THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS

2007 BEST IN INDIANA JOURNALISM CONTEST

Sponsored by the Indiana Professional Chapter, SPJ

Broadcast Winners

Based on 2006 work

Winners were honored at the 28th Annual Awards Banquet
at the Indianapolis Marriott North Hotel on April 27, 2007

3. BEST TELEVISION SPOT NEWS
(coverage of an unplanned news event)

A. Indianapolis market only

First Place: Russ McQuaid and Matt Purkes
WXIN Fox 59
"Talbott Street Fire"
Judges said: "Very well done. Good personalization. Good use of sound. Compelling without being intrusive of those who had obviously suffered such a loss."

Second Place: Julie Loncich, James Suiter and Mickey Edwards
WXIN Fox 59
"Hamilton Avenue Murders"

Third Place: Marlee Ginter, Keith McCutchen and Jason Harris
WISH-TV
"Explosion Survivor"

B. Outside Indianapolis market

First Place: Jennifer Cross, Heather Herron and Joe Michelotti
WANE-TV
"Magnesium Fire"
Judges said: "Good shots. Wonderful delivery in a breaking news situation."

No Second or Third Awards

4. BEST RADIO SPOT NEWS
(coverage of an unplanned news event)

First Place: Brian Beaver
Indiana Public Radio
"Muncie Train Derailment"
Judges said: "Good description of scene by the reporter. Interviews with those impacted added to the story."

Second Place: Joseph Kasko
WVPE-FM
"Police Officer Killed in Afghanistan"

Third Place: Brian Beaver
Indiana Public Radio
"Pendleton Hazmat Spill"

6. BEST TELEVISION FEATURE
(single story)

A. Indianapolis market only

First Place: Julie Loncich and James Suiter
WXIN Fox 59
"Internet Dating"
Judges said: "The reporter found great characters and used their interest to draw in viewer interest."

Second Place: Dick Wolfsie and Marcus Collins
WISH-TV
"Pushing Limits"

Third Place: James Suiter
WXIN Fox 59
"Garage Sale"

B. Outside Indianapolis market

First Place: Maureen McFadden and Russell Hnatusko
WNDU-TV
"Rewiring the Brain"
Judges said: "Nice graphic. Very good storytelling. Excellent writing and pictures."

Second Place: Jason Pear and Ann Shea
WTIU
"Wine Harvest"

Third Place: Jason Pear
WTIU
"Faster Pastor"

7. BEST RADIO FEATURE
(single story)

First Place: Koran Addo
WFIU-FM
"Blind Spots"
Judges said: "Compelling story of students overcoming impairments and how I.U. assists them. Report features great interview with lead subject."

Second Place: Sean Bueter
WVPE-FM
"Wiffleball Championship"

9. BEST TELEVISION GENERAL NEWS
(Coverage of a single news story gathered and aired on the same day. Do not include spot news, investigative or feature stories. Designed to honor the work of the general assignment reporter and photographer.)

A. Indianapolis market only

First Place: Michael Moely and Matt Purkes
WXIN Fox 59
"Hauser Wins State"
Judges said: The story unfolds slowly and satisfies. The characters are very engaging and photography and editing draws the viewers in for more."

Second Place: Julie Loncich and James Suiter
WXIN Fox 59
"Pumpkin Shortage"

Third Place: Derrick Wilkerson and James Suiter
WXIN Fox 59
"Lucky Hire"

B. Outside Indianapolis Market

First Place: Kelly Koh
WANE-TV
"Sunnymede School"
Judges said: "Good writing and video. What set the story apart was the stand up.
Very nice work."

Second Place: Kelly Koh
WANE-TV
"Mystery Cat"

No Third Place

10. BEST TELEVISION CONTINUING COVERAGE
(Continuous coverage of a story)

A. Indianapolis market only

First Place: Mary McDermott and Steve Bray
WISH-TV
"Building Concerns"
Judges said: "Thorough investigative reporting. Well-researched. Excellent reporter questions. Explained building codes well. Made real the damage the storm caused. Good comments from experts and effective use of graphics. Viewers now know what a curtain wall is!"

