Friday, March 20, 2009

Tooting Our Own Horn

The news department of the Rubber City Radio Group (WAKR-AM; WONE-FM; WQMX-FM and www.AkronNewsNow.com) has been recognized as finalists in twelve categories by the 2008 Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters Awards. The finalists will learn the actual finish in the awards (first or second) during the OAPB annual convention on Sunday, June 7, 2009 in Columbus, when finalists for Outstanding News Operation will also be announced.

Among the Medium Market – Radio categories where judges awarded either first or second place:

Best Web Site: News Staff, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron “AkronNewsNow.com”
Best Spot News Coverage: News Staff, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron “Fallen Officer Josh Miktarian”; Jim Michaels, WKBN-AM Youngstown “Youngstown Fire”
Extraordinary Coverage of a Scheduled Event: News Staff, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron “2008 Election”; News Staff, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron: “Not Too Fat To Die: Richard Cooey”
Best Continuing Coverage: News Staff, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron, “Bobby Cutts, Jr.”; Tana Weingartner and Gary Scott, WMUB-FM, Oxford, “Windstorm Aftermath”
Best Investigative Reporting: Tina Kaufmann, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron, “Bungalo Five”; Cynthia Sperberg-Hart, WYSO-FM, Yellow Springs, “Springfield Strays”
Best Enterprise Reporting: Tina Kaufmann, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron, “Bungalo Five and Hot Spots”; Gary Scott, WMUB-FM, Oxford, “Sewing for Soldiers”;
Best Anchor: Larry States, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron; Tana Weingartner, WMUB-FM, Oxford
Best Reporter: Tina Kaufmann, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron; Tana Weingartner, WMUB-FM, Oxford
Best Regularly Scheduled Sports: Joe Jastrzemski, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron; Brian Deitz, WOBL-AM/WDLW-AM, Oberlin
Best Sports Broadcaster: Joe Jastrzemski, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron and Brian Deitz, WOBL-AM/WDLW-AM, Oberlin
Outstanding Sports Operation: WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron; WOBL-AM/WDLW-AM, Oberlin; Sports Staff

“We are especially grateful for the judge’s consideration of individual hard work and reporting by Tina Kaufmann, Larry States and Joe Jastrzemski as well as recognition for our entire news staff and operation,” said Rubber City Radio Group Vice-President for Information Media Edward L. Esposito. “Despite much consternation that news may not be valued by our audiences, the strong showing by our news department and excellent work as shown by honors for our colleagues at WKBN, WMUB, WYSO, WOBL and others in the smaller and larger radio markets reflects the continuing commitment of local broadcasters to serve their communities.”

The Rubber City Radio Group news and sports departments also won recognition by the OAPB as Outstanding News Operation in 2006, 2007 and 2008. www.AkronNewsNow.com was honored with a national Edward R. Murrow Award in 2008 as Best Website – Broadcast.

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