MNSPJ congratulates all the winners recognized Thursday night at the annual Page One Awards! Here’s a list of winners for excellence in television journalism.
Spot/Breaking News Television – Fewer than 50 newsroom employees
First Place, WDIO Staff, WDIO-TV
Winter Storm Coverage
Judge’s comment
“Nice use of live presence, mixed with recorded elements, on a big story, affecting a large number of people.”
Second Place, Chris Yu, KTTC-TV
Cornfield Search
Hard News Report Television – Fewer than 50 newsroom employees
First Place, Julie Kruse, John Whaley, WDIO-TV
“Searching for Answers”
Judge’s comment
“This entry navigated the viewer through layers of information and multi-faceted elements. Story outlines an alarming, on-going problem in a calm, direct manner.”
Second Place, Steve Goodspeed, Cole White, WDIO-TV
“Marine’s Remains Return Home”
Hard News Report Television – 50+ newsroom employees
First Place, A.J. Lagoe, Steve Eckert, Gary Knox, Chad Nelson, KARE
“Secret Sex Offenders”
Judge’s comment
“The Secret Sex Offenders report received the winning edge in a razor thin race due its attempts to go beyond highlighting a problem. That is… the report showed initiative in attempting to hold those who have the power to do something about this problem,… accountable.”
Second Place, Tom Lyden, Brad Swagger, KMSP
“RoundUp Ready, or Not?”
Third Place, Jennifer Mayerle, Tom Aviles, WCCO
“A Courageous Life”
Feature Television – Fewer than 50 newsroom employees
First Place, Amy Adamle, Alexandra Buie, Kyle Aune, WDIO-TV
A Boy’s Bucket List
Judge’s comment
“This story allowed the viewer to get to know Dexter and his family in a short amount of time. It also told in a sensitive fashion– the challenge they face, and the way in which they are choosing to deal with that challenge. The story was nicely shot, and effectively utilized production elements. This story delivered moments that were both heart warming… and gut wrenching,.. at the same time.”
Second Place, Darren Danielson, Glenn Kellahan, WDIO-TV
“Small Woman, Big Message”
Third Place, Tom Overlie, Chuck Sibley, KTTC-TV
“Going, Going, Still Going”
Third Place, Baihly Warfield, Kyle Aune, WDIO-TV
“Your Story in Ink”
Feature Television – 50+ newsroom employees
First Place, Boyd Huppert, Chad Nelson, KARE
“Playing His Dues”
Judge’s comments
“Beautifully shot and written story. Like the pacing and the way you let the story unfold. Moments of humor included in it even though it was a rather serious piece. First class storytelling by both the reporter and the photographer.”
Second Place, Lewis Karpel, John Lauritsen, WCCO
“Finding Minnesota: Granite Falls Popcorn Stand”
Third Place, Tom Lyden, Brad Swagger, KMSP “The Life and Death of Jack Trice”
Special Project/In-depth Series Television – 50+ newsroom employees
First Place, AJ Lagoe, Steve Eckert, Gary Knox, KARE
“A Patter of Denial”
Judge’s comment
“An outstanding series that shows how investigative journalism can directly impact the lives of people and cause changes to leadership and authority. Being able to add news pegs to the story, with congressional response, information from the GAO, providing additional help to veterans after the series started its run, etc., added depth to the impact the series had. Excellent special project with outstanding reporting.”
Second Place, Tom Lyden, Brad Swagger, John Michael, Tyler Ryan, KMSP
“Invisible Danger”
Third Place, Boyd Huppert, Chad Nelson, KARE
“Hudayfi”
Investigative Television – Fewer than 50 newsroom employees
First Place, Julie Kruse, John Whaley, WDIO
“Searching for Answers”
Judge’s comment
“Nice effort at helping the community solve a serious health problem. Good job at fact gathering.”
Investigative Television – 50+ newsroom employees
First Place, A.J. Lagoe, Gary Eckert, Gary Knox, KARE
“Double Billing the Badge”
Judge’s comment
“Great package about an ignored whistleblower, who tried to alert law enforcement agencies about years of overbilling by the company maintaining their patrol cars. Good editing, pulse-pounding music and a variety of interviews propel the story, which led to criminal charges for the auto repair vendor.”
Second Place, Tom Lyden, Brad Swagger, John Michael, KMSP
“The Seclusion Room”
Newscast Television – Fewer than 50 newsroom employees
First Place, KTTC-TV Newsroom
KTTC NewsCenter at 6 p.m., March 7, 2017
Judge’s comment
“Excellent team coverage of tornadoes with a variation of story types (live shot with package, look live VO/SOT, live weather tease, reporter live in-studio package, and additional VOs). Good technique of teasing late stories high in the show to keep viewers around. Overall, good newscast with a variety of live shots, a high involvement of reporter-fronted stories, and quick moving segments to keep viewers’ interest.”
Second Place, Newsroom, WDIO-TV
Eyewitness News at Six
Meeting/Planned Event feature Television – Fewer than 50 newsroom employees
First Place, Taylor Holt, Kyle Aune, WDIO-TV
“Alberta Clipper Pipeline Hearing”
Judge’s comment
“Good standup look-live. Nice natural sound pop during meeting inside at the top of the story. Equal reporting for both sides of an issue. Overall good reporting.”
Meeting/Planned Event feature Television – 50+ newsroom employees
First Place, Boyd Huppert, Chad Nelson, KARE
“Dad’s Day”
Judge’s comment
“Incredibly moving story. It made me cry. Well-written and beautifully shot and edited. The story was the “whole package.”
Second Place, Jennifer Mayerle, Joe Berglove, WCCO
“Passion for Puzzles”
