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2024 RTDNAC Winners 
 

RTDNAC is pleased to announce the winners for the 2024 awards competition, recognizing the best of TV, radio and website work in North Carolina and South Carolina.

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The 2024 RTDNAC Awards were presented on Nov. 9, 2024, during a luncheon at The Speedway Club at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

Radio Division Winners Breaking News First Place: North Carolina Public Radio WUNC – UNC-Chapel Hill Shooting First Place: WFAE 90.7 – Four officers killed serving warrant in Charlotte – Nick de la Canal, Kenneth Lee, Jr., Lisa Worf, Woody Cain, Ely Portillo Second Place: WPTF – UNC Shooting, Aug. 28, 2023 – Bruce Ferrell, Anthony DeHart, Jeff Hamlin Community Impact First Place: WHQR Public Media – “The water still isn’t safe” – Nikolai Mather Second Place: WHQR Public Media – Rarely seen whale species died on Emerald Isle after swallowing mylar balloon – Rachel Keith Consumer/Economic First Place: WUNC – 66-year-old small town department store to close – Colin Campbell Second Place: WHQR – Perspectives: An economic update for the Cape Fear area – Kelly Kenoyer Education First place: WFAE 90.7 – CMS goes door-to-door to get students back in class – Ann Doss Helms Second Place: North Carolina Public Radio WUNC – UNCG professor worries if her job will survive cuts – Brianna Atkinson Entertainment First Place: NCN News – Ain’t too proud – DPAC – Gayle Hurd Second Place: WHQR Public Media – NPR’s Bobby Carter talks 2024 Tiny Desk Contest – Nikolai Mather General News First Place: WFAE 90.7 – Illegal weed, legal high: Confusion in NC laws – Steve Harrison Second Place: WHQR Public Media – One year after the Pulp Road wildfire, Green Swamp Preserve has bounced back even better – Kelly Kenoyer Hard News Feature First Place: 97.9 The Hill (WCHL) – UNC grapples with loss, trauma after Monday’s shooting – Brighton McConnell Second Place: WUNC-FM – Finding families to accept soldiers’ remains – Jay Price Health-Medicine First Place: WHQR – How Pender County used opioid settlement money to purchase DARE-branded sheriff’s office vehicles – Nikolai Mather Investigative First Place: North Carolina Public Radio – WUNC – Out of Sight: An investigation into North Carolina’s PRTFs Second Place: WHQR Public Media – A closer look at NHCS parents’ groups, and the significant differences in their fundraising capacity – Rachel Keith Light Feature First Place: WFAE 90.7 – Meet VanVan, the 5-year-old rap sensation – Nick de la Canal Long-Form Interview First Place: WCHL – I promised my sister I would write about how she chose to die – Aaron Keck Second Place: WPTF – Remembering Jack Johnson – Jon Champion Outstanding News Operation First Place: WHQR Second Place: WPTF Podcast (Long) First Place: WUNC’s Embodied ‘Mixed’ Podcast Episode – Anita Rao, Kaia Findlay, Amanda Magnus, Paige Perez, Jenni Lawson Second Place: 99.9 The Fan – A Brief History of Triangle Sports | NC Sports Betting – Brian Murphy, Tim Donnelly, Anita Normanly, Doug Miller, Graham Hill Political/Election First Place: WUNC – Election Integrity Bill Linked to 2020 Election Deniers – Rusty Jacobs Second Place: WFAE 90.7 – Mark Harris makes a stunning congressional comeback – Steve Harrison Radio News Block First Place: 97.9 The Hill (WCHL) – The Morning News: UNC Campus Clash and Arrests – Aaron Keck, Brighton McConnell, Michael Koh Series First Place: WHQR – New Hanover County Schools Turnaround Task Force – Rachel Keith Social Reform First Place: WFAE 90.7 – Workers at risk in extreme heat; NC has no protections – Kayla Young, David Boraks Second Place: WHQR Public Media – On the street with cops, social workers, and homeless people in a time of uncertainty – Kelly Kenoyer Special Report First Place: WHQR Public Media – Special Report on the Mosley School closing – Benjamin Schachtman, Rachel Keith, Kelly Kenoyer, Camille Mojica Second Place: NCN News – President Biden’s Speech On Wars Sports First Place: NCN News – U.S. Open 2024 at Pinehurst – Chris Edwards Second Place: North Carolina Public Radio WUNC – HBCUs use video games to increase diversity in esports – Brianna Atkinson

