chief Executive Officer of Graham Media Group. "She brings a wealth of experience, intelligence and compassion to these two successful stations and will enthusiastically immerse herself in the Jacksonville community. We are thrilled to welcome Terri to Graham Media Group.”

“This is an outstanding opportunity to work with a great team, and at two legacy stations," Cope-Walton said. "I look forward to settling into the Jacksonville community and continuing the great work WJXT and WCWJ are known for in the market."

Cope-Walton arrives in Jacksonville after having served as News Director at WRTV in Indianapolis, Indiana since 2013. She worked in many roles after joining the staff in 1998, including Assistant News Director and the lead producer for “Good Morning Indiana.”

Before her time with WRTV, Cope-Walton worked as a producer for WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio, a producer/reporter for WHIO-AM in Dayton, Ohio, and was an English teacher for Dayton Public Schools.

Cope-Walton has served on the board of governors for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Central Great Lakes Chapter, and is a lifetime member of the National Association of Black Journalists. she is a four-time Emmy winner and has earned a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.

Cope-Walton proudly graduated from Central State University with a B.A. in English Literature and has a Diversity and Inclusion certificate from Cornell University.

Terri and her husband, John, have two children. Her first day at WJXT and WCWJ will be Nov. 15.

Graham Media Group named Station Group of the Year

Graham Media Group has been named Station Group of the Year for 2021 by TVNewsCheck.

GMG, which is led by CEO Emily Barr, was recognized for its "early and aggressive strategy in content and platform experimentation with a view to longevity in a rapidly-changing industry."

TVNewsCheck recognized GMG as understanding the importance of emerging platforms in cultivating new and younger generations of viewers, where it has aggressively pursued audience data.

“Graham Media has long demonstrated a fearlessness in experimentation from the presentation of its news content to the platforms on which it iterates,” said TVNewsCheck Editor Michael Depp. “Emily Barr’s leadership embodies the recognition of tectonic changes in the industry, the embrace of innovation to meet those changes and the smart entrepreneur’s instinct to pivot quickly around both successes and failures. Graham’s pioneering work in streaming news content and its exploration of a viewer membership scheme are only the most recent proof of the company’s fundamental understanding that it must adapt to fundamentally changing audience habits and sensibilities. And the company’s independent streak amid the enormous pressures of a consolidating industry compels respect in its tenacity.”

Bob Ellis named Vice President and General Manager of WDIV Detroit

Bob Ellis has been named Vice President and General Manager for WDIV-Local 4 in Detroit.

Ellis, who has held the position of Vice President and General Manager at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville since 2009, as well as WCWJ after Graham Media Group acquired it in 2017, will replace Marla Drutz, who announced her retirement earlier this year.

Ellis is no stranger to WDIV — he spent 15 years of his career there, where he held various management roles, including News Director.

Emily Barr, President and Chief Executive Officer of Graham Media Group, said: “Bob is an innovative, creative leader who fully appreciates the role local media plays in informing, celebrating and uplifting the communities served. He is also keenly aware of the importance of embracing digital and OTT strategies to further connect with our audiences and users on every platform available. His Michigan roots and deep knowledge and respect for his WDIV colleagues make him ideal for this important role.”

“When I was growing up, WDIV was my station. 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,” Ellis said. “Today, to come full circle and return to the place that’s meant so much to me throughout my life, is incredible. I’m eager to re-join the talented team in Detroit, excited to get involved again in the Detroit community, and I look forward to helping continue the legacy of this great, great station.”

In 2013, Ellis was named General Manager of the Year for markets 25-50 by Broadcasting Cable Magazine, the industry’s leading trade publication. Under his leadership, WJXT widened the gap as the most-watched television station in Jacksonville, and he helped the station to sharply focus its efforts to leverage their News4Jax news brand to its digital platforms.

In 2014, the station’s News4Jax.com earned the national Edward R. Murrow award as the best local television website in the United States.

