KMA WINS A-P, I-B-N-A OVERALL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
(Waterloo) -- It was a great weekend for KMA's news and sports departments. Overall, May Broadcasting won 24 awards in the Associated Press and Iowa Broadcast News Association news contests--including the Overall Excellence Award in both competitions. KMA received 10 awards at Friday night's A-P awards banquet in Waterloo. In the Associated Press General Division, KMA received first place awards for Best Newscast, and for general reporting. KMA's Nick Johansen took top honors in that category with his story on a family friend who witnessed the horrific shooting incident at the Westroads Von Maar department store in December. Nick also took first place honors in the same category in the I-B-N-A contest. Another first place A-P award came in the Technical Excellence category, for a story that gave listeners the sounds of a Page County disaster drill at a softball diamond in Clarinda last July.And, KMA's Mike Peterson and Kristan Gray shared first place honors in the political coverage division for a compilation of stories on presidential candidates appearing in Iowa in advance of January's caucuses. And, we're proud to announce that KMA won first place honors in the feature category with our special tribute to the late, great Suzy Schaaf. KMA Sportscaster Chris Williams won two awards in the A-P contest, including a first-place award for best sports program for his "Flash Forward" football preview show. KMA won another 14 awards in the IBNA contest. Among the first place winners--a story on the flag burning ceremony during Shenandoah's July 4th festivities, which topped the use of actuality category. Another first place winner in the I-B-N-A contest came in the best feature category. In October, KMA was on hand for the rest of a penny war staged not so long ago in a middle school not so far away. KMA also received first place for excellence in writing for a compilation of stories, including one that paid tribute to a very special lady with a golden voice. That tribute to the late Suzy Schaaf also finished second in the I-B-N-A's feature category. Not to be outdone, KMA's Chris Williams took first place honors in the I-B-N-A contest in sports play by play with his coverage of Red Oak Volleyball. Another 10 awards were secured in the A-P awards banquet Friday night. One note--congratulations to Iowa Public Television's Dean Borg. The longtime host of IPTV's "Iowa Press" program received the I-B-N-A's coveted Jack Shelley Award.
IOWA ASSOCIATED PRESS CONTEST WINNERS
GENERAL DIVISION RADIO
NEWSCAST
1st Place: KMA, Shenandoah, Mike Peterson
SPOT NEWS
2nd Place: KMA, Shenandoah, Mike Peterson, Blizzard of 2007 coverage
FEATURE:
2nd place: KMA, Shenandoah, Mike Peterson, Middle School Penny Wars
1st Place: KMA, Shenandoah, Mike Peterson, "Suzy Schaaf Remembered"
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
2nd Place: KMA, Shenandoah, Kristan Gray, "Talk to Your Kids About Drugs"
GENERAL REPORTING
1st Place: KMA, Shenandoah, Nick Johansen, "Von Maur Shooting Eyewitness"
TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE
1st Place: KMA, Shenandoah, Mike Peterson, "Disaster Drill"
POLITCAL REPORTING
1st Place: KMA, Shenandoah, Mike Peterson, Kristan Gray, Caucus Campaign Coverage Compilation
BEST SPORTS PROGRAM
1st Place: KMA, Shenandoah, Chris Williams, "Fast Forward"
OVERALL EXCELLENCE
1st Place: KMA, Shenandoah
IOWA BROADCAST NEWS ASSOCIATION CONTEST WINNERS
SPOT NEWS COVERAGE
2. "Hillary No Show" , Mike Peterson, KMA
3T. "Blizzard of 2007 Coverage", Mike Peterson, KMA
USE OF ACTUALITY
1. "Flag Burning", Mike Peterson, KMA
2. "Disaster Drill", Mike Peterson, KMA
FEATURE
1. "Middle School Penny Wars", Mike Peterson, KMA
2. "Suzy Schaaf Remembered", Mike Peterson, KMA
IN-DEPTH/SERIES
3. "SHS Drinking Series", Kristan Gray, KMA
SPORTS COVERAGE
3. "One Pass at a Time", Chris Williams, KMA
SPORTS PLAY-BY-PLAY
1. "Red Oak Volleyball", Chris Williams, KMA
POLITICAL COVERAGE
2T. "Caucus Campaign Coverage Compilation", Mike Peterson/Kristan Gray, KMA
GENERAL REPORTING
1. "Von Maur Shooting Eyewitness" , Nick Johansen, KMA
2. "Trailer Court Evacuation Redux", Mike Peterson, KMA
EXCELLENCE IN WRITING
1. "Compilation", Mike Peterson, KMA
OVERALL EXCELLENCE
1. KMA, Mike Peterson