TV I Division Winners Best Newscast First Place: WTVD – 5PM Newscast April 24, 2024 Second Place: WRAL News @ 4P Nash County Tornado Breaking News First Place: WRAL News – Shooting on campus: Tragedy at UNC Second Place: WSOC-TV – Breaking News: Officers Ambushed Community Impact First Place: WSOC – The Rescued Second Place: WZJY Queen City News – North Carolina’s Radar Gap, Maureen Wurtz, Jenna Pinto Consumer/Economic First Place: Spectrum News 1 NC – In Focus: Neighborhood Wars: HOA’s in NC – Loretta Boniti, Mark Barge Second Place: FOX Carolina – Breaking down Duke Energy’s Rate Increase Education First Place: WRAL – 5 On Your Side: Parents Rights to Access Information – Keely Arthur, Pritchard Strong, Richard Adkins, Emily Walkenhorst Second Place: WNCN – Never again: Holocaust survivors support new curriculum – Hayley Fixler, Ethan DuVall, David Hattman Entertainment First Place: FOX Carolina – Flying Rabbit Adventures – Kari Beal, Edwin Santamaria Second Place: WNCN-TV – Rehearsal Day at the NC Youth Theatre – Amber Freeman, Jim Dates General News First Place: WJZY Queen City News – Blue Ridge Runs Red – Maureen Wurtz, Jenna Pinto, Jack Anderson, Kevin Pinto, Casey Clark Second Place: WBTV – What Happened to Rena Beamer? – Caroline Hicks, Greg Simpson, Kevin Marlow General News by Multimedia Journalist First-Place: Spectrum News 1 NC – ‘Zombie Disease’ in NC – Sarah Rudlang Second Place: CBS 17 (WNCN) – Car Crashes into Durham Restaurant – Ben Bokun Hard News Feature First Place: FOX Carolina – Lights Out – Margaret-Ann Carter, Mindy Cecil Second Place: WIS – Why Is My Son’s Death a Mystery? – Deric Rush, Russ Congdon, Tiffany Tran-Ozuna Second Place: WBTV – A Mother’s Nightmare – A Mysterious Death in Mexico – Claire Kopsky, Gregory Simpson Health-Medicine First Place: WJZY Queen City News – Ciara’s Story – Maureen Wurtz, Jenna Pinto Second Place: Spectrum News 1 NC – Blood Donations Save Lives – Britni McDonald, Charlton Wilson Investigative First Place: WBTV – The Wild West of Towing – David Hodges, Allison Fields First Place: WRAL – NC State Pulls out of federal health investigation – Keely Arthur, Pritchard Strong, Richard Adkins Second Place: FOX Carolina – In the Dark – Catie Bussmann, Grace Runkel Light Feature First Place: WTVI PBS Charlotte – Carolina Impact / The Hundred Year Pier – Jeff Sonier, Doug Stacker Second Place: WGHP TV – Roy’s Folks “Pastor Ralph Sproles Loves his People” – Keith Hale, Chad Tucker Long-Form Interview First Place: WSOC-TV – Mark Harris: The Interview – Joe Bruno, Ian Davis-Leonard, Rachel Langlitz Wilson, Andy Nagele, Michael Winn Second Place: WJZY Queen City News – Black Charlotte in 2024 – Janet Parker, Julian Sadur, Khalif Rhodes, Sarah Smith Second Place: Spectrum News 1 NC – Hedingham Neighbors 1 year after Mass Shooting – Tim Boyum News Special First Place: Spectrum News 1 NC – The Last Whistle – Tim Boyum, John Stampf Second Place: WRAL – Unsafe: NC Kids Dying from Gun Violence – Cristin Severance, Dwayne Myers, Gilbert Baez, Shan Zhong News Website First Place: WRAL Second Place: WTVD Original Digital Video First Place: WXII 12 – Primary Night: It’s All Just Very Political – Carrie Hodgin, Christine Cruz, Kenny Beck, Bill O’Neil, WXII 12 Digital Second Place: WRAL- 300-mile ‘crosswalk’ along highway moves former addicts – Ryan Bisesi Original Web Reporting First Place: FOX Carolina – Off Track: South Carolina’s Rape Kit Evidence Problem – Amanda Shaw Second Place: WXII 12 News – WXII 12 Digital: Disaster Unhinged Interactive – Carrie Hodgin, Michael Pardee, Doug Miller, WXII Weather Team, WXII 12 Digital Outstanding News Operation First Place: WSOC Second Place: WJZY Photography First Place: WGHP – Memorable stories from North Carolina First Place: WRAL – The Tar Heel Traveler – Sean Braswell Second Place: WGHP – Santa on a Trolly – Chris Weaver, Madison Forsey Podcast (Long) First Place: WGHP – Mutiny, Murder, and