On WCWJ, Ellis worked to strengthen its local brand in the market, developing and launching several local programs that include the Mark Brunell Show, a weekly Jacksonville Jaguars football show that features a former Jaguars quarterback, and JaxBest, a comprehensive local online guide to all the best places to see, eat and experience Jacksonville.

Ellis has led WJXT in launching several innovative projects to emphasize its popular station brand, The Local Station. WJXT turned Jacksonville’s annual July 4th fireworks show into a prime-time television event, celebrating the active and former military members at the two military bases located in the market. He also started PositivelyJax, a station-wide project that inspires viewers by telling stories about people and organizations leading positive efforts to make Jacksonville a better place to live. The station has turned the market’s regional Spelling Bee into a prime-time broadcast event, televised the first-ever local high school musical to a prime-time audience, and created the Bold City Showcase, a one-day high school football event that features six local teams in three games played on one field, all broadcast live on WJXT.

In 2014 Ellis won the Station Excellence Emmy Award from the Suncoast chapter of National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

In addition to serving as News Director at WDIV, he held many other management roles there, including Assistant News Director and Executive Producer of Special Projects. He began his TV career in sports -- his first job was producer of the football and basketball coach’s shows at Michigan State University.

Ellis is an 11-time Emmy winner and has earned several regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and state broadcast association honors throughout his career.

In 2020 Ellis participated in the 20th anniversary class of the National Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Leadership Training program. He also serves on the board of the Florida Association of Broadcasters.

Ellis is very active in the Jacksonville community. He is a Trustee with the Jacksonville Chamber, serves on the board of Goodwill Industries of North Florida, is a member of the advisory board of the Career Academies for the St. John’s County School District, is on the board of High School 9:12, a local organization helping to prepare students for college, and is a board member for Take it to Heart, a nonprofit program in Jacksonville that focuses on educating minority women about heart disease. He is also a Trustee of the Jacksonville Chamber and a member of the Chairman’s Club for the Jacksonville Sports Council, the organization dedicated to generating economic impact and growth through sports in Jacksonville, including running the annual Gator Bowl college football game that's played each January.

A Michigan native, Ellis is a proud graduate of Michigan State University and holds a BA in Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. He and his wife Melanie have a daughter Abbey who attends the University of South Carolina and a son Cameron who attends the University of Tampa. Ellis begins his new role later this fall.

KPRC-TV bids bittersweet farewell to beloved anchor after nearly 30 years

After nearly three decades as one of Houston’s most recognizable faces and voices, the beloved Dominique Sasche will sign off for the last time on Oct. 29 on KPRC 2 News at 6 p.m.

Sasche has called Houston home since 1975. She graduated from Spring Branch ISD’s Memorial High School and went on to the University of Houston, where she earned a radio/television journalism degree.

Though Sasche’s career began as a traffic reporter in radio, she seized an opportunity at KPRC in 1993 for a morning show traffic position.

After spending one week as a fill-in anchor, viewers got a glimpse of her own-to-earth demeanor, intensity and ease at the desk.

Some of Sasche’s highlights throughout the years include covering President George Bush's inauguration in January 2001, and Pope John Paul II's visit to Mexico City canonizing Juan Diego in 2002. In 2006, she presented a compelling series on inflammatory breast cancer, along with a phone bank to answer viewers' questions. She also traveled to London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016 to cover the Olympics.

She’s been honored with awards that include, but are not limited to, spot news coverage from The Houston Press Club and the Texas Associated Press, “Best Television Personality” and Lone Star Emmy awards. However, Sasche will tell you her favorite recognitions have come from the community; she was chosen as Houston’s favorite when it comes to best newscaster or local personality.

“I have spent most of my adult life at KPRC, and the staff here is like family to me. It’s that daily one-on-one interaction that I’ll miss the most,” Sasche said. “It takes a team effort to produce a quality news product, and I’m so proud of this team’s character, integrity and accomplishments. But it’s mainly service to community, which is how I’ve always seen my role and will continue to do so in my new endeavors. I sincerely can’t thank the viewers enough for welcoming me into their homes for as long as they have and making me feel like their friend or neighbor. Truly blessed.”

