THE 69TH ANNUAL
MARK TWAIN BROADCAST JOURNALISM
AWARDS
2015
June 11, 2016
Universal Hilton, Los Angeles, CA
ASSOCIATED PRESS TELEVISION AND RADIO ASSOCIATION
California, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, Colorado,
Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, and Oregon
President- John Zuchelli, NBC Bay Area
APTRA Coordinator- Henry Mulak
Treasurer/ AP LA Bureau Chief- Anthony Marquez
AP Los Angeles- Donna Davidson
President’s Message
What an amazing age we live in. When I first started as a full time radio reporter in
1988 we did not have cell phones in our market. We had to use these big radiotelephones the size of a suitcase or we had to use a two way radio. Most of the
time it was easiest to use a payphone. For those of you that do not know what a
payphone is please google it. A fax machine was a luxury. AP stories came via a
printer in the newsroom that constantly rolled. We had to rip the AP scripts and
put them in different baskets; California, National, Sports, Entertainment, News
Minutes, News Watch, Datebook. Newspapers came out once a day in most
markets. Some smaller towns had weekly newspapers. You had to do beat calls
with all of the public safety agencies. Dispatchers could/would talk to you back
then.
Things have changed in the past 30 years. We now have cell phones that can shoot
video and transmit live television pictures. We have social media outlets we can
monitor and get news 24 hours a day. We have online platforms that we need to
update and feed 24 hours a day. We can file TV stories almost anywhere via
bonded cell phone technology or satellite technology.
Our deadlines are no longer AM, noon, 5, 6, and 11. Our deadlines are NOW. 24
hours a day 7 days a week. Not only do our managers expect it but our viewers
expect it too.
There is a good chance if you are a reporter today you will be expected to shoot
your story/liveshot. Write and edit the story. Write a web version. Post something
on Facebook and updates on Twitter. That is one busy reporter!
That is why an organization like APTRA is important. As news professional we can
help each other grow and become true craftsmen/women in our field. I first
started attending APTRA seminars back in 1987 when I was in college. I am still
friends with many mentors that I met through APTRA. They helped me have
remarkable career. When we are a seasoned member of the media it is our
responsibility to pass along our knowledge to the next crop of young journalists.
This past year we had a seminar in Palm Springs as well as this convention. I would
like to have more seminars throughout the whole region. If you are interested in
hosting a seminar please let me know. [email protected] is my email. You can
also contact our coordinator Henry Mulak at [email protected] .
We are also looking for board members and a Vice President who will become
President after the convention next year. Many hands make light work. Let me
know if you want to be on the board!
Have a great time!
Presenters and Host
Master of Ceremonies, Frank Mottek, KNX News Radio, CBS, Los Angeles
Natalie Brunell, KCRA News, NBC, Sacramento
Hal Eisner, KTTV News, Fox, Los Angeles
Roberta Gonzales, KPIX News, CBS, San Francisco
Robert Kovacik, KNBC News, NBC, Los Angeles
Special Guest Presenter:
Rachel Ambrose
THE STAN CHAMBERS AWARD FOR
EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT
2015
FRITZ COLEMAN
Fritz Coleman is NBC4 Southern California's beloved weathercaster.
He joined NBC4 in 1982
as the weekend weathercaster and two years later moved to weekdays, where he has been
part of the longest-running evening news team with legendary journalists Chuck Henry, Colleen
Williams and Fred Roggin.
A Southern California broadcasting icon, he is renowned in the
region for his extensive knowledge of weather, his sense of humor and affable personality.
Fritz has received countless accolades over the last three decades, including “Best
Weathercaster" by nearly every major newspaper in Southern California, including the Orange
County Register and four times in the Los Angeles Daily News.
The City of Los Angeles
named Fritz a "Treasure of Los Angeles" and the City of Burbank granted him the official
key to the city in 2015.
And as a long-time resident of Toluca Lake, Fritz holds the title
of Honorary Mayor.
In addition to his celebrated broadcast career, Fritz is also well known for giving his time to
numerous charitable activities, and frequently hosts hundreds of local events to raise awareness
for services that benefit underserved communities.
His involvement in NBC4’s goodwill
initiatives has been the cornerstone to the success of the station’s community outreach,
including Fritz’s Holiday Lights which spotlighted festive neighborhoods lit up for the holiday
season.
His role in NBC4’s Wishing Tree continues the seasonal tradition of spreading good
cheer and generosity to many in need.
Fritz is also featured as a proud example of the
rewards of giving time with NBC4’s signature community program, I Am A Volunteer.
His community work has been recognized by hundreds of prominent organizations, including a
Humanitarian Award from the United States House of Representatives for his work with the
American Red Cross, as well as honors by groups including the Salvation Army, Shelter
Partnership and others.
