KETR news director Mark Haslett, Blacklands Cafe host John Mark Dempsey, reporter George Hale, operations manager Kevin Jefferies and producer B.J. Laudermilk are among the winners in the 2017 Texas Associated Press Broadcasters awards. KETR competes in Texas AP Broadcasters Radio Division II, which includes all stations outside of the four major metropolitan markets (Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio).
Haslett won first place in the Reporter category. Regarding specific stories, Haslett’s report of the most recent Texas A&M University-Commerce tour of civil rights historical sites in Alabama won first in the Serious Feature category as well as the Use of Actuality-Production categories. That feature also placed second in Online/Special Content. Haslett won first in the Light Feature category with a retrospective on Texas singer-songwriter Guy Clark. Haslett’s three segments featuring humanities scholar Frederick Luis Aldama took first in the Special Series category, while Haslett’s look at the use of antipsychotic medications in Texas nursing homes took first in General Assignment stories.
Dempsey and Laudermilk’s “Hometown Rollcall” series won first place in Online/Special Content. Dempsey and Jefferies took second place in the Sports Play-by-Play category for their work as the voices of Commerce High School Tigers football. Dempsey also won Honorable Mention in the Best Local Talk Show category for Blacklands Cafe.
Hale won second place in two categories. Hale’s report on Neiman-Marcus’ mislabelingof imported goods from the West Bank placed in the Serious Feature category, while his reporting on the proposed Lower Bois d’Arc Creek Reservoir in Fannin County placed in the Continuing Coverage category.
KETR’s staff collectively took first place in the Digital category for best website.
In the major-market Radio Division I, NPR member stations dominated the awards. Dallas-based KERA won a station-record 15. KERA is also the sole finalist in the Newscast category for large radio stations. That and the contest's Overall Excellence awards will be announced at the upcoming TAPB awards banquet. KERA won four first-place awards, eight seconds and three honorable mentions.
Texas Standard, the statewide public radio newsmagazine, won five awards. Texas Standard originates from KUT in Austin and is co-produced by KERA, Houston Public Media and Texas Public Radio in San Antonio. KUT also won 13 other awards, including six first places. And Houston Public Media's KUHF earned five honors, including two first places.
A complete list of this year’s Texas AP Broadcasters radio winners:
ALL DIVISIONS:
Commentary-Editorial: 1, Bill Holston and Sam Baker, KERA-FM, Dallas, "Confronting Bigotry in Others and Ourselves."
RADIO DIVISION I:
Spot News by a Reporter: 1, Matt Thomas, KRLD-AM/FM, Dallas.
Spot News by a Station: 1, News Team, WBAP-AM/FM, Dallas; 2, KRLD-AM/FM, Dallas.
Use of Actuality-Production: 1, Mose Buchele, KUT-FM, Austin, "Infinite Voyage Through Austin's Recycling Stream"; 2, Stephanie Kuo, KERA-FM, Dallas, "Traffic Changes In Mixmaster and Dallas North Tollway Closure May Mess Up Your Weekend"; Honorable Mention, Laura Isensee, KUHF-FM, Houston, "Why Houston's New Superintendent Richard Carranza Became An Educator."
General Assignment: 1, Audrey McGlinchy, KUT-FM, Austin; 2, Stephanie Kuo, KERA-FM, Dallas, "As Vickery Meadow Changes, Refugees and Immigrants Worry They'll be Pushed Out"; HM, Kate McGee, KUT-FM, Austin, "Music Sound Tunnel."
Sports Story or Sports Series: 1, Jimmy Maas, KUT-FM, Austin, "Austin Runner Eyes Olympic Gold"; 2, Courtney Collins, KERA-FM, Dallas, "Ice In Her Veins and Gold On The Brain: North Texas Taekwondo Olympian Fights To Win."
Continuing Coverage: 1, KUT-FM, Austin, "Donald Trump and Texas"; 2, KERA-FM, Dallas, "Tent City"; HM, WBAP-AM/FM, Dallas.
Digital: 1, Aurora Losada, KUHF-FM, Houston; 2, KUT-FM, Austin; HM, KERA-FM, Dallas.
Feature (Serious): 1, Matt Largey, KUT-FM, Austin, "Fair Sailing Tall Boy"; 2, Lauren Silverman, KERA-FM, Dallas, "Kratom Advocates Speak Out Against Proposed Government Ban"; HM, Dave Fehling, KUHF-FM, Houston, "Texas Has Thousands of Bad Dams, Two in Houston Deemed Extremely High Risk."
Feature (Light): 1, Jerome Weeks, KERA-FM, Dallas, "The Rev. KM Williams Preaches Old-School Texas Gospel, Blues and Boogie - With a Wicked Sound"; 2, Stephanie Kuo, KERA-FM, Dallas, "Finger-Licking Good: The Science Behind Frying Chicken"; HM, Mose Buchele, KUT-FM, Austin, "Turtle Nerds on Patrol."
Online/Special Content: 1, KERA-FM, Dallas, "One Crisis Away: Rebuilding a Life"; 2, KUT-FM, Austin, "Road to Zero"; HM, Laura Rice, Todd Callahan and Wells Dunbar, KUT-FM, Austin.
News Anchor or Anchor Team: 1, Dave Williams and Amy Chodroff, KLIF-AM/FM, Dallas; 2, David Brown, KUT-FM, Austin.
Reporter: 1, Matt Thomas, KRLD-AM/FM, Dallas; 2, Mose Buchele, KUT-FM, Austin; HM, Joy Diaz, KUT-FM, Austin.