Sasche is shifting her focus to a book she has been working on since 2018: “Life Makeover: Embrace the Bold, Beautiful, and Blessed You,” which will be released on April 5, 2022.

Sasche, who has a following of roughly 1.52 million subscribers on YouTube, will also focus on expanding her social media empire.

For the next month, as Sasche prepares for her bittersweet exit, viewers can expect to see a lot more of her, as the station will celebrate and shower her with well wishes.

“You always know that days like this will come in the television business,” KPRC Vice President and General Manager Jerry Martin said. “That doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye to someone who feels like Houston’s sweetheart. We wish Dominique all the best; she will always be considered a Houston institution and a part of our KPRC 2 family."

Graham Media Group launches new solutions-based digital newscast, 'Solutionaries' to premiere June 18

Graham Media Group is excited to announce an innovative new digital newscast that will focus on solutions-based journalism and highlight people who are making a difference.

The pilot episode of "Solutionaries," which was created with the news team at WKMG, will launch Friday, June 18, and feature the stories of those who are evolving law enforcement practices in Central Florida to reduce the risk of violent encounters -- particularly when it comes to members of the community who suffer from mental illness and men and women of color.

Check out "Solutionaries" on YouTube.

You’ll hear from a local sheriff who is trying to “turn the system on its head” and a police officer who created a unique partnership aimed at providing resources to those in need. You’ll also hear from a young man whose life was forever changed when he says he was wrongfully arrested.

“Watching the Solutionaries team build this show from scratch has been fantastic. The stories they’re telling are sure to resonate with our audience and cause them to examine these issues from a new perspective,” News 6 News Director Allison McGinley said. “On top of that, we’re serving up these pieces in a cutting-edge digital format that will allow them to be shared and watched over and over again.”

We’ve also devised a number of ways to get our audience involved in our storytelling. For this first episode, we brought together a panel and invited them to give their feedback about the ideas presented. Their responses were both thought-provoking and candid.

Going forward, we’ll be asking members of our audience to submit their ideas for topics they’d like to see covered.

"What we’ve found thus far is that this approach has freed our journalists from the confines of traditional storytelling. We are speaking directly to the viewer and inviting them to observe, from the inside, how an issue is defined and reported. Producers, photographers and editors now can participate with the reporter in shaping more complete storytelling and advanced presentation," News 6 General Manager Jeff Hoffman said.

Learn more by going to SolutionariesNetwork.com.

The first episode is hosted by News 6 investigative reporter Louis Bolden, who has nearly 20 years of experience at News 6.

“Never in my career have my bosses come to me and said, ‘We want you to be part of a team that reimagines a newscast. You have no rules, do whatever you want, except we don't want it to look like a traditional newscast.’ And we were thrilled to be a part of it,” Bolden said.

Edward R. Murrow awards handed out to 2 Graham Media Group stations

Two Graham Media Group stations — WKMG-TV and KPRC-TV — have been named the recipients of Edward R. Murrow awards this year.

The awards are handed out each year by the Radio Television Digital News Association to honor outstanding achievements in electronic journalism.

At WKMG-TV in Orlando, two awards were handed out for the podcast “Space Curious” and the news series “BoomTown.”

In the winning “Space Curious” episode, host Emilee Speck discusses how the International Space Station actually got into space.

In WKMG’TV’s news series initiative “Boomtown,” reporters and anchors dive into the issues arising from the city’s population growing at an alarming rate.

KPRC-TV earned two awards, as well, one of which was for its continuing coverage on the George Floyd protests. You can watch the coverage by clicking or tapping here.

The second was for Excellence in Writing in the station's coverage of "Bells for Abigail," which covered the journey of Abigail Arias, who was 4 years old when she was diagnosed in 2017 with Wilms tumor, a rare kidney cancer that metastasized to her lungs.

