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Home , Bob Dotson, Bob Woodruff, CBS News Radio, Kimberly Dozier, KTHV, Luke Russert

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TELEVISIONWEEK October 6, 2008 13

INSIDE SPECIAL SECTION

NewsproTHE STATE OF TV NEWS All About ABC The network’s news division will take home half the awards in national/syndie categories. Page 14 Engrossing Stories NBC News’ Bob Dotson gets fourth Murrow for stories that make viewers “late for the bus.” Page 14 Eyeing CBS’ Efforts CBS News, CBSnews.com are honored for excellence in real and virtual worlds. Page 16 ‘Sports Center’ a Winner for ESPN Saga of former tennis champ Andrea Jaeger offers perspective on her unique journey. Page 17

EDWARD R. Murrows Laud Excellence at Network, Local Levels MURROW By Debra Kaufman AWARDS Special to TelevisionWeek Honoring: The Radio-Television News Directors Association gathers Oct. 13 Survival Saga ESPN Deportes’ “Sobrevivientes” Excellence in at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York to present the 2008 Edward R. electronic tracks survivors of a rugby team’s plane crash in the Andes. Page 18 journalism Murrow Awards. Where: Grand In addition to recipients of the 38th Murrow Awards, winners Personal Touch Hyatt, New York of the RTNDA/Unity Awards—which acknowledge news organi- Seattle’s KOMO-TV takes large- When: Monday, market laurel for its “Problem Oct. 13 zations’ commitment to covering issues of diversity in their com- Solvers” franchise. Page 18 Presenters: munities—will be honored. Out of an initial pool of 3,459 entries, , Community Service Soledad O’Brien, 54 news organizations are being honored with 77 awards. In the small-market race, WJAR-TV Maggie “Everyone is proud of receiving an Edward R. Murrow leads way with public-service Rodriguez, Brian mandate. Page 20 Williams, Bob Award,” said RTNDA President Barbara Cochran. “What I like BARBARA COCHRAN Woodruff about the event itself is that we recognize a lot of excellent local RTNDA president Unity Award Winners Also to be pre- CNN, WTLV-TV and WHA-TV are sented: RTNDA work as well as the best of the network work. Many awards tend to be honored for covering diversity with Unity Awards dominated by the networks, but this is a great combination that shows distinction. Page 20 Details: rtnda.org the full range of excellence in news.” Continued on Page 19 TW MAIN 10-06-08 A 14 TVWEEK 10/2/2008 5:53 PM Page 1

