2020 RTDNAC Award Winners

TV

Best Newscast
– First Place: WRAL – Riot Aftermath
– Second Place: WNCN CBS 17 – CBS 17 11 p.m.

Breaking News
– First Place: WRAL – Protests in Downtown Raleigh
– Second Place: WSOC-TV – Protests in Charlotte

Consumer/Economic
– First Place: WSOC-TV – Action 9: Where’s My Stimulus Check? – Jason Stoogenke, Mike Stolp
– Second Place: WGHP FOX8 – Deal or Dud

Education
– First Place: WBTV – J. Stace the Science Ace – Jonathan Stacey,
– Second Place: Spectrum News – The “New Norm” in Education – Loretta Boniti, Mark Barger

Entertainment
– First Place: WSOC-TV – Portal – Corey Gensler, Elsa Gillis
– Second Place: WLOS – The Three Stooges Were Here – John Le, Matthew Yates

General News
– First Place: WNCN CBS 17 – McDougald Terrace: Public Housing Crisis – Crystal Price
– Second Place: WTVI PBS Charlotte – Carolina Impact / COVID-19 in the Carolinas – Jeff Sonier, Doug Stacker, Russ Hunsinger

General News by Multimedia Journalist
– First Place: Spectrum News – Seeds for Change – Spectrum News, Tim Spears
– Second Place: Spectrum News – Respect the Tracks – Evan Sery
– Second Place: WNCN CBS 17 – Wake County Residents Recovering After Tornado – Zak Dahlheimer

Hard News Feature
– First Place: WBTV – Charlotte Fire Department Speaks After Home Explosion Rescue – Molly Grantham, Ron Lee, Devin Futrelle, John Sparks
– Second Place: WTVD ABC 11 Eyewitness News – Housing Crisis: 9-Year-Old Tyrell Williams Is Homeless – Tim Pulliam, Jeremy Adkins

Health-Medicine
– First Place: WBTV – Family Struggles to Find PPE – Kristi O’Connor
– Second Place: WTVD ABC 11 Eyewitness News – African-American Blood Donation Shortage During COVID-19– Tim Pulliam, Jeremy Adkins

Investigative
– First Place: WBTV – WBTV Investigates: City Council Transparency – David Hodges, Ron Lee
– Second Place: WSOC-TV – 9 Investigates: International Tariff Evasion – Joe Bruno, Mike Stolp, Kim Holt, Joey Williams

Light Feature
– First Place: WRAL – Tar Heel Traveler: Polio Pastor
– Second Place: WRAL – Woman Celebrates 100th Birthday in Jail

News Special
– First Place: WRAL – Frontline Flyover: A Salute to Health Care Heroes
– Second Place: WIS-TV – Hurricane Hugo: 30 Years Later – Will Batchelor, Kellie DiVeglia, Dominic Brown, Von Gaskin, Kevin Arnone

News Website
– First Place: WNCN CBS 17 – CBS17.com
– Second Place: WIS-TV – WIS News 10 – Laurel Mallory, Emery Glover, Jazmine Greene, Kiana Miller

Original Digital Video
– First Place: WSOC-TV – True Crime Carolinas: The Mark Carver Case – Ken Lemon, Laura Beggs, Corey Gensler, Bryan Ruderman, Daniel Manning

Original Web Reporting
– First Place: WTVD ABC 11 Eyewitness News – Abraham Galloway: Erased from North Carolina History – Cameron Clinard
– Second Place: WRAL – Hidden History of the Triangle – Heather Leah

Outstanding News Operation
– First Place: WRAL
– First Place: WSOC-TV
– Second Place: WGHP FOX8

Photography
– First Place: WYFF – The Art of Kayaks
– Second Place: WLOS – Carolina Moment: Backyard Birds – Bill Evans

Podcast
– First Place: WGHP FOX8 – Murder in Pilot Mountain – Michael Hennessey, Chris Weaver, Kevin Daniels
– Second Place: WLOS – AnchorMoms: The Podcast – Katie Killen, Ingrid Allstaedt, Karen Zatkulak

Political
– First Place: Spectrum News – Election 2020 – Loretta Boniti
– Second Place: Spectrum News – North Carolina 9th District Special Election Coverage – Kevin Frey, Carl Brewer, Vince Pecoraro

Series
– First Place: WGHP FOX8 – The Day Helen Disappeared – Bob Buckley, Chris Weaver, Derek Stetzler
– Second Place: Spectrum News – Menu Hopping – Spectrum News, Tim Spears