Military on Campus – Michael Hennessey, Kyle Gould, Kevin Daniels, Chris Weaver Second Place: Spectrum News 1 NC – Tying It Together With Tim Boyum – Tim Boyum Podcast (Short) First Place: WRAL – Chilling Details about Disappearing Devens – Grace Holland, Chris Lovingood Political/Election First Place: Spectrum News 1 NC – Primary Elections 2024 Second Place: WJZY-TV – Injustice to Voters? – Robin Kanady, Corey Epps Series First Place: WRAL – Problems at Poe Hall – Keely Arthur, Pritchard Strong, Richard Adkins Second Place: Spectrum News 1 – NC Soldier’s Cold Case Sparks Change in Army – Reuben Jones, Kenneth Carrick, Chris Thomas, Jonathan Powell, Romeo Montiel Social Reform First Place: Spectrum News 1 NC – Debate Over Women Pastors – Tim Boyum, John Stampf Second Place: WJZY Queen City News – Putting the Squeeze on Bigger Passengers – MayCay Beeler, Anthony Shephard Special Report First Place: WBTV – Remembering CMPD officer Joshua Eyer – Kelsey Graeter, John Carter, Shevaun Bryan, Alex Giles, Cole Yarborough Second Place: WJZY Queen City News – Unfinished Business – Jody Barr, Casey Clark Sports Reporting First Place: WTVI PBS Charlotte – Carolina Impact/ Ric Flair Returns – Jeff Sonier, Max Arnall Second Place: Spectrum News 1 NC – N.C. college baseball player makes history – Evan Abramson, Dwayne White Sports Special First Place: WRAL – Ghosts in the Stadium – Chris Lea, Cristin Severance, Heather Leah Second Place: TopCats: WJZY Queen City News – Unfinished Business Episode 2 Use of Social Media First Place: FOX8 WGHP – Justyn Melrose, Dolan Reynolds, Emily Mikkelsen, Brayden Stamps, Michaela Ratliff Second Place: WBTV – Investigative compilation: Social Media – Naomi Kowles Use of Technology First Place: WRAL – Exploring the scale of the Israel-Hamas war – Noah Klein, Ashley Rowe, Shan Zhong, Ashley Talley Second Place: Spectrum News 1 NC – Durham Police Academy: Driving Training – Jenna Rae Gaertner, Mark Barger

TV II Division Winners Best Newscast First Place: WCSC – Live 5 News – 6AM – Primary Day – Brittany Arndt, Katie Kamin, Nick Reagan, Shelbey Roberts, Joey Sovine Second Place: WCTI – News 12 at 6 Breaking News First Place: WMBF – Emergency Eviction – Ale Espinosa, George Hansen Second Place: WMBF – Resort Fire – Julia Richardson, Makayla Evans Community Impact First Place: WECT-TV – Struggling to meet the need – Bill Murray Second Place: WCSC – Live 5 News – Century Aluminum Alumina Emission – Caitlin Ashbaugh, Michal Higdon Consumer/Economic First Place: WCSC – Live 5 News – DR Horton Homes Concerns – Emily Johnson, Michael Allison, Steven Smith Second Place: WMBF – No Pool Pool Company – Ale Espinosa, George Hansen Education First Place: WMBF – HCS Emails Reveal School Security Concerns – Ashley Boles, George Hansena Second Place – WCTI News 12 – Craven County Schools Sports Eligibility – Rebecca McGann Entertainment First Place: WNCT – Mary Mikels – Courtney Cortright, Kenneth “Tree” Roundtree General News First Place: WECT-TV – Sheriff Dept. raids wrong home – Ava Brendgord, Ryan Koresko Second Place: WMBF – The search for Tyler Doyle – Ale Espinosa, Ashley Listrom, Ashley Boles, Kyle Moreton, Hunter Boenau General News by Multimedia Journalist First Place – WMBF – Recipe for Disaster: Alarming Rise in Glock Switches – Makayla Evans Second Place – WNCT – Family Not Notified of Loved One’s Death – Sarah Gray Barr Hard News Feature First Place: WNCT – 40 Year Tornado Outbreak in the East – Erin Jenkins, Kenneth “Tree” Roundtree Second Place: WNCT – Rocking Horse Ranch: Healing Through Therapy – Courtney Cortright, Kenneth Roundtree Health-Medicine First Place: WMBF – We’re All Different – Ashley Boles, George Hansen Second Place: WITN – Rural Health Care Challenges – Dave Jordan, Brandon Hardison Investigative First Place: WMBF – The Billionaire Broke Girls – Derrion Henderson, George Hansen, Derek Harrison, Dana Tilley, Hunter Boenau Second Place: WCSC – Live 5 News – Deadly Animal Attack – Blair Sabol Light Feature First Place: WMBF – The Story of Jamestown – Derrion Henderson, George Hansen