14 October 6, 2008 TELEVISIONWEEK NEWSPRO

2008 Murrow Award Winners: TV Network/ ABC LEADS Syndication Service Overall excellence: ABC News Continuing coverage: CBS News, “Boots on the Ground” Feature, hard news: ABC News, “Children of War” WAY AT Feature reporting: CBS News, “The Way Home” Investigative reporting: ABC News, “Brian Ross Investigates: Prescription for Error” News documentary: ABC News, “To and Back: Bob MURROWS Woodruff Reports” News series: ESPN Deportes, FEELING THEIR PAIN “Sobrevivientes” (Still Alive) Network’s Divisions Injured in Iraq, Bob Newscast: CBS News, “The CBS Woodruff has returned to Evening News With ” Show Their Range in that country to report on Winning Coverage soldiers with brain injuries. Sports reporting: ESPN, ESPN SportsCenter: “Sister Andrea By Hillary Atkin Jaeger” Special to TelevisionWeek would really concentrate on the sol- ABC News has a lot to celebrate diers and tell how they are doing, Spot news coverage: ABC when it comes to the 2008 Edward R. which is really more important.” News, “ Bridge Collapse” Murrow Awards. The organization “I was deeply proud that he want- Videography: ABC News, “Key will take home six of the 12 broadcast ed to tell the story, but he insisted it to the World: Kiribati” honors being handed out in the not be simply about him but about Web site: CBS News, national television network and syn- other solders with similar brain cbsnews.com dication categories, including the top injuries,” Mr. Weston added. “He used award for overall excellence. his own experience to tell the story.” Writing: NBC News, “Today,” ABC also will take home the prizes ABC News chief investigative cor- “American Story With Bob Dotson” for hard news feature, investigative respondent Brian Ross will take home reporting, news documentary, spot the Murrow Award for “Prescription DOUBLE THREAT Dan news coverage and videography. for Disaster,” a look into how major hard to fix the problem if you don’t Harris will receive the hard ery as a springboard to report on the pharmacy chains allegedly cut cor- know the nature of it or have any docu- “We’re deeply honored,” said news reporting award and , president of ABC News. shares the spot news ordeals of wounded war veterans in ners in order to increase profits. In the mentation. We felt this impacted every “We do the work because we believe award with Chris Cuomo. a series of reports and an hourlong process, pharmacies sometimes give single person in the country, and that it in it and hope it matters to the audi- documentary, “To Iraq and Back: people the wrong medications or is important to know what’s going on ence, and it is gratifying to have our Reports,” which is the dosages, which can result in severe behind the scenes.” colleagues recognize us. If you look at Maine, which aired on “World News recipient of a Murrow Award. medical problems or even death. For “Key to the World: Kiribati,” specific things, you will see both the With .” “Before this happened, I had “We found in many states, people ABC News photojournalist Mario depth and the intelligence of the The young man, Dan Azad, had never heard of traumatic brain with virtually no training are putting Conti will receive the Murrow Award reporting. It’s a very wide range of been a student in when injury, and neither had most of the pills in bottles, and while a pharmacist for videography in a report by Bob reporting from different reporters, gunfire erupted outside his school, country,” said Mr. Woodruff. “When is there, they are put under strict quo- Weir on the remote Pacific Island around the world and country, on a killing his best friend. He was desper- we made the documentary, we tas to be efficient,” said Mr. Ross. “Even nation of 100,000 residents that is wide variety of topics.” ate to leave his violence-plagued decided it would include what hap- more telling was that a big chain like being eroded by ocean waters and With the eligibility period environment, and in the initial pened to us, but most importantly Walgreen’s doesn’t keep track, so it’s storm surges. ■ encompassing the 2007 calendar December 2006 story, he told ABC year, the news landscape was domi- News that his fondest wish was to nated by the war in Iraq, study in the . the Virginia Tech shoot- Offers of help came pour- ings and the Minneapolis ing in, and Mr. Azad was bridge collapse. able to enroll at Maine’s WRITER LETS IMAGES SPEAK ABC won for spot news Thomas College. The coverage for its reporting award-winning piece Dotson Wins 4th Murrow for The more straightforward story, on the Minnesota rush- begins when Mr. Harris and a second theme exploring hour disaster by Dan Har- meets the student upon ‘Today’s’ ‘American Story’ why these ordinary people “are ris and Chris Cuomo live arrival at New York’s By Elizabeth Jensen still at bat, when others might not on “Good Morning Ameri- Kennedy International Special to TelevisionWeek be. There’s some takeaway in ca.” In addition to inter- Airport. When the first Edward R. Mur- that,” he said. DAVID WESTIN viewing survivors and eye- “He idolized Ameri- row Award for writing was present- The majority of his two or three ABC News witnesses, they reported cans and America, and ed in 1999, NBC News’ Bob Dotson stories each month are culled from on possible causes of the tragedy, carried pictures of New York City in took it home. In subsequent years, Bob 40 to 50 weekly submissions which killed 13 people and injured his wallet,” Mr. Harris said. “It was the 34-year NBC veteran has won Dotson through the segment’s Web site. PR more than 100 on Aug. 1, 2007. amazing to watch him soak it all in, two more Murrows in the category pitches aren’t welcome. “Obviously, “The biggest challenge for any and to see the things he was and this year he is back again, for The stories that won him this the writing is only as good as the news organization is not only cover- impressed by, like Times Square, his work on “Today’s” “American year’s award chronicled brothers story you find,” he said, “so we keep ing the news but going beyond the which he loved. At first he was taken Story,” bringing his total to four. who found their father’s sunken digging and digging and digging.” news, and bringing things that are aback by people kissing on the street, With a background in docu- World War II submarine in the Mr. Dotson, who just turned 62, distinctive and valuable for the audi- but he is now very American; he mentary film, Mr. Dotson’s strate- Bering Sea when the Navy couldn’t recently signed a four-year ence,” Mr. Weston said. “It’s especially wears baggy ripped jeans, his voice is gy is to let his images tell much of and an Idaho doctor who flies to contract. He praised the executive important to bring something unique deeper and he wears a hat off to the the story. “I’m not writing a lot of see patients. A third followed young producer of “Today,” Jim Bell, not- to a story that everyone else is also side. In Baghdad, he came to our wallpaper,” he said. He tries to women in Kansas who found a call- ing, “For him to find room for the covering.” office in a tuxedo jacket.” include a “little surprise” in his ing performing their play about a story of us is lovely. Knock on wood Mr. Harris is also the recipient of After ABC News correspondent tales of ordinary Americans who Catholic nurse who saved Jewish that NBC continues to do that. the Murrow Award for hard news fea- Bob Woodruff was severely injured do extraordinary things, the kind children during World War II. They could certainly have me do ture reporting for “Child of War,” his in a roadside bombing in Iraq, he of that will make morning Within each tale, Mr. Dotson 100 live shots rather than two or follow-up story on an Iraqi teenager used his traumatic life-threatening viewers “late for the bus.” said, there are always two tracks: three stories a month.” ■ coming to America to begin college in experience and painstaking recov- Project7 10/1/08 1:17 PM Page 1

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Since 2000, stations have received 23 National Murrow Awards – more than any other television group.

