2014 RTDNAC/AP Awards winners
Winners were announced Nov. 15, 2014, at the RTDNAC/AP annual luncheon at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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TV I | TV II | Radio | Individual | Student
TV I
AP Awards
Best Newscast (North Carolina)
First Place: WNCN — 11 p.m. – State Fair Accident — Amy Holliday, Mike Riley, Derick Waller, Patrick Priest
Second Place: WRAL — Kidnapped Man Rescued — Kimberly Ursich, Jay Nelson
Best Newscast (South Carolina)
First Place: WYFF 4 — WYFF News 4
Second Place: WIS-TV — WIS News at 6
Outstanding News Operation (North Carolina)
First Place: WRAL — WRAL Outstanding News Operation
Second Place: WCNC — NBC Charlotte: Looking Out For You
Outstanding News Operation (South Carolina)
First Place: WYFF 4 — WYFF News 4 — Bruce Barkley, Lee Brown, Akili Franklin, Janice Limon, Anna Dobbins
Second Place: WSPA-TV — WSPA-TV
Public Service (North Carolina)
First Place: WLOS ABC News 13 — Buried Secrets — Mike Mason, John Kirtley, Julie Fries
Second Place: WBTV — Legalizing a Strain of Medical Marijuana in NC — Molly Grantham
Public Service (South Carolina)
First Place: WSPA-TV — UpFront: Feast or Famine — Laura Thomas, Elizabeth Sanders, Jason Parker, Cass Chulick
Second Place: WYFF 4 — Domestic Violence — Lee Brown, Jennifer Mihalic, John Hendon, Bruce Barkley
RTDNAC Awards
Best Newscast
First Place: WNCN — WNCN News at 7 p.m. – Kelli Bordeaux — Kathleen Jacob, Kim Stephens, Sean Maroney, Melanie Sanders, Wes Hohenstein
Second Place: WCNC-TV — Charlotte Mayor Arrested — Erin Newnam, Rad Berky, Ben Thompson, Stuart Watson, Staff
Best Photography
First Place: WRAL — Nooks and Crannies — Richard Adkins
Second Place: WLOS ABC News 13 — The Dahlia Man — John Kirtley
Consumer/Economic
First Place: WBTV — Fire Resistant Paint Investigation — Kristen Miranda, Brian Stephenson
Second Place: WYFF 4 — WYFF News 4 Investigates: Laundry Pods — Gabrielle Komorowski, Michael Geer, Jennifer Mihalic
Education
First Place: WSOC-TV — 9 Investigates: UNC Student Data — Peter Daut, Jeremy Letterman
Second Place: WBTV — School Bus Safety Investigation — Kristen Miranda, Brian Stephenson
Entertainment
First Place: WBTV — On the Road With Scotty McCreery — Kristen Miranda, Brian Stephenson
Second Place: Time Warner Cable News — Earl Scruggs Center — Richard Green
General News
First Place: WRAL — Medical Miracle — Bruce Mildwurf, Ed Wilson, Greg Clark, Adam Owens, Cullen Browder
Second Place: WSPA-TV — Tracking Your Money — Gordon Dill, Jason Parker
Hard News Feature
First Place: WNCN — Durham Man Becomes Someone Else After Identity Stolen — Sean Maroney, Kenneth Roundtree
Second Place: FOX 8 WGHP — Privacy Rights: Who’s Watching You? — Julie Grant, Andrew Bray
Health-Medicine
First Place: WNCN — Charlotte’s Web Debate — Eileen Park, Patrick Priest
Second Place: WYFF 4 — The Gospel of Good Health — Carol Goldsmith, John Hendon, Jennifer Mihalic
Investigative
First Place: WLTX-TV — DSS: Is The System Broken?