Abigail was sworn in as an honorary officer. From that point on, she became a light of hope to other tiny cancer-fighters. You can see more of KPRC's coverage by clicking here.

The four awards handed out to WKMG and KPRC were part of the RTDNA's regional awards. National awards will be announced later this year.

Graham Media Group observes Juneteenth 2021 by promoting education and outreach to combat injustice and racism

In observance of Juneteenth 2021, Graham Media Group and its seven media hubs take the opportunity to celebrate by educating and informing their employees and communities on the importance of this historical milestone in our country’s history.

“We wanted to further our Juneteenth efforts this year by creating opportunities for learning and outreach that supports the cause of combatting injustice and racism,” said Emily Barr, Graham Media Group President and CEO. “So, we established Juneteenth as an annual day to promote learning, reflection and action against racial injustice.”

To facilitate these opportunities for learning and outreach, Graham Media Group formed a Juneteenth Committee with members from all seven media hubs and our digital businesses.

“Establishing Juneteenth as a time for all employees to engage in learning and reflection that supports positive dialogues and community outreach has been very meaningful to our DEI mission,” said Caroline Chambers, GMG’s Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “This effort brought together a committee of employees from across GMG with diverse backgrounds and experiences working together to take all our colleagues on a collective learning journey focused on this important history that has been missing from most of our educational text.”

Many GMG media hubs will be hosting educational discussions with the community, airing locally produced shows, public service announcements, and supporting local organizations as part of this corporate-wide commitment to educating employees and station viewing audiences.

“We are able to commit to these projects by partnering with local education leaders and making purposeful engagements with Black-owned businesses to support our celebration events,” Chambers said.

Each employee will also get the opportunity to enjoy a live town hall meeting featuring local talent and experts with a special introduction by CEO Emily Barr.

“Graham Media Group will continue to set aside June 19 as a day to participate in programs that support learning, positive dialogues and community outreach,” Barr said.

WKMG-TV finalist for National Association of Broadcasters Service to America Award

Graham Media Group’s WKMG-TV in Orlando has been named a finalist for the National Association of Broadcasters Service to America Award for the fourth consecutive year in a row.

WKMG News 6 and ClickOrlando.com have been committed to helping Floridians make ends meet since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, which has put a financial strain on countless Americans, particularly in Florida, where the state’s unemployment system became clogged last year. Now, that work is being recognized.

Hearing story after story about Floridians struggling to pay their bills or put food on the table after being left without work due to statewide layoffs and furloughs sparked the station’s “Make Ends Meet” series, led by News 6 investigator Mike Holfeld and photojournalist Robert Breuer.

News 6 has reached out to individuals and state and congressional lawmakers by the day and month, trying to get help for those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ongoing campaign began in March 2020 and remains a weekly part of newscasts and the website.

Holfeld began airing and posting a series of Make Ends Meet economic reports on March 30, 2020. At that time, the entire campaign was aimed at helping families who were suddenly unemployed develop a budget based on their stimulus check and state and federal economic relief.

What Holfeld realized very quickly is that life in the pandemic was more about surviving than simply budgeting.

Since the start of the series, News 6 has worked to recover nearly $1 million in unemployment from the Department of Economic Opportunity for deserving people, and has procured more than $60,000 in donations from viewers.

Because of the difference News 6 has made through the Make Ends Meet initiative, the station has again landed a spot among the finalists for the National Association of Broadcasters Service to America Award.

The award is presented each year by the NAB Leadership Foundation to honor outstanding public service commitment of local television and radio broadcasters.

News 6 has been a recipient of the prestigious award twice before.

WKMG-TV was honored in 2019 for its work to help first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder receive benefits they needed to deal with their illness. The station’s 21-month fight resulted in the passing of Florida state law providing those benefits for all first responders.

News 6 was recognized in 2020 for its “Driving Change” campaign, led by News 6 anchor Matt Austin, who was hit by a driver who admitted to texting behind the wheel. The station's coverage over the span of three years led to changing the texting and driving law in the state of Florida from a primary offense to a secondary offense.