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16 October 6, 2008 TELEVISIONWEEK NEWSPRO WEB SITE

ROAD TO RECOVERY Juanita Wil- son is fea- BUILDS tured in CBS News’ “The Way Home.” IDENTITY Network’s CBSNews.com Gives Reporters IRAQ COLORS Space to Tell Stories the Way They Want to

By Debra Kaufman prise pieces, said Mr. Sims. “Whether Special to TelevisionWeek it’s news, analysis, perspective, a In the short life of the TV station reporter’s notebook, those are the Web site, CBSNews.com has excelled things that time and time again get in representing the network in the picked up virally because they’re virtual world. unique, timely, thought-provoking,” CBS’ COVERAGE Originally launched in January he said. “These people are experts Dozier, Logan Win for War-Related Stories; Couric Newscast Also Lauded 1998 as CBS.com, CBSNews.com got and having something to say, and its own identity in 2000. “It really people read it and watch it.” By Debra Kaufman continuing coverage, was a mission helped,” said CBSNews.com VP and He pointed to a recent piece writ- Special to TelevisionWeek to illustrate and report on what was executive producer Michael Sims. by Mark Knowler, White House CBS News’ wins at this year’s Mur- happening to the military forces in “We rebuilt and hit the election cam- correspondent for CBS News Radio, row Awards highlight the journalist’s Iraq. “This wasn’t about ideology or paign 2000 very strongly. We ramped about the current economic crisis. “It , dedication and persistence be- strategy,” said Mr. Kaplan. “It was up for political coverage hind the year’s best reported stories. about the reality of our soldiers’ lives. and that really started us came back from Each piece deals with specific com- down the road.” a serious injury while on assignment panies and specific missions and CBSNews.com today in Iraq to report “The Way Home,” a describes the surprise, turmoil, risk makes powerful use of powerful piece in which she talks and bravery that were exhibited by the technology and rich with two women in the military who our fighting forces.” media available online. suffered life-changing war injuries. Mr. Kaplan said that, too often, “We were one of the first In “Boots on the Ground,” reporter journalists who follow a military unit BEST NEWSCAST mainstream sites to make Lara Logan digs in to the reality of on a mission extrapolate the events “The CBS Evening all of our video embedda- soldiers’ lives in Iraq. Katie Couric’s of that mission as a stand-in for the News With Katie ble, so bloggers or anyone hard-hitting reporting on general course of the war Couric” is a Mur- else could grab the code “The CBS Evening News” at large. “Lara is mar- suited to row winner. and place it on their blog has illuminated breaking velous at keeping people take on the or MySpace page,” said news every day. CBS straight on this,” said Mr. subject. “To say she related to what Mr. Sims, who credits News’ Web site also cap- Kaplan. “If you’re having she was reporting was understated,” Quincy Smith, president tured a Murrow Award a wonderful day in the he said. of CBS Interactive, with (see separate story). field, it doesn’t mean the Yet from Ms. Dozier’s point of making the case for distributing CBS was a great piece, got picked up by a With regard to the war is going wonderfully, view, her injuries pale next to those programming to wherever people number of Web sites and got hun- newscast award for and vice versa. She’s very suffered by West Point officer Dawn are consuming video. “Quincy was dreds of thousands of views,” said “Evening News,” CBS aware of the difference Halfaker, the first woman officer to an evangelist for that, and we felt it Mr. Sims. News executive produc- between a microcosm be hit in the war, and servicewoman was important to do so. The way Community is another important RICK KAPLAN er Rick Kaplan reported, and macrocosm and bril- Juanita Wilson, both of whom had news is distributed, we can’t expect feature on the site, where every story CBS News “We’ve been working liant at making that dif- limbs amputated. “I just mentioned everyone to come to our site, but we comes with a robust comment area really hard to be extraordinarily ference. And she’s fearless.” my injury and recovery and then want to make our content related to that story. “We content-driven. Viewers responded strongly to moved into their experience,” Ms. available in as many little get thousands of com- “Especially in politics, where peo- “Boots on the Ground,” said Mr. Dozier said. “The most important communities as possible. ments on individual sto- ple tend to fall back into tactical Kaplan, and their letters and e-mails thing was to make them feel com- There’s no reason to be ries, and this is something reporting, state-by-state, and the lat- reflected the belief that CBS News fortable talking about this night- afraid of it.” we’re looking to expand as est polls, what we’ve tried to do is dig was “getting the true story.” mare. I made a full recovery, so I’m The turning point for we go along,” he said. down and do the issues,” he said. “[Lara] brings great credibility to sitting in front of them knowing my building the site came in Mr. Sims also noted “We’ve gone to great lengths to try to what she does,” he said. “We didn’t life is just about the way it was. And 2005, said Mr. Sims, when the wins at CBS News deliver more content, whether it’s get any feedback that we were being each of these women had lost an a big sit-down with all the highlighted the synergies Iraq or politics or the environment. partisan. She shows and explains arm.” These women’s stories stayed bureaus and correspon- between CBS News and “Katie has an enormous impact everything she experiences, and with her, said Ms. Dozier, who added dents encouraged every- the Web site. “We work so MICHAEL SIMS on what we’re doing on the air, and there are no riddles or mysteries. To that she learned more about her own one to file stories for the well together and we’re CBSNews.com she’s always been an extraordinary me, she never makes it look easy, but recovery from their experiences. Web site. “Stories they able to extend online the talent,” he said. “It’s been a tough she makes it look easier than it was.” “Everyone recognized it took don’t have time to cover on TV or sto- kinds of stories they’re producing,” year for her, the way the press cov- “The Way Home,” which focused courage for Kimberly to talk about ries they want to cover more,” said he said. “That kind of partnership has ered her, and this is a congratula- on how women in the military grap- her own injuries,” said Mr. Morrison. Mr. Sims. “Once they saw how we’d really benefited us. tions to Katie, acknowledgement of ple with injuries that will affect them “It was a very personal accounting package and present their stories, “Among the public, there’s a the work of the editorial and techni- the rest of their lives, was the first of a very powerful journey. The they understood it. They realized hunger for content that’s meaningful cal folks, and it says great things such intimate look at the issue. Exec- women we spoke to were surpris- they had an international audience, and deeper than the top-level news about CBS News and where we’re utive producer Rand Morrison said ingly candid, and Kimberly is so and that was eye-opening.” of the day. It’s context, perspective, headed.” reporter Kimberly Dozier, who was intense and so self-aware, it was a What works well to push CBS analysis, with experts in the fields Ms. Logan’s “Boots on the badly injured on assignment in Iraq, very impressive thing and inspira- News.com up to its current level of they cover. We want to do more and Ground,” which won the award for in May 2006, was particularly well tional to all of us.” ■ excellence are the exclusive enter- more of that,” he said. ■ TW MAIN 10-06-08 A 17 TVWEEK 10/2/2008 5:56 PM Page 1

