2019 RTDNAC/AP Award Winners

AP Awards

Continuing Coverage
– First Place: WSOC – District 9 Investigation – Joe Bruno, Mike Stolp, Corey Gensler, Kim Holt, Melissa Martin
– Second Place: WYFF – WYFF News 4 Investigates: Rape Kits – Matt Moore, Amanda Crawford, Jarrett McDaris, Kevin Moran, Bruce Barkley

Daytime Newscast (North Carolina)
– First Place: WBTV – Hurricane Florence Makes Landfall – John Carter, Christine Sperow, Kristen Miranda, Al Conklin, Molly Kelleher
– Second Place: WSOC – Eyewitness News at 6 a.m.

Daytime Newscast (South Carolina)
– First Place: WHNS – The Morning News: Officer-Involved Shooting at Hospital
– Second Place: WYFF – WYFF News 4 at 4 p.m. – Tiffanie Wise, Jennifer Mihalic, Anna Dobbins, Bruce Barkley, Lee Brown

Evening Newscast (North Carolina)
– First Place: WTVD – Durham Gas Explosion – Nicole Hare-Hill, Steve Daniels, Josh Chapin, Joel Brown, Cory Knapp
– Second Place: WJZY – Terror at UNC-Charlotte – Derek Miloff, Victoria Loveless

Evening Newscast (South Carolina)
– First Place: WLTX – Columbia Deadly Housing Investigation
– Second Place: WIS-TV – WIS News at 6:00: Tragedy at Allen Benedict Court

First Amendment Award
– First Place: WYFF – Chronicle: WYFF News 4 Investigates – Lee Brown, Jennifer Mihalic, John Hendon, Matt Moore
– Second Place: WBTV – Burger King Shooting Body Cam Video – Nick Ochsner, David Hodges, Corey Schmidt, Kim Saxon
– Second Place: WSOC – District 9 Investigation – Joe Bruno, Mike Stolp, Corey Gensler, Kim Holt, Mike Oliveira

Multimedia Package
No winners

Outstanding News Operation (North Carolina)
– First Place: WSOC – Cedric Thomas, Mike Oliveira
– Second Place: WBTV

Outstanding News Operation (South Carolina)
– First Place: WYFF – Bruce Barkley, Lee Brown, Jennifer Mihalic, Anne Newman, Anna Dobbins
– Second Place: WLTX

Podcast
– First Place: WNCN – 32 Degrees – Russ Bowen, Dave Hattman, Carey Gough, Patrick Zarcone
– Second Place: WRAL – 75 Hours – Shelly Leslie, Jay Jennings, Javier Leiva

Public Affairs
– First Place: WSOC – Charlotte’s Hidden Crisis – Kim Holt, Erica Bryant, Scott Wickersham, Pritchard Strong, Cedric Thomas
– Second Place: WRAL – Close Before You Doze

RTDNAC Awards

Best Newscast
– First Place: WIS-TV – WIS News at 6:00 – Hurricane Florence Aftermath
– Second Place: WCNC – WCNC 11 p.m. Newscast (Feb. 19, 2019) – Zach Vavricka, Carleen Bragg, Fred Shropshire, Brad Panovich, Rachel Brown
– Second Place: WYFF – WYFF News 4 at 4 p.m. – Tiffanie Wise, Jennifer Mihalic, Anna Dobbins, Bruce Barkley, Lee Brown

Breaking News
– First Place: WNCN – Raleigh Officer Shot
– Second Place: WSOC – UNC-Charlotte Tragedy

Consumer/Economic
– First Place: WBTV – WBTV Investigates: Falsifying Financials
– Second Place: WSPA – Grievances Over Grief – Diane Lee, Kevin Patton

Education
– First Place: WJZY – Doctored Degrees – Matthew Grant
– Second Place: WBTV – Credit Recovery – Jamie Boll, Jess Dyer, Jordan Sawyers, Dedrick Russell

Entertainment
– First Place: WNCN – Ernie Barnes: “A Black Person Can Be in a Museum!” – Beairshelle Edmé, Dave Hattman, Durrell Johnson, Karl Bethea
– Second Place: WNCN – Shirley Caesar Remembers Aretha Franklin – Zak Dahlheimer, George Umbenhauer

General News
– First Place: WCNC – WCNC Cold Case Carolinas – Michelle Boudin, Ken Shermer
– Second Place: WNCN – Stay UMBL: Local Drivers on Alert – Susanna Black, Michael Winn

