VIRGINIAS ASSOCIATED PRESS BROADCASTERS
Finalists in the 2020 Virginias AP Broadcasters Contest:
TVI/LARGE MARKET:
Best Spot News: Frank Jones, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, "Chesterfield Flooding";
Brent Solomon and Peter Alvey, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, "A Battle for Breonna:
Outcome Pits Protesters Toe-to-Toe With Police."
Best Continuing News: Margaret Ashburn, Brittny McGraw and Jeff Perzan,
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA, "20/20 Focus: The Push for Equality"; Mark Curtis, Steven
Shaw and Rod Jackson, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV, "Who's Murdering Veterans
Inside the VA Hospital?"
Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias: Lane Casadonte and Sean
Robertson, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA; Mark Martin, Josh Lewis and C.J. Harvey,
WCHS-TV, Charleston, WV.
Best Documentary or In-Depth: Margaret Ashburn, Brittny McGraw and Brittany
Furrow, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA, "20/20 Focus: News Special on the Search for
Equality"; Janet Roach and Stephen Wozny, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA, "Etched in
Stone: The Hurt Behind the Heritage."
Best Light Feature: Zak Dahlheimer and Justin Fleenor, WTKR-TV/WGNT-TV,
Norfolk, VA, "88-Year-Old Math Tutor Helps Families Through Social Media During
Pandemic"; Diane Walker and Jennifer Warnick, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA,
"Terminally Ill Patient Fights for Dignity."
Best Serious Feature: Laura French and Curtis Akers, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA,
"Seventeen Years Wasted"; Hannah Goetz and Elbert Mosley, WOWK-TV,
Charleston, WV, "Remembering Cassie Johnson."
Best Sports Feature: Ashley Boles, WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA, "My Heart Stopped";
Adam Winkler, WTKR-TV/WGNT-TV, Norfolk, VA, "Marlins, Mia Make Memories."
Best Video Journalist/One Man Band: Wayne Covil, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA,
"Wayne's World"; Maggi Marshall, WSET-TV, Lynchburg, VA.
Best Reporter: Brent Solomon, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA; Evan Watson, WVEC-
TV, Norfolk, VA.
Best Specialty Reporting: Anita Blanton and Larry Carney, WAVY-TV, Hampton
Roads, VA, "Courageous Conversations"; Rachel DePompa, WWBT-TV, Richmond,
VA, "Consumer Reporting."
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VIRGINIAS ASSOCIATED PRESS BROADCASTERS
Best Spot News Photography: Brandon Graves, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA, "Fugitive
Shot, Killed"; WSET-TV, Lynchburg, VA, "Protest Violence."
Best Feature Photography: Adrian Guerra, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA, "Oyster
Farmer"; A.J. Nwoko, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, "An Impressive ‘FEET.’"
Best Multimedia/Online Journalism: Karina Bolster, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA,
"400 People Tested in Mass COVID-19 Testing Event"; Karina Bolster, WWBT-TV,
Richmond, VA, "Police Investigate Assault Leading to Highway Car Fire."
Best Investigative Reporting: Leslie Rubin, Larry Clark and Matt Durrett,
WCHS-TV, Charleston, WV, "Why Is the Baby With the Mayor?"; Diane Walker and
Jennifer Warnick, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, "Nursing Home Investigation."
Best Website: Jeff Williamson, Nicole Del Rosario and Smantha Smith, WSLS-TV,
Roanoke, VA; WSET-TV, Lynchburg, VA.
Best News Promo: Erik Candiani, Mason Adams and Rob Edmonds, WWBT-TV,
Richmond, VA, "A Monumental Election"; David Stotts and Rob Byrne, WTVR-TV,
Richmond, VA, "Cumberland Hospital."
Best Station Promo: Erik Candiani, Terrell Thompson and Mason Adams, WWBT-
TV, Richmond, VA, "NBC12 Behind-the Scenes"; Erik Candiani, Rob Edmonds and
Mason Adams, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, "RVA TV: Stronger Together."
Best Newscast: Bob Bennett, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA, "Election Day";
Frank Jones and Sam Maneri, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA.
Best Weathercast: John Bernier, Matt DiNardo and Michelle Morgan, WRIC-TV,
Richmond, VA, "Tornado Outbreak From Isaias"; WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington,
WV, "First Warning Weather."
Best Weathercaster: Zach Daniel, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA; George Flickinger,
WSET-TV, Lynchburg, VA.
Best TV News Anchor: Taylor Eaton, WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV; Bill
Fitzgerald, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA.
Best TV Sports Anchor: Lane Casadonte, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA; Adam
Winkler, WTKR-TV/WGNT-TV, Norfolk, VA.
Best Producer: Samantha Maneri, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA; Kelsey Stanger,
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA.