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CHAMPION Andrea Jaeger’s tennis experience is put to good use as she works with one of the chil- dren being helped by her ‘SPORTSCENTER’ Little Star Foundation. GOES BEHIND GAME ESPN Segment Traces Path of Former Tennis Champ Jaeger

By Hillary Atkin cuit with her dominating close friend Cindy Crawford. Special to TelevisionWeek father/coach and the fierce com- Now known as Sister Andrea It was a story with a lot of sub- petitiveness with older players after becoming an Anglican stance bubbling beneath the sur- who didn’t accept her was not the Dominican nun in 2006, Ms. Jaeger cence was gone right there, [with tional money from endorsements prising headline that former ten- life she wanted. runs the Little Star Foundation. The the attitude], ‘You should be tough.’ to start her foundation. nis great Andrea Jaeger had “I mean in an individual sport, international children’s charity helps And I think now she can go back “I’m not capable of being become a nun, a story that piqued where’s the joy? I mean someone’s youngsters who have been diag- and be a kid with these kids.” something extraordinary in service the interest of ESPN producer going into the locker room as a nosed with terminal illnesses and “There were a lot of layers to her to God, without God. And that is Martin Khodabakhshian. loser, and that’s the part that I was has created a 220-acre retreat for beyond the fact that tennis wasn’t what God loves to do. He will take He and “SportsCenter” corre- a little frustrated with. It meant so them near Ms. Jaeger’s home in her true calling, and that transfor- someone who is an ordinary per- spondent Tom Rinaldi will be hon- much more to other people that I Durango, Colo. It’s estimated she has mation really fascinated me,” said son and allow them to do the ored with an Edward R. Murrow just felt, let ’em have it,” Ms. helped at least 4,000 young people. Mr. Khodabakhshian. “We still talk miraculous. And I know He’s done Award in the category of sports Jaeger told ESPN in the award- “Imagine the heart it takes to every couple of weeks, and she’s that in me,” Ms Jaeger said at the reporting for their piece “Sister winning segment. actually help a child that you know truly one of the most inspirational conclusion of the segment. Andrea Jaeger.” Perhaps because of her own you’re going to say goodbye to,” Mr. people I have ever met in my life.” “I really don’t believe the tennis Ms. Jaeger was a prodigy with a mixed feelings about winning, Ms. Agassi said in the piece. ”I mean to Ms. Jaeger told him about vis- world has recognized her beyond racquet, sporting long blond pig- Jaeger said she lost matches delib- grow close, knowing that they’re iting a children’s hospital in Lon- what she did on the court,” Mr. tails and braces, when she became erately, including her 1983 Wim- going to die, and all you’re trying to don when she was 15, and that’s Khodabakhshian said. “When 1980’s rookie of the year at the age bledon final against Ms. Navratilo- do is give them some memories where the seed was planted for someone does something like this of 15. A year later, she was ranked va, who declined to be interviewed that they wouldn’t have otherwise.” what became her life’s work. in their life in sports, with such a the No. 2 women’s tennis player in for the ESPN story. “I think she lost her childhood. I She retired from tennis in 1987 dramatic change, and helps so the world, after beating the likes of But other tennis legends includ- think she never had a chance to be after suffering a shoulder injury, many people—none of us would do Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert ing Ms. Evert and Andre Agassi a child—she was thrust into an went to college and earned a this as well or as selflessly or as and Billie Jean King. spoke on camera, along with tennis adult world at 13 years old,” Ms. degree in theology. She used her unconditionally as she does. She’s a But it turned out life on the cir- analyst Bud Collins and Ms. Jaeger’s Evert told ESPN. “And the inno- $1.4 million in earnings and addi- modern-day Mother Teresa.” ■ TW MAIN 10-06-08 A 18 TVWEEK 10/2/2008 5:58 PM Page 1