The winner of the Service to America award will be announced later this year.

Graham Media Group stations win big at LMA Digital Innovation Awards

Each year, the Local Media Association awards the leaders in each market, and this year, Graham Media Group stations won big.

An especially noteworthy award went to Dustin Block, the audience development lead for Graham Media Group.

Block was named Innovator of the Year and was recognized for his leading content strategies and original, digital content production for platforms across the group, as well as driving new content and revenue opportunities.

“I’ve had the chance to work with Dustin on several innovation projects and have been consistently impressed with his thoughtfulness, his creativity, and his ability to combine technology with content innovation to create better journalism and sustainable business models,” said Frank Mungeam, LMA chief innovation officer. “Dustin is on the short list of people who ask me innovation questions that no one has ever asked me before. He is a worthy winner of LMA’s award for News Innovator of the Year.”

In addition to Block’s big win, Graham Media Stations won the most awards of any media company, of which include:

WDIV and ClickOnDetroit.com

• 1st place: Best Contest and/or Promotion – Win for Vote 4 The Best
• 1st place: Best Local Newsletter/Email Strategy
• 2nd place: Best Contest and/or Promotion – Win for 4Frenzy
• 3rd place: Best Digital News Project

WJXT and News4Jax.com

• 1st place: Best Virtual Event
• 3rd place: Best Local Website
• 3rd place: Best Branded Content Strategy

KPRC and Click2Houston.com

• 2nd place: Best Service to Diverse Audiences
• 3rd place: Best COVID 19 Local Community Coverage

KSAT and KSAT.com

• 3rd place: Best Local Newsletter/Email Strategy

WKMG and ClickOrlando.com

• 2nd place: Best Local Newsletter/Email Strategy

WDIV takes home 2 Digital Innovation Awards from the Local Media Association

WDIV has been honored with two Digital Innovation Awards from the Local Media Association: A first-place win for the station's "Vote 4 The Best" campaign, and second-place honors for "4Frenzy."

The LMA contest recognizes the best in local digital media in 15 categories, such as best local website, best virtual event, best branded content strategy and more.

"Vote 4 The Best" and "4Frenzy" were honored as contests/promotional campaigns.

"Vote 4 The Best" was a highly anticipated contest that turned out to be not only successful but award-winning. It allows locals to nominate and vote for all different kinds of their favorite Michigan businesses. It builds in a bit of free advertising for area businesses, with a spot on the website and the ability to share a direct voting link.

The voting ballot remains a go-to guide of local businesses all year long. Additionally, "Vote 4 The Best" provides window clings to storefronts, and digital graphics to the top five winners in each category, which totaled about 940 in the main contest alone.

Here's a judge's note: "They took a yearly contest and added categories that were specific to the pandemic, to honor businesses that were doing great work, like (in) customer safety. This inclusion of categories that recognized added challenges of the past year led to more engagement and revenue."

As for "4Frenzy," these traditional campaigns have always been about celebrating high school students' hard work and passion surrounding sports, academics and school spirit (with a nomination and voting period each season), but this year, they needed to do something different because the pandemic changed the lives of so many seniors.

Here's another judge's note: "This news (organization) made the effort to change their yearly promotion/contest to highlight seniors who had not gotten their usual chance to sign through graduation and events."

WSLS launches pop-up newscast, prepares to go 'In Your Town'

WSLS 10 is preparing to take the news on the road and launch a new initiative, WSLS 10 "In Your Town."

Starting in May, WSLS 10 News will be LIVE in a different city every other Friday through November.

“We are passionate about informing and celebrating our communities,” said Margaret Kreger Ashburn, news director for WSLS 10. “This pop-up newscast is more than a tactic. This is our home too, and we are eager to feature extraordinary actions happening all around us.”

WSLS 10 "In Your Town" is an opportunity to help knit communities together.

“WSLS 10 is here to serve others. We are honored to elevate diverse voices, emphasize good news, and shine light on those providing meaningful contributions in our neighborhoods,” said Chrissy Funk, creative services director for WSLS 10.