General News by Multimedia Journalist
– First Place: WBTV – South Carolina Sex Offender Law – Kristi O’Connor
– Second Place: WJZY – Teen Arrested for Legal CBD

Hard News Feature
– First Place: WLOS – Underneath Asheville – John Le, Matthew Yates
– Second Place: WLOS – A Fitting Tribute – Frank Kracher, Matthew Yates

Health-Medicine
– First Place: WBTV – St. Jude Patient Anna
– Second Place: Spectrum News North Carolina – Rhonda’s Fight – Tara Herrschaft, John Stampf

Investigative
– First Place: WLTX – Columbia Deadly Housing Investigation
– Second Place: WGHP – FOX8 on Your Side: School Water Testing – Melissa Painter, Chris Weaver

Light Feature
– First Place: WSPA – Quilts of Valor – Gordon Dill, Doug Uhrich
– Second Place: WCNC – Daughter in Hospice (May 10, 2019) – Michelle Boudin, Ken Shermer

News Special
– First Place: WSOC – Charlotte’s Hidden Crisis – Kim Holt, Pritchard Strong, Erica Bryant, Scott Wickersham, Cedric Thomas
– Second Place: WCNC – Hurricane Special (June 2019)

News Website
– First Place: WRAL – WRAL.com
– Second Place: WSOC – wsoctv.com

Original Web Reporting
– First Place: WRAL – Sex Assault Survivor Sees Solutions in Student-Athletes – Lauren Brownlow
– Second Place: WTVD – Saving St. Agnes Hospital – Cameron Kirk Clinard, Jim DeLuca

Photography
– First Place: WSPA – Changing with the Tide – Ryan Goodman
– First Place: WYFF – Clemson’s Other Team – Chip Baysden
– Second Place: WLTX – Taking Care of Granddad – Anne McQuary

Political
– First Place: WSOC – District 9 Investigation – Joe Bruno, Mike Stolp, Allison Latos, Corey Gensler, Melissa Martin
– Second Place: WBTV – WBTV Investigates: 9th District Scandal – Nick Ochsner, David Hodges, Corey Schmidt

Series
– First Place: WGHP-TV – Caitlin Can’t Remember – Bob Buckley, Chris Weaver
– Second Place: WGHP-TV – What Happened to Baby Doe? – Natalie Wilson, Matt Jensen, Vinnie Boccanfuso, Derek Stetzler

Special Report
– First Place: WRAL – Hurricane Florence Recovery
– First Place: WTVI PBS Charlotte – Carolina Impact: Generation Under Fire – Amy Burkett, Suzette Rhee, Jeff Sonier, Doug Stacker, Tyler Glenn
– Second Place: WSOC – District 9 Investigation – Joe Bruno, Mike Stolp, Melissa Martin, Allison Latos, Corey Gensler

Sports Reporting
– First Place: WTVI PBS Charlotte – Black Baseball League – Doug Stacker, Jason Terzis
– Second Place: WLOS – Wear ‘Em to the Flip – Stephanie Santostasi, Matthew Yates

Sports Special
– First Place: WLOS – WNC High School Football Kickoff – Stan Pamfillis, Chris Womack, Matt Marshall, Matthew Yates, Josh Luckadoo
– Second Place: WIS-TV – Chasing a Championship – Rick Henry, Joe Gorchow, Russ Congdon, Will Batchelor, Kellie DiVeglia

Use of Social Media
– First Place: WXII
– Second Place: WNCN – Hurricane Florence – Felicia Bolton, Colleen Quigley, Amy Cutler, Jeff Reeves, CBS 17 Storm Team

Use of Technology
– First Place: WGHP – From the Mountains to the Sea – Chad Tucker, David Weatherly

AP Awards

Continuing Coverage
– First Place: WNCT – Hurricane Florence, Aftermath
– First Place: WWAY – Hurricane Florence
– Second Place: WNCT – Passing of Congressman Walter B. Jones Jr.

Daytime Newscast (North Carolina)
– First Place: WWAY – WWAY News at Noon

Daytime Newscast (South Carolina)
– First Place: WCSC – Live 5 News This Morning
– Second Place: WPDE – 6 a.m. GMC (Feb. 26, 2019) – Amanda Sharp, Isaac Zivkovic, Liz Cooper, Crystal Costa, Brandon Goodman

Evening Newscast (North Carolina)
– First Place: WCTI – WCTI News Channel 12
– Second Place: WITN – WITN News at 6 – Evening Newscast