18 October 6, 2008 TELEVISIONWEEK NEWSPRO

HELPING OUT The KOMO-TV news team assists fund-raising efforts benefiting BRINGING local flood victims. STORY HOME ESPN Deportes Tracks Survivors of Devastating Plane Crash in ‘Sobrevivientes’

By Hillary Atkin team tracked down some of the sur- Special to TelevisionWeek vivors in Chile and Uruguay, It was a tragedy that many view- including a doctor who, with anoth- ers of ESPN’s Spanish-language er man, had hiked down from the network Deportes are too young to mountains, crossed a river into remember. In 1972, a plane carry- Chile and flagged down a farmer for ing members of Uruguay’s rugby help. The men were able to lead res- team to a match crashed in Argenti- cue helicopters to the remaining 14 2008 Murrow Award na’s Andes Mountains. Only 16 of survivors in the mountains, from Winners: TV—Large where they were airlift- ed to safety. Market The three-part piece KOMO GETS Overall excellence: KOMO-TV, was told using hard-to- Seattle find news footage from Continuing coverage: KGW-TV, the time and interviews Portland, Ore., “December Storm” with journalists who cov- ered the dramatic rescue Feature, hard news: WTHR-TV, of the Andes Mountains Indianapolis, “Mission Complete” survivors. Members of HYPER-LOCAL Feature reporting: KYW-TV, the group and their fami- Station Downplays Crime, Focuses on Community , Stephen McGowan lies hold reunions every year. Last year marked By Elizabeth Jensen Since her arrival, Ms. Gauntt Investigative reporting: the 35th anniversary of Special to TelevisionWeek has switched some assignments KNBC-TV, , “Con- the plane crash, which Advocacy journalism is the and made some on-air changes, taminated” motivated the ESPN mantra of Seattle’s KOMO-TV, the but mostly, she said, she has built News documentary: WBAL-TV, Deportes series. ABC affiliate owned by Fisher Com- on what she found. “I was lucky to Baltimore, “Africa’s Maryland” “The story is about a rugby team munications, which is the winner get a good newsroom with a lot of News series: WBAL-TV, “A Clear the 45 people on board survived the and their ordeal and using whatev- of the Murrow Award for large- very talented people,” she said. Cut Case” accident, and then spent 72 days er strength they had to survive. It market overall excellence. The station has de-emphasized battling their injuries, along with goes beyond sports, language and Under news director Holly crime reports and instead is focus- Newscast: WHDH-TV, , dehydration, hunger and frostbite, time,” said Ms. Pfeiffer. “Sports are Gauntt, who arrived in February ing on consumer news and com- “7 News at 11” in the inhospitable high-altitude 2007, the station, with a slogan of munity news, Ms. Gauntt said, cit- Sports reporting: WCNC-TV, climate before they were rescued. “I’m always “Working 4 You,” has ramped up its ing a “need to be hyper-local” in Charlotte, N.C., “A League of Their An international special feature signature “Problem Solvers” fran- the current news environment. In Own” team spent two weeks in South looking for good chise, said Jim Clayton, the sta- Spot news coverage: KARE-TV, America interviewing several of the tion’s vice president and general “Problem Solvers Minneapolis-St. Paul, “35W Bridge survivors, and now they are taking stories for our manager. He himself arrived in is a great way to Collapse” home an Edward R. Murrow Award Latin American Seattle two years ago, after a stint at in the news series category for a the Fox-owned WNYW and WWOR connect on a Videography: KUSA-TV, , audiences. This “Scholl Videography Compilation” three-part “SportsCenter” feature in New York. million different series entitled “Sobrevivientes” story is so “In my mind that’s what it take Web site: WFAA-TV, Dallas-Fort (Still Alive). to separate you from your competi- levels in the Worth, WFAA.com Online Innovation “I’m always looking for good powerful that it tors,” he said. “Everybody covers stories for our Latin American audi- the news really well here in Seattle, community.” Writing: KOMO-TV, Seattle, ences. This story is so powerful that goes beyond lan- so we try to take it one step fur- “Sharify’s Stories” Holly Gauntt, news director, KOMO-TV it goes beyond language barriers,” guage barriers.” ther.” said Ursula Pfeiffer, the coordinat- Every day, and sometimes in all that vein, she said, “Problem , the most of any sta- ing producer for the series and Ursula Pfeiffer, ESPN Deportes three evening and late-night news- Solvers is a great way to connect on tion, including one for station head of the feature unit. casts, the station aims for a “Prob- a million different levels in the excellence, the Seattle Post-Intelli- Not all of the victims died at the inherently human, and anything we lem Solver hit,” he said, whether community.” gencer reported. Anchor Molly moment of impact. Some were do that is made part of our social large or small. If there is a house KOMO also has added more Shen was honored for individual killed in an avalanche that hap- life as a human society, the story fire, the station finds a place for the investigative reporting, she said, achievement among news anchors, pened eight days later. In order to holds all that—how strong and family to go. At the other extreme, including an examination of the for the second time in three years. avoid starvation, the survivors were wonderful and awe-inspiring hu- when the region was hit with dev- flaws in the way school bus drivers Although the station is not the forced to eat the flesh of the dead, man nature is. It connects with us, astating floods earlier this year, the were hired that led to changes in ratings leader—that honor goes to an ordeal that was recounted in no matter what the time period and station put out a call for donations; the system. the long-dominant NBC affiliate the1993 feature film “Alive.” space, and that to me is the won- viewers responded by filling seven The Murrow Award isn’t the sta- KING—the audience numbers are During six months of research derful thing about telling this fasci- tractor-trailer trucks with water, tion’s only recognition this year. In rising, said Mr. Clayton, adding: and production, the ESPN Deportes nating story.” ■ clothing and blankets. June, KOMO took home 14 local “We’re kind of rockin’.” ■ TW MAIN 10-06-08 A 19 TVWEEK 10/2/2008 5:59 PM Page 1