Best Team News Coverage: WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV, "Officer-
Involved Shooting"; WCHS-TV, Charleston, WV, "Honoring a Hero."
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VIRGINIAS ASSOCIATED PRESS BROADCASTERS
Best Old Dominion Heritage: Tom Schaad and Mike Marrero, WAVY-TV,
Hampton Roads, VA, "Nat Turner's Rebellion"; Stephen Wozny, WVEC-TV, Norfolk,
VA, "Saving Tangier."
Best Mountain State Heritage: Lily Bradley and Elbert Mosely, WOWK-TV,
Charleston, WV, "Woody Williams, Honoring West Virginia's Native Son."
Douglas Southall Freeman Award: Kate Capodanno, Jane Caffrey and Leanna
Scachetti, WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA, "Spanish Language Newscast"; Tony Cavalier,
WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV, "Corona Calculus."
Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias: Chris Gegg and Tiaira Shoultz,
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA; Stephen Hayes, Sheryl Barnhouse and David Stotts, WTVR-
TV, Richmond, VA.
TVII/SMALL MARKET:
Best Spot News: Annie Moore, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV, "40-Year-Old Cold Case
Solved"; Larmie Sanyon, WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV, "Hundreds Gather in
Morgantown to Protest for Police Accountability."
Best Continuing News: Josh Croup, WDTV-TV, Bridgeport, WV, "Fairmont
Regional Medical Center Closure"; WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA, "Amber Alert: Evelyn
Boswell."
Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias: Mike Shiers, Riley Wyant and
Andrew Webb, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA; Preston Willett and Danielle Stein,
WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA.
Best Documentary or In-Depth: WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA, "Innocence Lost: What
Happened to Baby Evelyn?"; Matt Talhelm and Patrick Huddleston, WVIR-TV,
Charlottesville, VA, "Pandemic of the Past."
Best Light Feature: Kyle Rogers, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA, "Heroes and
Helpers of 2020"; Riley Wyant, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, "Owen's Outdoor
Museum."
Best Serious Feature: Caleb Perhne, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA, "2020
Retrospective"; Matt Talhelm, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, "Black UVA Professor's
Fight for Tenure."
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VIRGINIAS ASSOCIATED PRESS BROADCASTERS
Best Sports Feature: TJ Eck, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA, "Road to Redemption:
The Pee Wee Barber Story"; Logan Ross and Larry Marrs, WVNS-TV, Beckley-
Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, "Hannah Blankenship."
Best Video Journalist/One Man Band: Jasmin Adous, WDTV-TV, Bridgeport,
WV; John Hood, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA.
Best Reporter: Josh Croup, WDTV-TV, Bridgeport, WV; John Hood, WHSV-TV,
Harrisonburg, VA.
Best Specialty Reporting: Josh Croup, WDTV-TV, Bridgeport, WV, "Tasty
Tuesday"; Daniel Grimes, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, "Open for Business."
Best Spot News Photography: Larry Marrs, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-
Lewisburg, WV, "McDowell Flooding"; Tara Todd, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA,
"Recovering From Flash Flooding in Staunton."
Best Feature Photography: Patrick Huddleston and Matt Talhelm, WVIR-TV,
Charlottesville, VA, "Pandemic of the Past"; Larry Marrs, WVNS-TV, Beckley-
Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, "Westside Rockets."
Best Multimedia/Online Journalism: Riley Wyant and Max Marcilla, WVIR-TV,
Charlottesville, VA, "Noise Demonstration to Defund the Police."
Best Investigative Reporting: Amanda Mueller, Daniel Rainar and Michael
Corley, WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV, "Behind the Body Cam"; Caleb Perhne, WCYB-
TV, Bristol, VA, "Commissioners Jump the Line for COVID-19 Shot."
Best Website: WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA; John Lynch, WTRF-TV, Wheeling, WV.
Best News Promo: Joey Kinsley, WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA, "Severe
Weather"; Jared Morrison, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV, "Election Night Coverage."
Best Station Promo: Joey Kinsley, WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA, "Fox Virginia
Launch"; Jared Morrison, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV, "Here for You."
Best Newscast: Autumn Collins, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV,
"Election Night"; WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA.
Best Weathercast: David Rogers and Eric Pritchett, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA,
"Preparing for Snow"; WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV, "Winter Storm Coverage."
Best Weathercaster: David Rogers, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA; Aubrey
Urbanowicz, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA.
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VIRGINIAS ASSOCIATED PRESS BROADCASTERS
Best TV News Anchor: David Horak, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg,
WV; Kasey Hott, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA.
Best TV Sports Anchor: Preston Willett, WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA; Heather
Williams, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA.
Best Producer: Jack Selby, WTAP-TV, Parkersburg, WV; Valerie Sullivan and
Heather Hall, WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV, "Veterans Voices."