Evening Newscast (South Carolina)
– First Place: WMBF – Vintage Place Shootings, 11 p.m. Newscast (Oct. 3, 2018)
– Second Place: WPDE – 6 p.m. Sept. 27, 2018 – Meg O’Callaghan, Michael Hutchinson, Victoria Spechko, Heather Gale

Multimedia Package
– First Place: WMBF – Untested – Danielle Barilla, Samantha Kummerer, Brad Dickerson, Diamond Hunter

Outstanding News Operation (North Carolina)
– First Place: WECT/WSFX

Outstanding News Operation (South Carolina)
– First Place: WCSC
– Second Place: WPDE

Public Affairs
– First Place: WWAY – Is a New Hurricane Scale Needed?
– Second Place: WWAY – Kids Feel Florence’s Impacts as New Storm Season Starts

RTDNAC Awards

Best Newscast
– First Place: WMBF – Oct. 8, 2018 6 p.m. Newscast
– Second Place: WCIV – ABC News 4 at 6 p.m. – Dave MacQueen

Breaking News
– First Place: WPDE – Officer-Involved Shooting (Oct. 3, 2019)
– Second Place: WMBF – 11 p.m. Newscast: Seven Police Officers Shot (Oct. 3, 2019)

Consumer/Economic
– First Place: WECT/WSFX – Cold Hold Violations – Ben Smart
– Second Place: WPDE – Strand Strawless Summer – Nick Papantonis

Education
– First Place: WPDE – Recess Is the Wrong Answer – Nick Papantonis, Heather Gale, Jordan Brotherton
– Second Place: WCSC – Moldy Classrooms – Kolbie Satterfield

Entertainment
– First Place: WECT/WSFX – Come on Down! The Price is Right Live in Wilmington – Gabe Ross, Lucas Nelson, Kolby Skidmore

General News
– First Place: WCIV – Patriotism, Admiration & Respect! – Ashley Blackstone, Daniel Michener
– Second Place: WCSC – Vanished from the VA Hospital – Michal Higdon

General News by Multimedia Journalist
– First Place: WPDE – The Rescue – Summer Dashe
– Second Place: WWAY – 900-Mile Marine Raider Memorial March Ends at Lejeune – Hannah Patrick

Hard News Feature
– First Place: WMBF – In Sickness & in Health – Patrick Lloyd
– Second Place: WECT/WSFX – Veteran’s Family Fights to Bring Sister Home – Ann McAdams, Ryan Koresko

Health-Medicine
– First Place: WBTW – Robotic Surgeries Impact Local Opioid Use – Meghan Miller
– Second Place: WMBF – Sweet T Walking Trail – Meredith Helline, Drew Hansen

Investigative
– First Place: WCSC – Charleston County School District Porn Case – Carter Coyle
– Second Place: WBTW – Air Ambulance Costs – Julie Calhoun

Light Feature
– First Place: WECT/WSFX – Not All Heroes Wear Capes – Kailey Tracy
– First Place: WITN – Bears in Our Backyard – Liz Bateson, Jim Howard, Josh Potter
– Second Place: WITN – Space in Our Backyard – Matt Engelbrecht, Josh Potter

News Special
– First Place: WMBF – Untested: The Rape Kit Crisis in the Carolinas – Danielle Barilla, Samantha Kummerer
– Second Place: WCTI – Hurricane Florence: The Recovery Continues – WCTI
– Second Place: WNCT – Hurricane Florence: A Thousand Miles – WNCT9 First Alert Weather Team

News Website
– First Place: WCSC – Live5News.com
– Second Place: WMBF – WMBFNews.com

Original Web Reporting
– First Place: WBTW – Hania Aguilar Case – Kendall McGee, Eric Walters, WBTW News Staff
– First Place: WECT/WSFX – The Bucket List – Kristin Crawford

Photography
– First Place: WCTI – The Fiddler of Dooney – Allen Fairbanks
– Second Place: WCIV – The 343 – Daniel Michener

Political
– First Place: WPDE – The Rise of the Black Pearl – Nick Papantonis
– Second Place: WECT/WSFX – Who’s the Boss? Disputed Columbus County Sheriff’s Race – Ann McAdams, Emily Featherston, Brandon Wissbaum, Ryan Koresko, Casey Roman

Series
– First Place: WPDE – Bridging the Gap – Nick Papantonis, Heather Gale, Victoria Spechko
– Second Place: WMBF – This Is Carolina – Meredith Hellin, Drew Hansen

Special Report
– First Place: WECT/WSFX – Direct Hit: Florence in the Cape Fear
– Second Place: WCBD – Emanuel AME: Faith, Fellowship & Forgiveness – Carolyn Murray, Karley Giles, Shannon Cleary, Daron Matayabas, Jason Lockemy