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SETTING THE STANDARD RTNDA Chairman Ed Esposi- to says the late , Mr. Murrow, Ms. Cochran noted. recipient of the Paul White “And we might even hear Murrow’s Award, was “a major inspira- words,” she said. tion” to newspeople. On the eve of the 2008 dinner, Ms. Cochran and RTNDA already exactly on the 50th anniversary of are looking to how the Murrow Edward R. Murrow’s ‘wires and Awards will evolve to keep pace lights in a box’ speech, which chal- with the changing forms of journal- lenged the TV industry to use this ism. “We currently honor local and instrument to do journalism in the network-affiliated [stations’] Web public interest,” said Ms. Cochran. sites as well as free-standing Web “As an organization, we’ve spent the sites, and that’s something that will Mr. Esposito agreed with the and not to the consultants about year thinking about the lessons continue to evolve,” she said. “Next assessment of the quality of the what the ‘hot’ stories are. They got Murrow taught and looking ahead year we will broaden our rules to AWARDS 2008 winners. “I look back at 2007 out of the mindset of doing what of the future of electronic journal- allow more competition especially Continued from Page 13 and see that there was solid report- everyone is doing.” ism, using the themes he set out in for video and audio produced RTNDA will present the Paul ing that impacted people,” he said. This year’s Edward R. Murrow that speech.” specifically for the Web—or any White Award to NBC News’ Tim “The winners of the Murrow Awards are taking place nearly con- It’s fitting that Mr. Edwards, an platform. After all, there are inves- Russert, the NBC senior vice presi- Awards show why sometimes you current with a special anniversary. award winner who will speak at the tigative series being produced for dent, Washington bureau chief and need to listen to your journalist’s gut “They’re being presented almost dinner, has written a biography on the mobile phone.” ■ moderator of “Meet the Press,” who died June 13. NBC News’ Brian Wil- liams will present the award, which will be accepted by Mr. Russert’s widow, , and son, Luke Russert. The Paul White Award, established in 1956 to honor CBS’ first news director, recognizes an individual’s lifetime contribution to electronic journalism. Past recip- ients include Edward R. Murrow, , and . “I’m looking very much forward to the Paul White Award for Tim Russert,” said RTNDA Chairman Ed Esposito, who is VP of infor- mation media at Rubber City Radio Group. “Tim Russert, by far, was a major inspira- tion to people on ways to ED ESPOSITO consider cov- RTNDA chairman ering politics. The biggest challenge coming out of this presi- dential election is getting the media to understand we need to go beyond the scripted events, photo opps and satellite interviews. We’ve let reporting become an exercise in shallow sound bites, but Tim Russert didn’t let that happen. He asked questions real people asked, and stepped up the game in trying to understand how political processes worked so we asked - ter questions. It’s a great legacy, and he will be missed.” In addition to Mr. Williams, other award presenters include NBC News’ Lester Holt, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, CBS News’ Mag- gie Rodriguez and ABC News’ Bob Woodruff. A few award recipi- ents—ABC News President David Weston, “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric and Sirius/ XM Radio’s Bob Edwards—will address the attendees. “The awards are reflective of the news year,” said Ms. Cochran, and the 2008 Awards are no different. “One station is recognized for its coverage of the Virginia Tech shoot- ings, another for its coverage of the Minnesota bridge collapse,” she said. “We always hear that inves- tigative reporting is an endangered species, but we have six strong win- ners in this category. Documen- taries continue to be well represent- ed. The longer-form kind of journalism that takes a big invest- ment of time and talent is being done and is being rewarded.” TW MAIN 10-06-08 A 20 TVWEEK 10/2/2008 6:00 PM Page 1