Second Place: WBTV — Prison Bus Investigation — Jamie Boll, Jeff Keene
Light Feature
First Place: WRAL — Willie McRae — Gerald Owens, Greg Clark
Second Place: WTVD — Hand Me Ups — Heather Waliga, Domenico Zelano
News Documentary
First Place: WLOS ABC News 13 — Buried Secrets — Mike Mason, John Kirtley, Julie Fries
Second Place: WRAL — Cut Loose and Cut Off — Clay Johnson, Jay Jennings, Steve Elizondo, Bill Leslie
News Website
First Place: WNCN — WNCN.com — Jake Seaton, Jeff Reeves, Dane Huffman, Kristin Stepneski, Patrick Zarcone
Second Place: WRAL — WRAL.com
Political-Election
First Place: WRAL — May Primary — Leesa Moore, Lori Grant, Jamie Thomas, John Renigar, Dave Henderson
Political-General
First Place: WSOC-TV — 1-on-1 with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx
Second Place: WYFF 4 — Truth Check — Tim Waller, Daniel Crowe, Jennifer Mihalic
Series
First Place: WLOS ABC News 13 — Straight-Piping — Mike Mason, John Kirtley, Robert Mahosky
Second Place: WSPA-TV — Dirty Water — Gordon Dill, Jason Parker, Doug Uhrich
Special Report
First Place: WBTV — “The Underworld Under Us” — Molly Grantham, Leighton Grant
Second Place: WRAL — Mighty Endeavor — Stephanie Moore, Waliya Lari, James Ford, John Renigar, David Crabtree
Sports Reporting
First Place: WHNS-TV — Roscoe’s Rise Back to Death Valley
Second Place: WLTX-TV — Helmet/Concussion Investigation
Sports Special
First Place: WNCN — Dean Smith Medal of Freedom — Kathleen Jacob, Kim Stephens
Second Place: WYFF 4 — The Rivalry — Brad Fralick, Marc Dopher, Mike Giordano, Jennifer Mihalic
Spot News
First Place: WSPA-TV — Kidnapping and Chase
Second Place: WIS-TV — Newberry County Manhunt
TV II
AP Awards
Best Newscast (North Carolina)
First Place: WWAY — Best Newscast
Second Place: WITN — WITN News at 6
Best Newscast (South Carolina)
No entries
Outstanding News Operation (North Carolina)
First Place: WITN — WITN News
Outstanding News Operation (South Carolina)
No entries
Public Service (North Carolina)
No entries
Public Service (South Carolina)
First Place: WCIV — Saving Our Children: The Obesity Epidemic — Victoria Hansen, Dave MacQueen, Cathy Hobbs, Scott Garrand
RTDNAC Awards
Best Newscast
First Place: WNCT — WNCT 6 p.m. Newscast 11/27/13
Second Place: WITN — WITN News at 6
Best Photography
First Place: WCTI NewsChannel 12 — Never Stop — Allen Fairbanks, Kyle Horan, Keith Jones, Christy Andrews
Second Place: WECT News — Shaping the Perfect Ride — Bob Bonner
Consumer/Economic
First Place: WITN — Mine vs Mother Nature — Clayton Bauman
Second Place: WWAY — Technological Teller — Sara Hopkins
Education
First Place: WITN — Change With Lottery Money Impacts Students — Dave Jordan, Brandon Hardison
Second Place: WECT News — Battle of the Bulge in Brunswick County — Ben Powell
Entertainment
First Place: WCTI NewsChannel 12 — Ellen Bacca Does Her Best to Meet Jeff Gordon
Second Place: WITN — ‘The Voice’ Experience — Dan Yesenosky
General News
First Place: WECT News — The Fort Hood Fight — Jon Evans, Ryan Koresko
Second Place: WECT News — Pender Paving Controversy — Ann McAdams, Ryan Koresko
Hard News Feature
First Place: WCTI NewsChannel 12 — “Mom, I’m Going to Die.” — Jaime McCutcheon, Allen Fairbanks
Second Place: WECT News — Road to Recovery — Colin Hackman, Ryan Koresko
Health-Medicine
First Place: WECT News — Crohn’s Disease Doesn’t Sideline Coach — Bob Bonner
Second Place: WECT News — Moving for Marijuana — Frances Weller, Ryan Koresko
Investigative
First Place: WECT News — Police Stingray Investigation — Alex Giles, Justin West, Ashlea Kosikowski, Ann McAdams