Sports Reporting
– First Place: WITN – Timeout for Kindness – Tyler Feldman, Josh Potter
– Second Place: CN2 News – Hometown Hero: Doug Chapman – Morgan Cox

Sports Special
– First Place: WCSC – Road to Victory – Kevin Bilodeau, Thomas Gruel, Abbey O’Brien, Chris Obarski, Rob Way
– Second Place: WCIV – Tigers, Tide, Take 4! – Scott Eisberg, Daren Stoltzfus

Use of Social Media
– First Place: WCTI – Hurricane Florence Coverage
– Second Place: WECT/WSFX – Tracking Florence: Connecting with the Community

Use of Technology
– First Place: WCTI – WCTI Live
– Second Place: WCIV – Accident Waiting to Happen – Anne Emerson, Maxwell Harrison, Daniel Michener, Ar’Darius Stewart, Cathy Hobbs

AP Awards

Continuing Coverage
– First Place: North Carolina News Network – Hurricane Florence
– Second Place: WHQR – Hurricane Florence Continuing Coverage

Daytime Newscast (North Carolina)
– First Place: WFDD – Noon Newscast (Jan. 25, 2019)

Daytime Newscast (South Carolina)
No entries

Evening Newscast (North Carolina)
No entries

Evening Newscast (South Carolina)
No entries

Multimedia Package
– First Place: WHQR – Understanding 1898: America’s Only Coup D’etat
– Second Place: South Carolina Public Radio – How Social Media Is Changing Deaf Culture – Scott Morgan

Outstanding News Operation (North Carolina)
– First Place: WPTF
– Second Place: WHQR

Outstanding News Operation (South Carolina)
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio

Public Affairs
– First Place: WHQR – Hurricane Florence: Through the Storm

Use of Sound
– First Place: WHQR – Hurricane Florence & the Fish Industry – Vince Winkel
– Second Place: WPTF – Silent Sam – Alex Hager

RTDNAC Awards

Breaking News
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Hurricane Florence
– First Place: WPTF – Downtown Durham Fire (April 10, 2019) – Bruce Ferrell, Mike Davis, Josh Zach, Rick Martinez, Donna Martinez
– Second Place: WFAE – Shooting of Danquirs Franklin

Consumer/Economic
– First Place: WHQR – Public Meetings Wrap on Cape Fear Crossing Project – Vince Winkel
– Second Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – N.C. Becoming National Leader in Outdoor Rec

Education
– First Place: WHQR – Education & Race: Next Steps in New Hanover County – Vince Winkel

Entertainment
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Re-Release of “Uncle Walt’s Band” – Tut Underwood
– Second Place: WHQR – Paula Poundstone’s Scare from a Stringed Instrument

General News
– First Place: WHQR – What’s Next for Project Grace? – Vince Winkel
– Second Place: WFAE – Mark Carver Murder Conviction Overturned

Hard News Feature
– First Place: WFDD – Emotions Run High During Confederate Statue Rally – Keri Brown, WFDD
– Second Place: WFAE – As Injuries Mount, City Discusses Regulating E-Scooters

Health-Medicine
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Parent Advocates for Infant Vaccinations – Thelisha Eaddy

Investigative
– First Place: WFDD – “On The Margins” Housing Struggles in the Triad – Bethany Chafin, David Ford, Eddie Garcia, 88.5 WFDD
– Second Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – Vaccination Religious Exemptions at All-Time High – Blue Ridge Public Radio, WUNC North Carolina Public Radio

Light Feature
– First Place: WFAE – Symphony Set to Debut New Piece on Charlotte’s History
– Second Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – A Region Talks Back: Linguists Record Diverse Dialects

News Special
No entries

Political
– First Place: WHQR – 2018 CoastLine Candidate Interviews
– Second Place: WFAE – Mark Harris Retreat Marks Stunning Reversal

Radio News Block
– First Place: WPTF – The Triangle’s Noon News (Tuesday, May 21, 2019) – Bruce Ferrell, Mike Davis, Gayle Hurd, Jeff Hamlin, Donna King
– Second Place: WFAE – Oct. 29, 2018 Morning Edition Newscast

Series
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Pondering Plastic: Wildlife, Bans & Trash – Victoria Hansen
– Second Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – Buncombe County Arts Faces Funding Crunch

Special Report
– First Place: WFDD – Unsafe Haven: The Aftermath of A Deadly Fire – David Ford, 88.5 WFDD
– Second Place: WPTF – Hurricane Florence – Josh Zach, Donna King, Tony Riggsbee, Bruce Ferrell, Mike Raley