Investigative Report: 1, Alain Stephens, KUT-FM, Austin, "Adult Crime, Adult Time"; 2, LP Phillips, KRLD-AM/FM, Dallas; HM, Laura Isensee, KUHF-FM, Houston, "Students Learning English Shut Out Most by Texas' Cap on Special Education."
Documentary: 1, David Brown, Laura Rice and Emily Donahue, KUT-FM, Austin, "Out of the Blue: 50 Years After the UT Tower Shooting."
Special Series: 1, Jerome Weeks and Hady Mawajdeh, KERA-FM, Dallas; 2, KUT-FM, Austin, "ATXPlained"; HM, Courtney Collins, KERA-FM, Dallas, "One Crisis Away: Rebuilding A Life."
Sports Play-by-Play: 1, Brian Estridge, John Denton and Landry Burdine, WBAP-AM/FM, Dallas.
Best Local Talk Show: 1, Houston Matters Staff, KUHF-FM, Houston, "How Realistic is Solving Houston's Pension Problem with Oil Prices So Low?"; 2, KERA-FM, Dallas, "Think: The Refugee Question"; HM, KUT-FM, Austin, "Mother of a Transgender Child."
Specialty or Beat Reporting: 1, Kate McGee, KUT-FM, Austin; 2, Lauren Silverman, KERA-FM, Dallas; HM, Courtney Collins, KERA-FM, Dallas.
Newscast (Finalists): Sam Baker and Krystina Martinez, KERA-FM, Dallas, "The Texas Impact of SCOTUS Decisions on Affirmative Action, Immigration."
RADIO DIVISION II:
Spot News by a Station: 1, Scott Delucia, Chelsea Reber and Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station.
Use of Actuality-Production: 1, Mark Haslett, KETR-FM, Commerce, "Civil Rights Tour of Alabama Touches Minds, Hearts of A&M-Commerce Students"; 2, Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station; HM, Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station, "Bryan City Council Welcomes Polish Folk Musicians."
General Assignment: 1, Mark Haslett, KETR-FM, Commerce, "Antipsychotic Use in Texas Nursing Homes Causes Concerns"; 2, Chelsea Reber, WTAW-AM, College Station, "Run For Council"; HM, Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station.
Sports Story or Sports Series: 1, Zach Taylor, WTAW-AM, College Station; 2, Zach Taylor, WTAW-AM, College Station, "Coach Answers Phone"; HM, Zach Taylor, WTAW-AM, College Station, "Bombers 4-Peat."
Continuing Coverage: 1, Scott Delucia, Chelsea Reber and Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station; 2, George Hale, KETR-FM, Commerce; HM, Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station.
Digital: 1, Mark Haslett and Staff, KETR-FM, Commerce; 2, KURV-AM, McAllen; HM, Bill Oliver, Chelsea Reber and Zach Taylor, WTAW-AM, College Station.
Feature (Serious): 1, Mark Haslett, KETR-FM, Commerce, "Civil Rights Tour of Alabama Touches Minds, Hearts of A&M-Commerce Students"; 2, George Hale, KETR-FM, Commerce, "Neiman Marcus Accused of Selling Mislabeled West Bank Imports"; HM, Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station, "Public Supports Councilman."
Feature (Light): 1, Mark Haslett, KETR-FM, Commerce, "Guy Clark's 'LA Freeway,' 'Desperados' Among Many Gems"; 2, Tom Turbiville, WTAW-AM, College Station, "Cadet Commander to Basketball Player."
Sportscast: 1, Zach Taylor, WTAW-AM, College Station; 2, Brad Mitchell, WTAW-AM, College Station.
Online/Special Content: 1, John Mark Dempsey and B.J. Laudermilk, KETR-FM, Commerce, "Hometown Roll Call"; 2, Mark Haslett, KETR-FM, Commerce, "Civil Rights Tour of Alabama Touches Minds, Hearts of A&M-Commerce Students"; HM, Paul Gleiser, KTBB-AM, Tyler-Longview, "Decision 2016."
News Anchor or Anchor Team: 1, Sergio Sanchez and Tim Sullivan, KURV-AM, McAllen; 2, Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station; HM, Sergio Sanchez and Tim Sullivan, KURV-AM, McAllen.
Reporter: 1, Mark Haslett, KETR-FM, Commerce; 2, Chelsea Reber, WTAW-AM, College Station; HM, Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station.
Special Series: 1, Mark Haslett, KETR-FM, Commerce, “Latino Scholar Aldama Describes Intersection of Latino, Mainstream Culture.”
Sports Anchor or Anchor Team: 1, Zach Taylor, WTAW-AM, College Station; 2, KETR-FM, Commerce.
Sports Play-by-Play: 1, Mike Wright and Mark Green, WTAW-AM, College Station; 2, John Mark Dempsey, Kevin Jefferies and Staff, KETR-FM, Commerce; HM, Kevin Jefferies, Brian Ball and Staff, KETR-FM, Commerce.
Best Local Talk Show: 1, Scott Delucia, Bill Oliver and Brad Mitchell, WTAW-AM, College Station, "Infomaniacs School Rezoning"; 2, Bill Oliver and Chelsea Reber, WTAW-AM, College Station; HM, John Mark Dempsey, KETR-FM, Commerce, "Blacklands Cafe."
Specialty or Beat Reporting: 1, Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station; 2, Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station; HM, Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station.
Newscast (Finalists): Bill Oliver, WTAW-AM, College Station; Sergio Sanchez and Tim Sullivan, KURV-AM, McAllen; Chelsea Reber, WTAW-AM, College Station.