“This project supports our ongoing commitment to listen and share the perspective of the people in our diverse communities,” said WSLS 10 Vice President and General Manager Jaimie León. “WSLS 10 'In Your Town' is an innovative approach to telling stories that matter here. I applaud the team for taking this on.”

Come, explore more of Southwest and Central Virginia with WSLS 10!

This fun and socially distant promo was shot and edited by creative services producers Rafael Ibarra and Andy DePue.

Graham Media Group stations proud to be selected for LMA’s 'Covering Climate Collaborative'

Graham Media Group stations are proud to be joining the Local Media Association's "Covering Climate Collaborative" to inform and empower their audiences to slow the catastrophic effects of global warming.

“Our stations are committed and excited to join this effort, which may well result in the most important journalism they do this year and beyond,” Graham Media Group President and CEO Emily Barr said. “Climate change impacts our stations on personal, professional and business levels. We all have to live in our rapidly changing world, and we’ve experienced the effects first-hand. Our newsrooms are taking on this issue with renewed focus and intensity. Weather is central to our mission as local broadcasters, both as a public safety service and for community education.”

GMG stations join a national group of publishers, broadcast groups, radio stations and digital-first news sites to expand and deepen climate coverage.

“We’re thrilled to announce this group of newsrooms that are recognized for their commitment to reporting locally on the impacts of climate change,” said Frank Mungeam, LMA chief innovation officer. “This collaboration brings together newsrooms with diverse platform expertise — from print to digital to audio and video — and represents key regions directly affected by our changing climate.”

The partners are grouped into five regional hubs, to cover the local impact of climate change in our "backyards" -- for example, to show how this global problem is affecting our regions specifically. Part of LMA's mission statement is "to localize and humanize the impacts of climate change, and to empower residents in those communities to take meaningful local action."

“For many of us, the issue is personal,” Barr said. “We have children and grandchildren destined to take over this earth as we pass on. We have a moral imperative to act now. We believe joining this collaborative is a critical next step in our efforts to raise awareness and hold the powerful accountable to future generations. … Graham Media Group stands firmly behind this effort and looks forward to doing our part.”

Learn more.

WDIV-Local 4 named 'Station of the Year' for seventh consecutive year

WDIV-TV Local 4 has once again received the honor of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters’ Station of the Year.

In its seventh consecutive year of earning the proud title, the station won for broadcasting excellence in 17 categories from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters: 14 best and 12 merit awards for Market 1.

“The people of WDIV-Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit produce powerful content in news, community affairs, digital, and marketing," said Vice President and General Manager Marla Drutz. "I couldn’t be prouder to work alongside this team, especially in this challenging year when local news has been so important to our community.”

Best

• Newscast: Local 4 News at 11 p.m.
• News Anchor: Kimberly Gill
• News Reporter: Shawn Ley
• Photojournalist: Alex Atwell
• Community Involvement: WDIV community involvement
• Feature/Use of Medium: COVID Families
• Marketing Materials & Promos: Change Makers
• Mini Doc/Series: Unsolved Mystery: JoAnn Mahtouk Romain
• News Special: Education 4 All News Special
• Special Interest Programming: Fulfilling the Dream
• Breaking News Story: Racial Injustice Protest
• Continuing Coverage: Continuing coverage of Detroit protests
• Investigative Story: River Contamination
• Sports: Local 4 Sports

Merit

• Newscast: Local 4 News at 5 p.m.
• News Anchor: Devin Scillian
• News Reporter: Nick Monacelli
• Photojournalist: Ferlon Webster
• Marketing Materials & Promos: Decision 2020 Beliefs
• Use of New Media (All-Encompassing): WDIV ClickOnDetroit
• News Special: Covid-19 Townhall
• Special Interest Programming: Defending the Environment
• Breaking News Story: Devastating Floods
• Investigative Story: Toxic Freeway Ooze
• Sports: Big 10 Football is Back
• Weather: Thunderstorm Threat

The Broadcast Excellence Awards recognize outstanding achievement in broadcasting by Michigan radio and television stations each year. The 2020 awards were announced online this week by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

KPRC 2 celebrates Women's History Month in March

Throughout the month of March, KPRC 2 will celebrate the historic accomplishments of groundbreaking women and the current generation changing the face of our communities and country.

