JACKSON, Miss. (AP) _ WLBT-TV in Jackson and WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg received the 2008 Best Newscasts awards Saturday night at the 24th annual Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters Association's awards ceremony. WMSI/WQJQ of Jackson was the recipient of Best Newscast in the state's radio division.
The awards, based on selections made by judges from participating out-of-state AP member broadcast outlets, were presented in Jackson.
WDAM-TV, which captured the Best Newscast award in the small market category, received nine first-place awards _ the most for any television station. WDAM reporter Mike McDaniel won the Howard Lett Newsperson of the Year Award, named for the longtime Jackson broadcaster. The Hattiesburg station also won top honors in Investigative Reporting, Weathercast and News Photography.
WLOX-TV in Biloxi won seven first-place awards and received the James S. Saggus Memorial Award, which is given annually to a station for its efforts to share news with The Associated Press. The award is named for Saggus, a longtime AP newsman, who retired in 1988 and died in 1995.
WLBT received the Best Newscast award for large market stations and won six first place awards, including Best Spot News and General News stories.
The MAPBA also inducted three people into its Hall of Fame. Dennis Smith, longtime vice president and news director of WLBT, was inducted along with veteran WLBT anchor Maggie Wade, who has worked as weekend weather anchor, news reporter, coordinator and producer of children's programming. WLOX veteran anchor Jeff Lawson, who for many years did a weekly segment honoring military veterans, also was inducted.
In the radio division, Mississippi Public Broadcasting earned first place in Documentary and Achievement, which reflects the best of what a station does on a daily basis. WMSI/WQJQ won top honors in Best News Story and Sportscast, along with the Newscast award.
Television stations are divided into two categories: stations in Jackson and Biloxi compete in Division I, while Division II includes stations in Columbus, Tupelo, Meridian, Hattiesburg, Greenville and Greenwood. Radio stations are judged in a single division.
Sports anchor Jeff Shepard of WLOX received the Best Sportscast award in Division I, while Nick Adams of WTOK in Meridian won the award in Division II. Top Weathercast awards went to David Hartman of WAPT and Nick Ortego of WDAM.
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ReplyDeleteBtw, great job on coordinating the MAPBA this past Saturday.
Thank you. I think everything went very well. Thanks for your help.
ReplyDelete