Special Report
– First Place: WSOC-TV – Priced Out of Charlotte
– Second Place: South Carolina ETV – This Week in South Carolina: The First in the South Primary – Gavin Jackson, Aimee Crouch, Renee Layson
– Second Place: Spectrum News – Rioters Take Over North Carolina Streets

Sports Reporting
– First Place: WNCN CBS 17 – Blue Devil Superheroes – Chris Clark, Kendal Dennis
– Second Place: WJZY FOX 46 Charlotte – Fighting for Mom – Josh Sims, Aaron Martin

Sports Special
– First Place: WGHP FOX8 – NASCAR: Return to Racing
– Second Place: WNCN CBS 17 – Black & Blue Huddle – Alyssa Rae, Charles Gibson, Chris Clark

Use of Social Media
– First Place: WBTV – WBTV Digital Team

Use of Technology
– No entries

TV II

Best Newscast
– First Place: WCIV – John McKissick’s Funeral – Dean Stephens, Scott Eisberg, Collin Masters, Jason Tighe, Maxwell Harrison
– Second Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Live 5 News at 5: Protests Over George Floyd’s Death

Breaking News
– First Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Protests & Riots in Charleston
– Second Place: WMBF – Loris Tornado

Consumer/Economic
– First Place: WECT – Seizing the Opportunity – Emily Featherston
– Second Place: WCSC Live 5 News – COVID-19: Fact or Fiction? – Carter Coyle, WCSC

Education
– First Place: WECT – WECT Investigates: Late School Buses – Ann McAdams, Ryan Koresko, Michael Pelzer
– Second Place: WCIV – Single-Gender Schools – Brodie Hart, Jason Tighe

Entertainment
– First Place: WPDE ABC15 – Renegade Reborn – Nicholas Papantonis
– Second Place: WNCT – Greenville & the African-American Music Trail – Ariana Kraft, Kenneth Roundtree

General News
– First Place: WCIV – Faith Moving Forward – Bill Burr, Daniel Michener, Brian Heins
– Second Place: WECT – Missing Women Found in Woods – Ashlea Kosikowski, Kendall McGee, Gabbie Williams, Brandon Wissbaum

General News by Multimedia Journalist
– First Place: WWAY – Vietnam Veterans Reunited After 43 Years – Hannah Patrick
– Second Place: CN2 News – Hometown Hero: Bill Nixon – Renee O’Neil, Indira Eskieva

Hard News Feature
– First Place: WECT – Hurricane Florence & the Memories of Mercer Avenue – Jon Evans, Ryan Koresko
– Second Place: WMBF – Bucksport Buried Cemetery – Christel Bell, Jon Dick

Health-Medicine
– First Place: WCIV – Kidney Chain – Anne Emerson, Daniel Michener, Rachel Ellis
– First Place: WPDE ABC15 – A Story from the Heart – Summer Dashe, Ryan Brooker, Brad Cox, Bill Mannix

Investigative
– First Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Live 5 Investigates: Suspended Charities Series – Michal Higdon, WCSC
– Second Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Live 5 Investigates: Who’s Driving the School Bus? – Carter Coyle, WCSC

Light Feature
– First Place: WMBF – A Patriotic Purpose – Meredith Helline, George Hansen
– First Place: WPDE ABC15 – Wheel of Life – Nicholas Papantonis
– Second Place: WECT – Police Officer Goes Above & Beyond for Accident Victim – Ashlea Kosikowski, Ryan Koresko

News Special
– First Place: WCIV – Mother Emanuel: A Psalm of Faith & Forgiveness – Daris Schneider-Bray, Daniel Michener, Dean Stephens, Brodie Hart, Tessa Spencer
– Second Place: WPDE ABC15 – Florence: One Year Later

News Website
– First Place: WPDE ABC15 – WPDE
– Second Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Live5News.com

Original Digital Video
– First Place: WCIV – McKissick in Memoriam – Matt Dillane
– Second Place: WECT – Caught Red-Handed – Kendall McGee

Original Web Reporting
– First Place: CN2 News – Making of a Marine: The Journey – Lucas McFadden, Indira Eskieva, Brian Mobley
– Second Place: WNCT – Living Local: Carteret County – Kayla Schmidt, Carvon Harrington

Outstanding News Operation
– First Place: WCIV – Cathy Hobbs, Dave MacQueen
– Second Place: WMBF

Photography
– First Place: WECT – Black in America – Isaiah Jackson
– Second Place: WCIV – Folly Boat – Caroline Balchunas, Jason Tighe, Maxwell Harrison, Matt Dreyer

Podcast
– First Place: WECT – 1on1 with Jon Evans: Memories of Mercer Avenue – Jon Evans
– Second Place: WMBF – Carolina True Crime – Brad Dickerson, Eric Weisfeld