Women’s history will be a part of KPRC 2’s ongoing “Voices of Houston” initiative, spotlighting people in and around the Greater Houston area, making a difference in the community.

As part of KPRC 2’s decades-long mission of diversity and inclusion – and its ongoing commitment to spotlighting the triumphs, struggles and opinions of our city’s diverse communities – the station will celebrate women’s history through weekly on-air news packages, along with "Houston Life" stories featuring local women-owned businesses. Profiles will include some of Houston’s first female broadcasters who worked at KPRC 2.

“Every day, KPRC 2 celebrates Houston’s diverse communities through our storytelling,” said KPRC 2 Vice President/General Manager Jerry Martin. “We will continue our efforts by recognizing the wealth of history-making women who have come before us, and many currently walking amongst us.”

All women’s history content will also be available on KPRC 2 digital platforms, including www.click2houston.com/voices, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Volunteers rake in the trash: News4Jax teams up with Beaches Go Green to host clean-up events

Hundreds of volunteers did more than “talk” some trash to help News4Jax and Beaches Go Green give three spots around the Jacksonville area a clean slate.

Volunteers picked up litter at three sites throughout the community.

“We think it is so great," volunteer Blakely Rowe said. "We think it is important to give back, especially when everybody around here is pretty local, and following the wintertime, it is always such a mess, so we think it is pretty awesome.”

Nease High student Allie Leonard said it was surprising they found as much trash as they did, since it’s the offseason and the beaches aren’t filled with tourists.

“We found quite a bit,” she added.

Here’s a breakdown at what was found at the sites:

Atlantic Beach: 319 volunteers; 11,247 cigarette butts; 19 bags of trash; six bags of recycling.

Jacksonville: 459 volunteers; 9,562 cigarette butts; 16 bags of trash; four bags of recycling with two garden snakes (released).

Ponte Vedra Beach: 300 volunteers; 1,350 cigarette butts; 25 bags of trash; four tires; car parts; construction debris.

By county, Duval County had 778 volunteers -- and 20,809 cigarette butts, 35 bags of trash and 10 bags of recycling were collected and cleaned up.

In St. Johns County, there were 300 volunteers, and 1,350 cigarette butts and 25 bags of trash were collected.

Some of what the volunteers found was surprising, too. The group at the Mickler Beach Access Point in Ponte Vedra Beach hauled in a car bumper. Check it out here.

And another interesting find among the hundreds of pounds of litter, plastic and cigarette butts? A set of false teeth.

Groups met at the Atlantic Boulevard Beach Access in Atlantic Beach and at Oceanfront Park in Jacksonville Beach. Despite the chilly morning, volunteers rolled up their sleeves (so to speak) and pitched in. Some even earned prizes for various milestones (like the most cigarette butts collected).

“We’re making a difference together and having fun, and it’s simple,” said volunteer Samantha Ryan with Sisters of the Sea.

While the cleanup was fun for those involved, Beaches Go Green founder Anne Marie Moquin pointed out that the need to keep things clean is very serious.

“A lot of the litter in this area ends up washing and blowing into sensitive marine environments like the ocean and waterways, so it is super important to keep our town center, parking lots and sidewalks clean as much as it is the beach,” Moquin said.

Like the recent food drive, this cleanup is part of News4Jax's Positively Jax campaign, an ongoing effort to make Jacksonville a better place to live through random acts of kindness and other good deeds.

Sign up and join the Positively Jax movement on PositivelyJax.com.

There you can share your good deeds, learn more about what News4JAX and others are doing to help the community and also receive updates about upcoming opportunities to make a difference.