A long-time stand-up comic who regards Bob Hope and Johnny Carson as heroes, Fritz has
done stand-up for decades at The Improv, The Ice House and other Southern California
comedy clubs.
He has also appeared several times on the "Tonight Show" with Carson and
various Bob Hope specials – finally meeting and working with his longtime idols.
He has
used his humor in a number of series and specials as well that have aired on NBC4 over
the years including "What a Week" (1990 – 1991), "It’s Fritz" (1988-1990), and two
specials, "Fritz and Friends" and "The Perils of Parenting."
He went on to earn four Los
Angeles area Emmy Awards for his work.
Fritz has written and starred in several one-man plays including his first production "It's Me!
Dad!" which won the coveted Artistic Directors Award, and "Tonight at 11!" which is an
insider’s look at a typical local newscast.
A rollercoaster ride between funny and poignant,
Daily Variety called it, "surprising, incisive and powerful."
Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Fritz attended Salem College in West Virginia and Temple
University in Philadelphia where he studied radio, television and film.
He started his career
as a disc jockey and radio talk show host for many radio stations, and served his country in
the U.S. Navy doing radio and TV.
Fritz lives in the San Fernando Valley and has three
children and two grandchildren.
2015 APTRA Broadcast Contest Winners
Station of the Year - Combined Categories - All Markets - TBA June 11, Universal Hilton
Nominees:
KNBC, Los Angeles
KUSA, Denver
KTVU, Oakland
Best Evening Newscast - Television Class 1 Markets 1 - 50
Nominees:
KTVU, The Ten O’clock News
KCRA, KCRA3 News at 6;
Best Evening Newscast - Television Class 2 Markets 50+
Nominees:
Hawaii News Now, KHON;
KGMB, Hawaii
KTUU, Anchorage
Best Anchor or Anchor Team - Television Class 1 Markets 1 - 50
Nominees:
KNXV, Danielle Lerner, Chrisopher Sign, Dan Spindle
KUSA, Kyle Clark
KOMO, Manda Factor, Gregg Hersholt , Staff
Best Anchor or Anchor Team - Television Class 2 - Markets 50+
KVEW, Kevin Uretsky, Staff
Best Anchor or Anchor Team - Radio - All Markets
Nominees:
KCBS, Patti Reising, Jeff Bell
KGO Radio- Morning News Jon Bristow, Jennifer Jones Lee
KGO Afternoon News- Bret Burkhart, Nikki Medero
Best News Broadcast - Radio Class 1 Markets 1 - 50
Nominees:
KCBS San Francisco, 4P News, Jeff Bell, Patti Reising
KXL, Portland, Joe Simons, Val Stouffer
KOMO-Seattle, Staff
Best News Broadcast - Radio Class 2 Markets 50+
Nominees:
KSRO, Santa Rosa, Morning News, Melanie Morgan, Daniel Trucios, Larry Olson, Tom
Benner
KSFR, White Rock, NM, Tom Trowbridge
Best Morning News - Television Class 1 Markets 1 - 50
Nominees:
KPIX, Roberta Gonzales, Michelle Griego, Frank Mallicoat, Gianna Franco, Mike Bruce
KCRA, Staff
KUSA, Vida Urbonas, Taylor Temby, Ryan Haarer, Eric Kehe, Staff
Best Morning News - Television Class 2 Markets 50+
KRNV, Matt McConico, Staff
KMPH, Staff
KGMB, Hawaii, Scott Humber, Mark Platte, Ryan Wilson
Combined Categories - Overall Excellence:
Excellence in Enterprise News Coverage - Television: KUSA, Denver - Fueling the Fire, Chris
Vanderveen, Anna Hewson, Nicole Vap, Andy Buck, Chris Hansen
Excellence in Enterprise News Coverage - Radio: OPB, Portland - Unprepared Series, Saff
Excellence in Station Spot News - Television: KERO, Bakersfield - 23 ABC News at 6:
Mudslides; Staff
Excellence in Station Spot News - Radio: KCBS, San Francisco - Balcony Collapse; KCBS
News Team
Television Class 1 Winners:
Best Live Coverage of a News Event - KTXL Hometown Heroes Parade - Fox40 Staff
Best Coverage of an Ongoing Story - KNTV - Hospital Plan: Critical Condition - Robert
Handa,
Ted Case
Best Investigative Reporting - KNBC - L.A.’s Nuclear Secret - Matthew Glasser, Joel Grover,
Andres Pruna, Matt Goldberg
Best Spot News Story - KCRA - Vacaville Fire - Alan Blaich, Tom Miller
Reporter of the Year - KNTV - Robert Handa
Best Producer - KUSA - Planned Parenthood Shootings - Will Swope