Second Place: Kim King
WXIN Fox 59
"Justice for Jill"

Third Place: Kara Brooks and Marvin Carter
WXIN Fox 59
"Pike Crash"

B. Outside Indianapolis market

No Awards

11. BEST RADIO GENERAL NEWS
(Coverage of a single news story gathered and aired on the same day. Do not include spot news, investigative or feature stories. Designed to honor the work of the general assignment reporter.)

First Place: Brian Beaver
Indiana Public Radio
"Smoking Ban Enacted"
Judges said: "Good mixture of facts with interviews."

12. BEST RADIO CONTINUING COVERAGE
(Continuous coverage of a story)

First Place: Indiana Public Radio News Staff
Indiana Public Radio
"Election Day Snafu"
Judges said: "Reporters were on top of the story from the time the polls opened. Stories were updated with important facts and good interviews throughout the day."

Second Place: Will Murphy
WFIU-FM
"Art Spiegelman Revisited"

14. BEST TELEVISION INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
(Awarded to the best example of investigative reporting in the public interest, either in a single story or in a series.)

A. Indianapolis market only

First Place: Karen Hensel, Eric Miller and Doug Moon
WISH-TV
"Command Mistake"
Judges said: "A stunning story of military command indifference in the face of a large body and data concerning the helmets our Marines were using in Iraq. This series showed a tremendous commitment on behalf of the station to travel the world to get answers about the problems with the Marine's helmets."

Second Place: Bob Segall, Bill Ditton and Jim Hall
WTHR
"Prescription Privacy"

Third Place: Bob Segall, Bill Ditton, Gerry Lanosga and Holly Stephen
WTHR
"Cause for Alarm"

B. Outside Indianapolis market

First Place: Mitch Blacher
WANE-TV
"Behind the Books"
Judges said: "Good investigation. Good hidden camera work. Good explanation of new library's security. Good writing and suspenseful music."

No Second or Third

15. BEST RADIO INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
(Awarded to the best example of investigative reporting in the public interest, either in a single story or in a series.)

No Awards

16. BEST TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY OR SPECIAL
(Coverage of a single subject or related subjects in a traditional documentary style or as studio-based news special.)

A. Indianapolis market only

First Place: Jim Simmons, Diane Willis and Kaline Schounce
WFYI
"The Hope Givers"
Judges said: "Beautifully shot and edited. Great local ties. Emotional, compelling, great theme through."

Second Place: Kim Jacobs, Chris Elberfeld, Dave Tarr and Judi Border
WFYI
"Lest We Forget"

Third Place: Steve Bray and Joe Starlin
WISH-TV
"Fireworks of Glass"

B. Outside Indianapolis market

First Place: Chuck Carney
WTIU News
"WTIU Reports: Why Germany Matters to Indiana"
Judges said: "Packed with good information. Lots of interviews with interesting perspectives about university life and economy. Nice photography of old Germany."

Second Place: Steve Linsenmayer
The News-Sentinel
"Burma: A Culture without a Country"

Third Place: Claudia Johnson
WFWA PBS 39
"Expectations - Living with Alzheimer's Disease"

52. BEST TELEVISION NEWSCAST
(Regularly scheduled newscast. Only one entry per station in this category.)

A. Indianapolis market only

First Place: Eyewitness News at 11 p.m.
WTHR
Judges said: "Your newscast showed aggressiveness in covering a big story. We could all learn from your example."

Second Place: Brady Gibson
WRTV
"6 News at 6"

Third Place: Adam Krent
WISH-TV
"News 8 at 11"

B. Outside Indianapolis market

First Place: WNDU Staff
WNDU-TV
"Remembering a Hero"
Judges said: "File footage mixed well with memorial service to portray a fallen hero."

Second Place: Ted Linn
WANE-TV
"Fire Investigation"

53.BEST RADIO NEWSCAST
(Regularly scheduled newscast.)

First Place: WVPE News Staff
WVPE-FM
"Election Newscast"
Judges said: "Solid reporting with good mix of background and interviews. Report also includes campaign spending amounts."

Second Place: Stan Sollars and the IPR News Team
Indiana Public Radio
"Morning Edition, 8:04 A. M., November 7, 2006"