Second Place: WECT News — Public Housing Income — Ann McAdams, Ryan Koresko
Light Feature
First Place: WCTI NewsChannel 12 — 100 Miles Per Hour In Memory Lane — Allen Fairbanks, Kyle Horan
Second Place: WWAY — Bagpiping for Beginners — Makenzi Henderson
News Documentary
No entries
News Website
First Place: WCTI NewsChannel 12 — www.wcti12.com
Second Place: WITN
http://www.wcti12.com
Political-Election
First Place: WWAY — 11-5-13
Second Place: WITN — Decision 2013: November
Political-General
First Place: WECT News — Ola Lewis Explains Surprising Decision to Run for Chief Justice — Mike Pelzer, Justin Smith
Series
First Place: WECT News/FOX Wilmington — Murder Mysteries — Ashlea Kosikowski, Mark Stebnicki
Second Place: WNCT — Faith Roundtable
Special Report
First Place: WCIV — Saving Our Children: The Obesity Epidemic — Victoria Hansen, Dave MacQueen, Cathy Hobbs, Scott Garrand
Second Place: WECT News — 2014 WECT Hurricane Special — Gannon Medwick, Eric Davis, Iesha Scott, Colin Hackman, Heather Setzler
Sports Reporting
First Place: WCTI NewsChannel 12 — A Thankless Job — Allen Fairbanks, Brian North
Second Place: WECT News — Pickle Ball — Ben Powell, Ryan Koresko
Sports Special
First Place: WITN — The WITN EndZone
Second Place: WWAY — Full Court Press — John Rendleman, Chasity Melvin
Spot News
First Place: FOX Wilmington — In the Right Place at the Right Time: Training Turns into Rescue— Bailey Hicks
Second Place: WECT News/FOX Wilmington — Deputy Shot in Creekwood — Kasey Cunningham, Jon Evans, Alex Giles, Bailey Hicks, Mark Stebnicki
Radio
AP Awards
Best Newscast (North Carolina)
First Place: News Radio 680 WPTF Raleigh — Team Coverage
Best Newscast (South Carolina)
First Place: News Radio 94.3 WSC — Surviving Snowmageddon 2014
Outstanding News Operation (North Carolina)
First Place: News Radio 680 WPTF Raleigh
Outstanding News Operation (South Carolina)
First Place: News Radio 94.3 WSC — ‘Mornings with Kelly Golden’ on 94.3 WSC — Kelly Golden, Joseph Kurt, Stu Morris, Josh Coley
Public Service (North Carolina)
First Place: 88.5 WFDD — School Choice, Vouchers & Charters — 88.5 WFDD, Keri Brown, Paul Garber
Public Service (South Carolina)
First Place: Clear Channel Charleston — Saluting Our Hometown Heroes — 94.3 WSC, Kelly Golden
RTDNAC Awards
Best Newscast
First Place: 106.1 FM Talk, WTKK — News/Public Affairs Director
Second Place: North Carolina News Network — November 27, 2013 Newscast — Mike Raley
Consumer/Economic
No entries
Education
First Place: 88.5 WFDD — Are Charter Schools a Threat to Traditional Public Schools? — 88.5 WFDD, Keri Brown
Entertainment
No entries
General News
First Place: WBT — Patrick Cannon Scandal — Chris Miller, Mark Garrison, Mike Doyle
Second Place: 88.5 WFDD — Community Members Fight to Keep Farm Animals at Children’s Home — 88.5 WFDD, Keri Brown
Hard News Feature
No winners
Health-Medicine
First Place: 88.5 WFDD — Guilford County’s HealthServe Closes Doors — 88.5 WFDD, Kathryn Mobley
Investigative
No winners
Light Feature
No winners
News Documentary
No entries
News Website
No entries
Political-Election
No entries
Political-General
First Place: News Radio 680 WPTF Raleigh — NC House Debates Senate Bill 353 — Josh Zach
Radio News Block
First Place: News Radio 680 WPTF Raleigh — North Carolina’s Evening News, Team Coverage — Scott Briggaman, Bruce Ferrell, Josh Zach, Brian LeBlanc
Second Place: 88.5 WFDD — Another Blast of Old Man Winter Cripples Morning Commute — 88.5 WFDD, Keri Brown
Series
First Place: 88.5 WFDD — Freedom Songs, Changing People and a Nation — 88.5 WFDD, Kathryn Mobley