Best Assignment Team / Live Breaking News - KUSA - Planned Parenthood Shooting Megan
Jurgemeyer, Brooke Way, Ana Campbell
Videographer of the Year - KUSA - Chris Hansen
Best Videography of Hard News - KUSA - Implosion All Angles - Eric Kehe, Corky Scholl,
Manny
Sotello, Matt Bell, Scott Wright
Best News Writing - KUSA - Chris Vanderveen
Best Weathercast Segment - KCRA - Meteorologist Tamara Berg, KCRA 3 Weather
Best Editing - KNBC - L.A.’s Nuclear Secret - Andres Pruna, Matthew Glasser
Best Videography of a News Feature - KUSA - The Motel Life - Corky Scholl
Best Serious Feature - KOIN - Presumed Guilty - Jeff Granola, Bill Cortez
Best Light Feature - KUSA - The Midway - Corky Scholl, Chris Vanderveen
Best Special Program - KNBC - 50 Watts - KNBC News Staff
Best Use of Social Media - KNTV - NBC Bay Area’s Social Media Platforms - NBC Bay Area
Staff
Rachel Ambrose Best News Website Award- KNTV - NBCBayArea.com - NBC Bay Area Staff
Best Sports Segment - KNBC - KNBC 11 p.m. Sportscast - Fred Roggin & Angelo Simone
Best Videography of Sports - KUSA - Full Moon Open - Reno Boyd, Brian Olson
Best Live Coverage in Spanish of a News Event - KMEX - San Bernardino Mass Shooting Susana Meza, Alejandra Mendoza, Sandra O’Neil, Oswaldo Borraez, Norma Roque
Best Coverage in Spanish of an Ongoing News Story - KMEX - Beatification of Monsignor
Romero - Susana Meza, Norma Roque, Hector Gonzalez, Raul Gutierrez
Best Assignment Team / Live Breaking News in Spanish - KMEX - San Bernardino Mass
Shooting - Annette Garcia, Silvia Alvarez, Edith Granero-Ibrahim
Best Producer in Spanish - KMEX - Univision 34 A Las Seis, Susana Meza
Best Investigative Reporting in Spanish - KMEX - Narco Farmacias - Antonio Valverde
Best Serious Feature in Spanish - KDTV - Translatina - Maria Leticia Gomez, Joe Perry, Luis
Felipe Godinez
Best Light Feature in Spanish - KMEX - Lola no es La Unica - Francisco Ugalde, Andreas
Bonilla
Best Sports Reporting in Spanish - Race to Success - Antonio Valverde, Francisco Vasquez
Best Videography of a News Feature in Spanish - KTAZ - El Cartel de Sinaloa: Decades de
Poder en Arizona - Ruben Pereida, Roberto Duarte
Radio Class 1 Winners, Markets 1 - 50:
Best Live Coverage of a News Event - KXL - UCC Shooting - Joe Simons, Val Stouffer, Jim
Ferretti,Chris Brown Rosemary Reynolds
Best Coverage of an Ongoing Story - OPB Radio - Umpqua Community College Shooting OPB Radio News Staff
Reporter of the Year - KGO Radio - John Lobertini
Best Spot News Story - KOMO Radio - Charlie Harger
Best Investigative Reporting - KCFR - Missed Treatment: Soldiers with Mental Health Issues
Dismissed for For For “Misconduct.” - Michael de Yoanna, Daniel Zwerdling, Robert Little,
CPR News Staff, NPR News Staff
Best News Writing - OPB Radio - The New Revolution Hall Finds its Niche in a Glorious
Historic Building - Aaron Scott
Best Serious Feature - KCRW -Sawtelle Homeless Encampment - Anna Scott
Best Light Feature - KCFR - On Colorado’s Eastern Plains, Fur Trade Re-Enactors Resurrect
History - Megan Verily
Best Use of Sound / Hard News - KGO Radio - The Napa Quake, One Year Later - Scott
Lettieri
Best Use of Sound / Feature - KCBS Radio - Choir - Anna Duckworth
Best Sports Segment - KTAR - Paul Calvisi
Best Sports Reporting - KXJZ - California Kids Prepare for Steel Cage Matches - Bob Moffitt
Best Special Program - KPCC - 50 Years After the Watts Riots - KPCC Staff
Best Use of Social Media - OPB Radio - Staff
Rachel Ambrose Best News Website Award - KTAR - KTAR.com - Carter Nacke, Tyler Bassett,
Marcia Hammond, Paul Ihander, Martha Maurer
Best News Promo - KGO Radio - Traffic Translations - Mike Amatori
Television Class 2, Markets 51+
Best Live Coverage of a News Event - KSBY San Luis Obispo - Refugio Oil Spill - KSBY News
Staff
Best Spot News Story - KOLD Tucson - Sahuaro Student Brawl - Sonu Wasu
Best Coverage of an Ongoing Story - KGMB Honolulu - Homeless in Hawaii - Scott Humber,
Mark Platte, Daryl Huff, Andy Sugg, Mileka Lincoln
