KETR continues its winning tradition in the annual Texas Associated Press Broadcasters award contest, which recognizes local news efforts by broadcast stations which subscribe to The Associated Press.
In this year's contest, the winners of which were announced on Monday, KETR won 11 awards among Division B radio stations. That grouping includes all Texas stations outside of the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio urban markets.
KETR's winners this year include:
- Best Continuing Coverage for Kevin Jefferies' broadcast of the northeast Texas tornadoes on Dec. 26
- Honorable Mention for the station's website, www.ketr.org
- Best Serious Feature for Mark Haslett's piece about a proposed Muslim cemetery in Farmersville
- Honorable Mention Serious Feature for Haslett's story on the Van tornado
- Best Light Feature for Haslett's story about the Patrick Dougherty sculpture on the Texas A&M University-Commerce campus
- Best Online/Special Content for Haslett's comparison of A&M-Commerce Lions football to the works of Waylon Jennings
- Second Place Online/Special Content for Haslett's preview of Lions football ahead of the 2015 season
- Honorable Mention Online/Special Content for Haslett's interview with Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, creators of the Love and Rockets comics and graphic novels
- Second Place Reporter: Mark Haslett
- Best Sports Play-by-Play for Charlie Chitwood, Brock Callaway, and their call of the matchup between A&M-Commerce and Midwestern State on Nov. 14
- Best Local Talk Show for John Mark Dempsey's Blacklands Café
Public radio dominated the awards in Division A. Dallas-based KERA won 14 awards – a record number for the station. The statewide public radio newsmagazine, Texas Standard, also won four trophies. Texas Standard, which originates from KUT in Austin, is co-produced by KERA, Houston Public Media and Texas Public Radio in San Antonio. KUT won 14 trophies, in addition to the Texas Standard honors. KUHF in Houston won 8.
About TAPB:
The Texas Associated Press Broadcasters is a not-for-profit organization made up of the various Texas radio and television stations that subscribe to The Associated Press. Originally a kind of user group, TAPB has expanded over the years to be an advocate for key issues in today’s media. The organization works with other groups on programs related to freedom of speech, freedom of information and media law. In addition to advocacy, TAPB provides scholarships to aid those in media studies. The TAPB, similar to AP groups in other states, organizes and conducts the annual contest and will present awards for outstanding achievements in the field. Presented annually at the group’s convention, these awards deliver well deserved praise from a community of peers. The 2016 Texas AP Broadcasters convention will be Saturday, April 9, at the Headliners Club in Austin. Texas represents one of the largest, most culturally diverse, and changing media markets in the world.