Political
– First Place: WCSC Live 5 News – CBS Democratic Debate in Charleston
– Second Place: WCIV – Mark Sanford Runs – Alfare Silva, Dean Stephens, Ashley Blackstone, Anne Emerson

Series
– First Place: WCIV – Multiplying Good – Dean Stephens, Daniel Michener
– First Place: WWAY – Unsolved – Hannah Patrick
– Second Place: WWAY – Remembering the First Black Female Meteorologist – Monique Robinson, Duane Walters

Special Report
– First Place: WECT – Black & Blue – Frances Weller, Emily Featherston, Bryant Reed, Kendall McGee, Isaiah Jackson
– Second Place: WCIV – Bridging the Divide – Daris Schneider-Bray, Jon Bruce, Anne Emerson, Greg Brzozowski, Leah Uko

Sports Reporting
– First Place: WPDE ABC15 – Archie Adams – Nicholas Papantonis
– Second Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Jesse Kemp: In a League of Her Own – Justin Biegel, WCSC

Sports Special
– First Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Big Game in the Big Easy

Use of Social Media
– First Place: WPDE ABC15
– Second Place: WECT

Use of Technology
– No entries

Radio

Breaking News
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Charleston Business Owners Face Violence
– Second Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Rock Hill Marches for George Floyd – Scott Morgan

Consumer/Economic
– First Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – Tackling Food Waste in Western North Carolina
– Second Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Clemson Students Start Business to Save “Mom & Pop” – Scott Morgan

Education
– First Place: WFDD – N.C. Educators Adapt, Fear What’s Lost from Pandemic – Keri Brown, 88.5 WFDD
– Second Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Greenville Tech Initiative Takes On – Scott Morgan

Entertainment
– First Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – Can Live Music Make It in Social Distancing Era?
– Second Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Spartanburg Songwriter Made His Mark in Nashville – Tut Underwood

General News
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Charleston Restaurants & Bars Try to Survive – Victoria Hansen
– First Place: WFDD – Churches Embrace Innovation & Challenges Amid Pandemic – Keri Brown, 88.5 WFDD
– Second Place: WHQR Public Media – Brown Pelicans Face Threats from Sea Level Rise – Rachel Lewis Hilburn

Hard News Feature
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Charleston Teen at High Risk for COVID-19 Finds Hope – Victoria Hansen
– Second Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Rock Hill’s Homeless Services Adjust for COVID-19 – Scott Morgan

Health-Medicine
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Rock Steady Boxing Helps Parkinson’s Patients – Tut Underwood
– Second Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – Teledentistry During COVID-19 Pandemic

Investigative
– First Place: WFDD – Residents Want Action Over Toxic Chemical in Cape Fear – Keri Brown, 88.5 WFDD
– Second Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – “Exposure” for Pay at Asheville Art Museum

Light Feature
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio – South Carolina Home to Several Charming Southern Accents – Tut Underwood
– Second Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – The Conquistadors & the Catawba
– Second Place: WHQR Public Media – Neighborhood Talent Show Brings Wilmingtonians Together – Rachel Lewis Hilburn

Outstanding News Operation
– First Place: WHQR Public Media
– Second Place: WPTF

Podcast
– First Place: WBT – Bo Thompson’s Century Podcast

Political
– First Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – 11 in the 11th: Crowded GOP Field Hopes to Avoid Runoff
– Second Place: North Carolina News Network – Super Tuesday 2020 – NCN News Team

Radio News Block
– First Place: WPTF – The Triangle’s Morning News – Scott Briggaman, Krista Scott, Josh Zach, Mike Raley, Jeff Hamlin
– Second Place: WBT – Radio News Block – John Stokes (Sept. 11, 2019) – John Stokes, Mark Garrison, Pam Warner, Jim Szoke

Series
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Protecting Gullah Culture – Victoria Hansen
– Second Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – Exploring Southern Appalachia

Special Report
– First Place: WBT – Special Report: Coronavirus in Charlotte – Bo Thompson, Vince Coakley, Brett Winterble, Mark Garrison, Joe Gillespie
– Second Place: North Carolina News Network – Hurricane Dorian – NCN News Team

Sports Reporting
– First Place: South Carolina Public Radio – Origins of the Carolina-Clemson Rivalry – Linda Nunez
– Second Place: Blue Ridge Public Radio – Pandemic Leaves Empty Stands & Homes in Asheville

Sports Special
– First Place: WHQR Public Media – CoastLine: Sports Special – Rachel Lewis Hilburn