Second Place: WHQR — Film in Wilmington, Parts 1-3 — Rachel Lewis Hilburn
Special Report
No entries
Sports Reporting
No entries
Sports Special
No entries
Spot News
First Place: WBT — Mayor Cannon Arrested — Chris Miller
Second Place: 88.5 WFDD — Shooting at Carver High School — 88.5 WFDD, Keri Brown
Individual Achievement
Best Sportscaster (TV I)
First Place: WYFF 4 — Brad Fralick
Second Place: WRAL — Jeff Gravley
Best Sportscaster (TV II)
No winners
Best Weathercaster (TV I)
First Place: WYFF 4 — John Cessarich
Second Place: WBTV — Al Conklin
Best Weathercaster (TV II)
First Place: WBTW News 13 — Andrew Phillips
Second Place: WWAY — Christina Anthony
Radio Reporter of the Year
First Place: News Radio 680 WPTF Raleigh — Josh Zach
TV News Anchor of the Year (TV I)
First Place: WRAL — David Crabtree
Second Place: WSPA-TV — Amy Wood
TV News Anchor of the Year (TV II)
First Place: WECT News/FOX Wilmington — Jon Evans
Second Place: WECT News — Frances Weller
TV News Photographer of the Year (TV I)
First Place: WLOS ABC News 13 — John Kirtley
Second Place: WRAL — Greg Clark
Second Place: WYFF 4 — John Hendon
TV News Photographer of the Year (TV II)
First Place: WCTI NewsChannel 12 — Allen Fairbanks
Second Place: WMBF — Michael Walter
TV News Producer of the Year (TV I)
First Place: WBTV — Joshua Roberts
Second Place: WRAL — Kimberly Ursich
TV News Producer of the Year (TV II)
First Place: WECT News — Steve Roth
Second Place: WWAY — Ashley Cimino
TV News Reporter of the Year (TV I)
First Place: WSPA-TV — Gordon Dill
Second Place: WRAL — Adam Owens
TV News Reporter of the Year (TV II)
First Place: WCIV — Valencia Wicker
Second Place: WITN — Carly Swain
Student
Best Student Feature Reporting (Radio)
First Place: Carolina Connection, UNC-Chapel Hill— The Comeback of Vinyl Albums — Andrew Stern
Best Student Feature Reporting (TV)
First Place: Carolina News, University of South Carolina — Eliza’s Story — Jordan Gougeon
Second Place: Carolina Week, UNC-Chapel Hill— Atlantis Project Program — Brenna Cukier
Best Student News Producing
First Place: Carolina Week, UNC-Chapel Hill— April 16th Full Show
Second Place: Elon University — Elon Local News — Jeff Ackermann
Best Student News Reporting (Radio)
First Place: Carolina Connection, UNC-Chapel Hill— New Law Allows More Guns at UNC — Charlie Shelton
Best Student News Reporting (TV)
First Place: Carolina News, University of South Carolina — Carolina Alert — Emily McDonnell
Second Place: Carolina Week, UNC-Chapel Hill — David Shannon 911 — Landon Dowdy
Best Student Newscast (Radio)
No winners
Best Student Newscast (TV)
First Place: Elon Local News, Elon University — ELN September 30, 2013
Second Place: Carolina Week, UNC-Chapel Hill— April 9th Full Show — Dana Monocky, Evan Badler
Best Student Photography
First Place: Carolina Week, UNC-Chapel Hill— Brooke Baldwin Returns — Madison Way
Second Place: Winthrop University — Come See Me Festival Frog Jumping Contest — Cameron Powell
Best Student Sports Story
First Place: Carolina News, University of South Carolina — Recruiting Rankings — Rixon Lane
Second Place: Carolina Week, UNC-Chapel Hill— The Cost of Recruiting — Janelle Davis
Best Student Sportscast
First Place: Carolina Week, UNC-Chapel Hill— April 16th Sportscast — Nicole Comparato, Ryan O’Rorke
Best Student Weathercast
First Place: Carolina Week, UNC-Chapel Hill— Drew Day
D. Haney Howell Student Journalist of the Year
First Place: Elon Local News, Elon University — Joe Bruno
Second Place: Carolina Week, UNC-Chapel Hill— David Shannon Investigation — Landon Dowdy