20 October 6, 2008 TELEVISIONWEEK NEWSPRO OFFERING A FRESH

THE FACE OF THE NEWS PERSPECTIVE WJAR-TV news anchor Gene Valicenti Unity Award Winners Bring Compelling DIVERSIFICATION Soledad O’Brien, Vision to Reports left, and Victor Blackwell, below, By Elizabeth Jensen are behind Unity Special to TelevisionWeek Award-winning This year’s Unity Award winners reports that give all come from correspondents who viewers insight into were looking beyond the usual news little-covered areas. LISTENING and ways of telling stories. “Children of the Storm,” the net- work TV category winner, was born out of CNN anchor/special correspon- dent Soledad O’Brien’s middle-of-the- night brainstorm about a compelling new way to approach the second TO LOCALS anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. WJAR Responds to Community Issues, Concerns Victor Blackwell, weekend anchor Unity Award Winners: at Jacksonville, Fla., NBC affiliate By Debra Kaufman WTLV, and photojournalist Bo Harris Television Special to TelevisionWeek looked at the phenomenon of young CNN, , Special Investi- WJAR-TV NBC Channel 10, 2008 Murrow Award black men who fail to finish high Network: gations Unit, “Children of the Storm” owned by Media General, serves the Winners: TV—Small school in their two-part series “Drop- Providence, R.I.-New Bedford, Mass. ping Out,” the large-market winner. Large Market: WTLV-TV, Jacksonville, area, the nation’s 51st-largest market. Market And small-market winner “Way Fla., “Dropping Out” With General Manager Lisa Church- Overall excellence: WJAR-TV, of the Warrior,” which explores the Small Market: WHA-TV, Madison, ville and News Director Betty Jo Cu- Cranston, R.I. role of Native Americans who have hit: “The issues were poverty issues, Wis., “Way of the Warrior” gini at the helm, the station focuses Continuing coverage: WKRG-TV, chosen to serve in the U.S. armed complicated by the storm,” she said. Also offering a personal perspec- on news and public affairs coverage Mobile, Ala., “Mobile’s Makeover” forces, was one producer Patty Loew Although the project is over, Ms. in a way that maximizes its impact was familiar with through her own O’Brien said she continues to talk to tive was Ms. Loew, host of WPT’s on the community. Feature: Hard news: WLTX-TV, family’s history. It comes from Wis- the kids, who still occasionally weekly magazine program “In Wis- A recent example took place as Columbia, S.C., “Filyaw’s Letters” consin Public Television and shoot video; CNN let them keep the consin.” Her grandfather was one of the Wall Street meltdown began. “We Feature reporting: News 10 station WHA-TV in Madison, Wis. cameras. “They did really well,” she 12,000 Native Americans who volun- threw out all the scripts,” said assis- Now, Syracuse, N.Y., “Dr. Seuss Winter” Ms. O’Brien, then co-anchor of said. “It takes a lot to put together a teered for World War I, even though tant news director Christopher Lan- CNN’s morning show, said the idea of good piece.” he wasn’t a citizen. As the idea for the Investigative reporting: ni. “Instead, we did a live 10 Town giving video cameras to New Orleans- Dealing with similarly disadvan- film percolated, she said, she came to WLOX-TV, Biloxi, Miss., “Home Meeting with a panel of experts with area teens came to her one night in taged youth, WTLV’s “Dropping Out” the realization that “I need to put my Sweet Meth Home” different kinds of financial expertise, bed. Teens, she thought, could provide covered a nationwide problem that is grandfather in this project.” from mortgages to retirement, in- News documentary: KTHV-TV, a different perspective on the city’s particularly acute in the Jacksonville A member of the Bad River Band of vestments and so on.” With an open Little Rock, Ark., “50 Years: Central challenging recovery, and would be at area, where 69% of black males in Lake Superior Ojibwe, Ms. Loew would phone bank and live Web chat, view- High Foundations of Freedom” an age “where they were on the cusp 2005 graduated late or not at all, Mr. ask veterans at powwows what moti- ers from across southern New Eng- News series: WHAM-TV, of things happening” in their lives, just Blackwell said. vated them to serve the country that land were able to ask their questions. Rochester, N.Y., “A Wish Before Dying” as the city of New Orleans was. The reports, which aired in in July hadn’t always treated them well. “The That immediate responsiveness With a grant of nearly $20,000 2007, profiled young men who assumed answer,” she said, “is it’s eco- to events affecting the community Newscast: A-Channel Barrie, from CNN parent Turner Broadcast- dropped out and ended up in jail; it nomics, opportunities, that there is business as usual at