Second Place: WWAY – Santa’s Southern Elves – Sydney Bouchelle Long-Form Interview First Place: CN2 News – Reporter Revisits Story from 23 Years Ago – Laurabree Monday, Renee O’Neil, Chris Roberts Second Place: WMBF – Political Analyst Justin Vaughn Interview – Rachel Bogle, Eric Weisfeld, Emily Akiyama, Michael Owens News Special First Place: WMBF – The Revolving Door of Addiction – Ashley Boles, George Hansen, Dana Tilley, Emily Akiyama, Cameron Evans Second Place: WCIV – Bring Them Home – Mel Orlins, Max Harrison, Brian Heins News Website First Place: WCSC – Live 5 News – live5news.com Second Place: WCTI News 12 – wcti12.com Original Digital Video First Place: WMBF – Are You Cirrus – Jamie Arnold, Andrew Dockery, Sarah Pettigrew, Anya Carney Second Place: WECT-TV – Shootin’ The Breeze – Gannon Medwick, Gabe Ross Original Web Reporting First Place: WCBD-TV – Arrest made in 1989 Justin Lee Turner cold case – Tim Renaud Second Place: WECT-TV – Williston Legacy Graduation – Jon Evans, Ryan Koresko, Scott Pachilis, Brian Bruneau, Chris Knight Outstanding News Operation First Place: WECT-TV Second Place: WMBF Photography First Place: WPDE ABC15 – Painting the Preserve – Andrew James, Joshua Davis Second Place: WNCT – Oscar’s Shoe Repair – Kenneth “TREE” Roundtree Podcast (Long) First Place: WMBF – Are You Cirrus – Jamie Arnold, Andrew Dockery, Anya Carney, Sarah Pettigrew Podcast (Short) First Place: WNCT-TV – People & Places Extra: Dontae Jones on WNCT at 70 – Ken Watlington Political/Election First Place: WMBF – Atlantic Beach Election Error – Julia Richardson Second Place: WCSC – Live 5 News – Congressional District 1 Fact Check – Justin Kollar, Steven Smith Series First Place: WCIV – Behind the Badge – Katy Solt, Sam Griswold Second Place: WMBF – This is Carolina – Loren Korn, George Hansen Social Reform First Place: WMBF – Cross Burning in Conway – Makayla Evans, Derrion Henderson, Loren Korn, Anya Carney Second Place: WCIV – Non-Profit Serving Men Recently Released From Prison – Lisa Weismann, Brian Heins Special Report No entries. Sports Reporting First Place: WITN – Madi Fleming Player Profile – Eric Gullickson Second Place: WMBF – Adaptive Golf – Teagan Brown Sports Special First Place: WCIV – 2024 Cooper River Bridge Run Live Show Second Place: WITN Endzone – Eric Gullickson, Jaylen Holloway Use of Social Media First Place: WMBF – Jaremy Smith Manhunt – Michael Owens Second Place: WMBF – Plane Lands on Highway 501 – Michael Owens, Kristin Nelson, Ian Klein, Allyson Kanuha Use of Technology Judges declined to award winners in this category

Individual Award Winners AP Freedom of Information Award First Place: WRAL Investigates Poe Hall Second Place: WCSC – Komoroski Calls Margaret Murchison News Director of the Year Matt Stanley, WMBF Radio Reporter of the Year First Place: WFAE – Ann Doss Helms Second Place: WUNC – Colin Campbell TV News Anchor of the Year (TV I) First Place: Spectrum News – Britni McDonald First Place: Spectrum News – Caroline Blair Second Place: WJZY Queen City News – Alicia Barnes TV News Anchor of the Year (TV II) First Place: WECT-TV – Frances Weller Second Place: WMBF – Rachel Bogle TV News Anchor Team of the Year (TV I) First Place: WRAL – WRAL News this Morning with Jeff Hogan and Renee Chou Second Place: WJZY – Alicia Barnes & Morgan Frances TV News Anchor Team of the Year (TV II) First Place: WNCT – Courtney Cortright and Ken Watlington Second Place: WMBF – Rachel Bogle and Eric Weisfeld TV News Investigative Reporter of the Year (TV I) First Place: WRAL – Keely Arthur Second Place: WRAL – Sarah Krueger TV News Investigative Reporter of the Year (TV II) Judges declined to make awards in this category. TV News Multimedia Journalist of the Year (TV I) First Place: WRAL – Destinee Patterson Second Place: Spectrum News 1 – Sydney McCoy TV News Multimedia Journalist of the Year (TV II) First Place: WNCT-TV – Sarah Gray Barr Second Place: WCIV – Webb Wright Second Place: WCSC – Live 5 News – Anna Harris TV News Photographer of the Year (TV I) First Place: WGHP TV – Keith Hale Second Place: WRAL News – Sean Braswell TV News Photographer of the Year (TV II) First Place: WMBF – George Hansen Second Place: WCIV – Jason Tighe TV News Producer of the Year (TV I) First Place: WRAL – Ashley Foster TV News Producer of the Year (TV II) First Place: WCSC – Thomas Cassidy Second Place: WNCT – Ryan Carter TV News Reporter of the Year (TV I) First Place: WGHP – Madison Forsey Second Place: WRAL- Aaron Thomas TV News Reporter of the Year (TV II) First Place: WMBF – Makayla Evans Second Place: WNCT – Erin Jenkins TV Special Projects Producer (TV I) First Place: WBTV – Jordan Sawyers Second Place: WRAL – Sam Maneri TV Special Projects Producer (TV II) First Place: WCSC – Live 5 News – Thomas Gruel Second Place: WNCT – Ryan Carter TV Sportscaster of the Year (TV I) First Place: WRAL – Louis Fernandez Second Place: WIS – Rick Henry TV Sportscaster of the Year (TV II) First Place: WMBF – Teagan Brown Second Place: WMBF – Dave Ackert TV Weathercaster of the Year First Place: WRAL – Kat Campbell Second Place: FOX Carolina – Kendra Kent TV Weathercaster of the Year (TV II) First Place: WMBF – Andrew Dockery First Place: WNCT – Holly Baker Second Place: WCSC – Live 5 News – Dorien Minor Second Place: WCSC – Live 5 News – Stephanie Sine

Student Award Winners Radio Best Student Feature Reporting First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Are Gen Z job applicants unprofessional or too demanding – Sofia Casini Best Student News Reporting First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Biden promises internet access to North Carolinians – Noah Powell, Taylor Holbrooks Best Student Sports Story No entries Best Student Sportscast No entries Ken White Best Student Newscast First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Carolina Connection – Sept. 16, 2023 Second Place:North Carolina Central University – AudioNet News #6 – Jasmyn Harper, Jaya Gomez, Carl Paschall, Justin Moses TV Best Student Feature Reporting First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – The homesteading craze sweeping North Carolina – Steven Schlink Second Place: University of South Carolina – Veterinarian shortage causes long wait times in SC – Rachel Carter Best Student Multimedia Report First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill- NC Legislature exempts itself from Open Records Law – Steven Schlink Second Place: Elon University – Red Cross reports lowest blood supply in 20 years – Charlotte Pfabe Best Student News Brief First Place: Meredith College – MCSN – Meredith College Student News Second Place: Campbell University – Campbell Now – February 14, 2024 Best Student News Reporting First Place: UNC Chapel Hill – Neil & Noor: Two opposing views on the war in Gaza – Steven Schlink Second Place: University of South Carolina – The Fentanyl Crisis: One Family’s Loss – Arianna Bertolotti Best Student Photography First Place: University of South Carolina- First SEC win for the Gamecocks in offensive battle – Brianna Walton Best Student Sports Story First Place: University of South Carolina – Under the Helmet: Girls in the Huddle – Jada Kirkland Second Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Morgan Stickney’s Swim For Her Life – Isabella Geskos Best Student Sportscast First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Sports Xtra | March 18, 2024 Second Place: University of South Carolina – Carolina News Sportscast: February 20, 2024 – Josh Voorhees Best Student TV News Producing First Place: University of South Carolina – Carolina News: April 8, 2024 – Sarah Craft Best Student TV Weathercast First Place: University of South Carolina – Carolina News Weathercast: April 3, 2024 – Josh Voorhees Haney Howell Student Journalist of the Year First Place: University of South Carolina – Elizabeth Martinez Second Place: UNC Chapel Hill – Steven Schlink Ken White Best Student Newscast First Place: UNC Chapel Hill – Carolina Week: Special Edition – Deadly Shooting Second Place: UNC Chapel Hill – Carolina Week: Special Edition – Young voters

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