AP Freedom of Information Award

– First Place: WBTV
– Second Place: WRAL

Individual

Margaret Murchison News Director of the Year
– Mike Oliveira, WSOC-TV

Radio Reporter of the Year (Radio)
– First Place: WUNC-FM North Carolina Public Radio – Jeff Tiberii
– Second Place: WFDD – Keri Brown
– Second Place: WHQR Public Media – Vince Winkel

TV Investigative Reporter of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WRAL – Cullen Browder
– Second Place: WJZY FOX 46 Charlotte – Matt Grant

TV Investigative Reporter of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Carter Coyle
– Second Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Michal Higdon

TV News Anchor of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WNCN CBS 17 – Felicia Bolton
– First Place: WSOC-TV – Erica Bryant
– Second Place: Spectrum News – Justin Quesinberry

TV News Anchor of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Bill Sharpe
– Second Place: WNCT – Ken Watling

TV News Anchor Team of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WSOC-TV – Brittney Johnson & John Paul
– Second Place: Spectrum News – Justin Quesinberry & Ariella Scalese

TV News Anchor Team of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WPDE ABC15 – Summer Dashe & Trey Paul

TV News Multimedia Journalist of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: Spectrum News – Vanessa Leon
– First Place: WCNC – Brandon Goldner
– Second Place: WLOS – Chris Womack

TV News Multimedia Journalist of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Rob Way
– Second Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Lillian Donahue

TV News Photographer of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WYFF – Chip Baysden
– Second Place: WRAL – Mark Stebnicki

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: WACH – Bradley Smith
– Second Place: WIS-TV – John Romanski

TV News Producer of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Becca King

TV News Reporter of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WTVI PBS Charlotte – Jeff Sonier
– Second Place: WNCN CBS 17 – Colleen Quigley

TV News Reporter of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WCIV – Brodie Hart

TV Special Projects Producer (TV I)
– First Place: WBTV – Brian Stephenson
– Second Place: WIS-TV – Will Batchelor

TV Special Projects Producer (TV II)
– First Place: WCSC Live 5 News – Thomas Gruel

TV Sportscaster of the Year (TV I)
– First Place: WNCN CBS 17 – Chris Clark
– 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: WIS-TV – Dominic Brown
– Second Place: WRAL – Peta Sheerwood

TV Weathercaster of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WMBF – Jamie Arnold
– Second Place: WNCT – Jerry Jackson

TV Weathercaster of the Year (TV II)
– First Place: WMBF – Jamie Arnold
– Second Place: WNCT – Jerry Jackson

Student

Radio

Best Student Feature Reporting
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Christianity, Plus Cattle – Annabeth Poe

Best Student News Reporting
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Soup for Lunch, Crackers for Dinner – Annabeth Poe

Ken White Best Student Newscast
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Carolina Connection – Feb. 29, 2020

Best Student Sports Story
– No entries

Best Student Sportscast
– No entries

TV

Best Student Feature Reporting
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Holocaust Remembrance – Cambria Haro
– Second Place: Elon University – Meet Bobo – Jack Norcross

Best Student Multimedia Report
– First Place: University of South Carolina – The State of Women in South Carolina – Caroline Logan Cherry, Ashlee Dale Henslee
– Second Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – “They Were My Best Friends” – Amy Cockerham, Molly Horak, Katie Clark

Best Student News Reporting
– First Place: Elon University – Pinpointing the Opioid Epidemic – Liam Collins
– Second Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Five Months After Hurricane Dorian at the Abaco Lodge – Payton Tysinger

Ken White Best Student Newscast
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Carolina Week – 11/13/19
– Second Place: University of South Carolina – University of South Carolina Newscast: March 25, 2020

Best Student Photography
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Slavery in North Carolina – Hayley Boland
– Second Place: University of South Carolina – Animal-Assisted Therapy – Elena Barilla

Best Student Sports Story
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Jake Lawler – Cambria Haro
– Second Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – McKenna Woodhead – Caroline Bowyer

Best Student Sportscast
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Sports Xtra 3/2/20 – Chip Sweeney, Anna Blount, Edward Trentzsch
– Second Place: University of South Carolina – University of South Carolina Sportscast: Dec. 5, 2019 – Natalie Chuck

Best Student TV News Producing
– First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Carolina Week – 3/4/20 – Grace Wilson, Edward Trentzsch
– Second Place: Elon University – ELN Morning – Oct. 31, 2019 – Baylor Rodman

Best Student TV Weathercast
– First Place: University of South Carolina – University of South Carolina Weathercast: Nov. 12, 2019 – McKenna Cieslak

D. Haney Howell Student Journalist of the Year
– First Place: Elon University – Jack Norcross
– Second Place: University of South Carolina – Mercy Myers