WJAR-TV. Toronto, “A-Channel News at 6” ing to buy HD video cameras for 11 looked at their efforts to turn their aren’t any jobs on the reservation.” Last year, the community suffered Sports reporting: KCCI-TV, kids, the project was in motion. Ms. lives around, he said. Mr. Blackwell But that wasn’t the whole story, several tragedies related to underage Des Moines, Iowa, “One Week: O’Brien, filmmaker Spike Lee and anchors the evening and late-night she found. A Menominee veteran drinking. “Again, we threw out all the Highway 5” CNN producers and videographers weekend newscasts and is co-anchor talked about the peace and friendship scripts and did a 10 Town Meeting started them off with a tutorial on of the weekend editions of “Good treaty his tribe signed with the U.S. in Spot news coverage: WSLS-TV, with community and school leaders, filming. Mr. Lee was there mainly to Morning Jacksonville.” 1897, which he felt obligated him to Roanoke/Blacksburg, Va., “Vir- parents and teenagers themselves in inspire the kids, for whom “he’s such a The story examined some of the serve. Other men were driven by their ginia Tech Massacre Day 1” the studio to examine the topic,” said rock star,” Ms. O’Brien said. root causes, including a law— own Native heritage as warriors. Mr. Lanni. “Community feedback was Videography: KVUE-TV, Austin, The children were encouraged to part of the state’s agricultural legacy— “The answers were much different astonishing. It really opened up a dia- Texas, “Seaholm Swan Song” shoot video constantly from January that allows young men to drop out of than what I expected,” she said. logue, especially in the one town that Web site: WSYR-TV, Syracuse, to August, and their first-person sto- school at age 16. The reports also The U.S. didn’t always treat its had put this issue on the forefront.” N.Y., 9wsyr.com ries played out in four- to five-minute looked at an innovative “drop-back-in Native American veterans with the The station also boasts the market’s chunks on “American Morning.” program,” where students could go same respect, Ms. Loew found. Be- only dedicated political reporter, Bill Writing: News 12 Connecticut, When Ms. O’Brien changed jobs, back to school at night and avoid the cause of stereotypes “both imposed Rappleye. “Bill obviously does our day- “David Springer Composite” she took the project with her; the stigma of “being 17 and in the ninth and assumed,” she said, Native Amer- to-day coverage on political stories,” pieces were edited into a one-hour grade,” Mr. Blackwell said. icans often were given the most dan- said Mr. Lanni. “He also mans the mar- station ombudsman, Paul Giacobbe, a documentary for CNN’s “Special Some viewers offered mentorship gerous assignments, and they suf- ket’s only bureau at the state house, so lawyer and former reporter, who acts Investigations Unit” that followed four to students, Mr. Blackwell said, and fered disproportionate casualty rates he has significant exclusive insight into as “the viewer’s voice.” Viewers con- of the kids in the years after the storm. local organizations are mobilizing to as well as higher instances of post- the workings of state politics.” cerned about any story can contact “I found the kids really have this find ways to reverse the trend. traumatic stress syndrome. The station produces two public Mr. Giacobbe, who will watch the sto- resilience, no matter what,” Ms. Mr. Blackwell, who was raised by The film aired nationally on PBS in affairs programs, the 10 News Confer- ry and do his own research. “He makes O’Brien said. Stories of survival as the his mother in Baltimore, said he November. It had been offered to PBS ence, co-hosted by Mr. Rappleye and an independent conclusion as to whe- city struggled with rising crime, she brought a unique perspective to these stations as an optional program, but iTeam reporter Jim Taricani, and, in ther we were fair, accurate and bal- said, would be countered by the kids’ stories. “I have a lot of friends who after Latinos protested at not seeing election season, the Political Round- anced,” said Mr. Lanni. “On occasion, protestations that they loved their city. could have been on the other side of their own stories told in Ken Burns’ table, with experts from both sides. his conclusions will force us to take The kids’ viewpoints also brought the camera” in “Dropping Out,” he epic World War II documentary “The WJAR takes pride in its “fair, accu- another look at the story and make out the deeper story that had been said. “That’s why I think it’s important War,” PBS decided to add “Way of the rate and balanced newscasts.” It has a adjustments or retell it.” ■ New Orleans even before the storm for me to tell those stories.” Warrior” to its national feed. ■