Sports Reporting
No entries

Sports Special
– First Place: WHQR – Shaun Assael on the Death of Sonny Liston

Margaret Murchison News Director of the Year
– Eric Walters, WBTW

Radio Reporter of the Year
– First Place: WUNC-FM – Jeff Tiberii
– Second Place: WFDD – Keri Brown

TV News Anchor of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WNCN – Angela Taylor
– Second Place: WBTV – Christine Sperow

TV News Anchor of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WCSC – Bill Sharpe
– Second Place: WECT/WSFX – Ashlea Kosikowski

TV News Anchor Team of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WSOC – John Paul & Brittney Johnson
– Second Place: WRAL – David Crabtree & Debra Morgan

TV News Anchor Team of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WPDE – Summer Dashe & Trey Paul

TV News Multimedia Journalist of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WCNC – Brandon Goldner
– First Place: WRAL – Bryan Mims
– Second Place: WFMY – Erica Stapleton

TV News Multimedia Journalist of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WCSC – Kolbie Satterfield
– First Place: WCSC – Rob Way
– Second Place: CN2 News – Indira Eskieva

TV News Photographer of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WYFF – Codie Sloan
– Second Place: WLOS – Kenneth Corn

TV News Photographer of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WCTI – Allen Fairbanks
– Second Place: WCSC – Craig Lloyd

TV News Producer of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WBTV – Kyndra Farley
– Second Place: WRAL – Holly Iverson

TV News Producer of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WCSC – Becca King
– Second Place: WMBF – Danielle Barilla

TV News Reporter of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WJZY – David Sentendrey
– Second Place: WSOC – Joe Bruno

TV News Reporter of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WCIV – Brodie Hart
– Second Place: WECT/WSFX – Alex Guarino

TV Sportscaster of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WYFF – Brad Fralick
– Second Place: WACH – Mike Uva

TV Sportscaster of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WNCT – Brian Bailey

TV Weathercaster of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WNCN – Paul Heggen
– Second Place: WIS-TV – Dominic Brown
– Second Place: WSPA – Dan Bickford

TV Weathercaster of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WPDE – Ed Piotrowski
– Second Place: WITN – Matt Engelbrecht
– Second Place: WMBF – Robert Whitehurst

Radio

Best Student Feature Reporting
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Excavating a Fifth-Century Synagogue – Ashley Mills
– Second Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Karen Britt: Documenting Ancient Mosaics – Ashley Mills

Best Student News Reporting
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Five Students Face Charges of Smoke Alarm Tampering – Sydney James

Best Student Newscast
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Carolina Connection – Feb. 5

Best Student Sports Story
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – No Players, No Games – Jared Weber

Best Student Sportscast
No entries

TV

Best Student Feature Reporting
– First Place: University of South Carolina – Primal Gourmet Kits – Ariana Mount
– Second Place: University of South Carolina – Axe Throwing – Adam Orfinger

Best Student Multimedia Report
– First Place: University of South Carolina – The Legend of Serial Killer Pee Wee Gaskins
– Second Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Huqoq, Israel

Best Student News Reporting
– First Place: University of South Carolina – Columbia Structural Safety – Elena Barilla
– Second Place: University of South Carolina – Richland Childhood Hunger – Elena Barilla, Maggi Marshall

Ken White Best Student Newscast
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Carolina Week – April 10
– Second Place: Elon University – ENN: Full Broadcast (March 18, 2019)

Best Student Photography
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Digging Through a Palestinian Village – Natasha Berrios Laguerre
– Second Place: University of South Carolina – Ladybug Release – Darbi Horne

Best Student Sports Story
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – A “Game-Changing” Find: One Family’s Hidden Story – Payton Walker
– Second Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Folds of Honor – Alanna Pyrtle

Best Student Sportscast
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Sports Xtra – March 4
– Second Place: University of South Carolina – Carolina News Sportscast (Nov. 20, 2018) – Nick Proto

Best Student TV News Producing
– First Place: Elon University – ELN Morning: Full Broadcast (Oct. 18, 2018) – Grace Morris
– Second Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Carolina Week – April 17 – Candice Green

Best Student TV Weathercast
– First Place: Elon University – ENN: Hurricane Florence Update with Jack Norcross – Jack Norcross
– Second Place: University of South Carolina – Carolina News Weathercast (April 8, 2019) – Ashten Latta

D. Haney Howell Student Journalist of the Year
– First Place: University of South Carolina – Elena Barilla