Reporter of the Year - KTUU Anchorage - Blake Essig
Best Investigative Reporting - KVOA Tucson - Deceptive Demotion - Steve Ryan, Michel
Marizco
Best Producer - KTUU Anchorage - Bridget Mullen
Videographer of the Year - KTUU Anchorage - Shawn Wilson
Best Videography of Hard News - KTUU Anchorage - They’re Hauling Water - Nikki Carvajal,
David Brooks
Best Serious Feature - KGMB Honolulu - Desperate for Diagnosis - Lynn Kawano, Tine
Howard, Mark Platte, Scott Humber, Andy Sugg
Best Light Feature - KTUU Anchorage - Alaskan Sap Suckers - Blake Essig, Albert Lutan
Best Videography of a News Feature - KTUU Anchorage - Out in the Breezy - Blake Essig
Best Weather Segment - KTUU Anchorage - Meteorologist Robert Forgit
Best Sports Reporting - KOLO Reno - Paddling to Glory - Ben Ross
Best Videography of Sports - KTUU Anchorage - Nets Bigger Than People. - Kari
Bustamante, David Brooks
Best Use of Social Media - KTUU Anchorage - KTUU Staff
Rachel Ambrose Best News Website Award - KGMB Honolulu - HawaiiNewsNow.com - Mark
Platte, Scott Humber, Nicole Bento
Best News Promo - KSBY San Luis Obispo - KSBY News Blind Auditions - Brandon Downing
Best Special Program - KHON Honolulu - Kilauea: Facing the Fire - Howard Dashefsky,
Marisa
Yamane, Ken Mashiyama, Jennifer Brink
Radio Class 2, Markets 51+
Best Live Coverage of a News Event - KCLU Thousand Oaks - Solimar Fire Live – Lance
Orozco, Debra Greene
Best Coverage of an Ongoing Story - KSFR Santa Fe - Child Hunger in New Mexico –
Deborah Martinez
Best Spot News Story - KUNR Reno - Anti-Campus Carry Protestors Rally - Anh Gray,
Michelle Billman
Best Investigative Reporting - KUSU Logan UT - Recreation: It’s Contentious, It’s Litigious, It’s
Fun - Jennifer Pemberton, Ross Chambers, Ryan Cunningham
Reporter of the Year - KCLU Thousand Oaks - Lance Orozco
Best News Writing - KRCC Colorado Springs - Southwest Chief Effors Receive $15.2-Million
Federal Boost - Andrea Chalfin
Best Use of Sound / Hard News - KUNR Reno - More Noise, Less Space - Julia Ritchey
Best Use of Sound / Feature - Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland - To Shoot or Not to Shoot –
Liam Moriarty
Best Serious Feature - KUNR Reno - Capturing Native Languages Before They’re Lost Michelle Billman
Best Light Feature - KUNC Greeley, CO - The Sandwich Helps Uncover Lost Artist - Stacy
Nick
Best Sports Reporting - KCLU Thousand Oaks - L.A. Doesn’t Have Pro Football, But Ventura
County Has Cowboys, Rams - Lance Orozco
Best Special Program - KRCC Colorado Springs - Wish We Were here - Noel Black, Jake
Brownell
Best News Website - KCLU Thousand Oaks - KCLU News Online - Lance Orozco
Student Categories - Television & Radio
Best Newscast - Student Television - Cronkite News - Jake Gadon, Anchor
Best General News - Student Television - Cronkite News - Phoenix - Phoenix Parking Meters
- Megan Thompson
Best Photography - Student Television - Fresno State University - Bulldog Blimp – Fabiola
Ramirez
Best Feature - Student Television - Cronkite News - Phoenix - Music Teacher in West
Phoenix
Making a Difference - Yahaira Jacquez
Best Feature - Student Radio - Fresno State University - Netflix and Chili - Sierra Downey,
Laura Tsutsui
APTRA ACADEMY
APTRA Academy, a two day hands-on workshop, is preparing for its 17th year of helping aspiring news
reporters and anchors create resume-worthy video they can use in a job-hunt. Registration is expected
to begin late August or early September on www.aptra.org. APTRA Academy 2016 will be held the first
weekend in December in Malibu Canyon.
There's nothing like it on the planet! Real news reporters, anchors, photographers, editors, news
managers, writers, producers, assignment editors and others gather for one weekend a year in the Los
Angeles area to help others who aspire to be on-camera. All volunteer their time to mentor because
people helped them in their careers. It's payback time! It's APTRA Academy which is offered in both
English and Spanish by the Associated Press Television-Radio Association.