Best Team News Coverage: WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA; WVIR-TV,
Charlottesville, VA, "COVID Locks Down UVA."
Best Old Dominion Heritage: John Hood, WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA,
"Hauntings With Hood"; Andrew Webb, WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, VA, "Preserving
History at Burley Middle School."
Douglas Southall Freeman Award: WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV,
"Back-to-School Special."
Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias: WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA;
WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield-Lewisburg, WV.
RADIO I/METRO:
Best Spot News: Dave Mistich, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "There's an Endpoint:
First Group in West Virginia Vaccinated for COVID-19"; Ian Stewart, WCVE-
FM/VPM, Richmond, VA, "Christmas Tree Sales Spike Amid the Pandemic."
Best Continuing News: WRVA-AM, Richmond, VA, "A Social Reckoning"; WVTF-
FM, Roanoke, VA, "Richmond's Summer of Reckoning."
Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias: Nick Verzolini and Andrew
Rogers, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV; WFIR-AM/FM, Roanoke, VA.
Best Documentary or In-Depth: Trey Kay and Kyle Vass, WVPB-FM, Charleston,
WV, "Without a Home Can You Be a Good Neighbor?"; Roxy Todd, Mason Adams
and Jessica Lilly, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Finding a Way Forward."
Best Light Feature: Emily Allen, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Wrestlers and Fans
Venture 'Out of the Darkness' With Drive-In Show"; Gina Gambony, WHRO-FM,
Norfolk, VA, "Reporter's Notebook: A Walk on White Cane Day."
Best Serious Feature: Robbie Harris, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, "Virginia Tech
Cough Study"; Sandy Hausman, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, "Fentress Released."
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VIRGINIAS ASSOCIATED PRESS BROADCASTERS
Best Sports Feature: Andrew Rogers, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, "Obinna
Anochili-Killen Standout Athlete of the Week"; Nick Verzolini, WMUL-FM,
Huntington, WV, "Ciara Debell Tries out for Team USA."
Best Sports Play-by-Play: Andrew Rogers, Nick Verzolini and Wesley Steele,
WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, "Marshall Men's Basketball vs Southern Miss."
Best Reporter: Robbie Harris, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA; Mallory Noe-Payne, WVTF-
FM, Roanoke, VA.
Best Editorial or Editorial Series: Trey Kay, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Us and
Them: Let Us 'Bind Up the Nation's Wounds'."
Best Specialty Reporting: Caitlin Tan, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Folktales and
Music Bring to Life the West Virginia/Welsh Connection."
Best Multimedia/Online Journalism: Whittney Evans, Julia Rendleman and
David Streever, WCVE-FM/VPM, Richmond, VA, "Safer at Home: Evicted During a
Pandemic."
Best Investigative Reporting: Paul Bibeau, WHRO-FM, Norfolk, VA, "Five
Hampton Roads Police Departments Have Military Vehicles. Here's How They Used
Them"; Dave Mistich and Brittany Patterson, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Coal
Operator Who Fought Against Black Lung Regulations Files for Black Lung Benefits."
Best News Promo: Zane Bowles, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, "Alexis- Newscenter
88."
Best Station Promo: Zane Bowles, WMUL-FM, Huntington, WV, "Coronavirus
Recruitment."
Best Newscast: Ben Dolle, WCVE-FM/VPM, Richmond, VA; WFIR-AM/FM,
Roanoke, VA.
Best Radio News Anchor: Dennis Edwards, WRVA-AM, Richmond, VA; Jessica
Lilly, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "Appalachian Strength in the Face of a Pandemic."
Best Radio Sports Anchor: Gary Hess, WRVA-AM, Richmond, VA.
Best Old Dominion Heritage: Luke Church, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, "Albert
Hash"; Sandy Hausman, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA, "Professor Apple."
Best Mountain State Heritage: Zack Harold, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, "A
Family Cultivates Tradition With a Nearly-Forgotten Tomato."
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VIRGINIAS ASSOCIATED PRESS BROADCASTERS
Douglas Southall Freeman Award: Sandy Hausman, WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA,
"The COVID-19 Minute."
Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias: WRVA-AM, Richmond, VA;
WVTF-FM, Roanoke, VA.
RADIO II/NON-METRO:
Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias: WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville,
VA.
Best Documentary or In-Depth: Michael Guthrie, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville,
VA, "The Importance of Property Rights"; Janet Michael, WZRV-FM, Front Royal,
VA, "Community Health: COVID-19 Vaccine Has Arrived."
Best Light Feature: Randy Woodward, WZRV-FM, Front Royal, VA, "Festivals and
Fairs."
Best Serious Feature: Michael Guthrie, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, "How
Charlottesville Has Changed Since August 12, 2017."
Best Sports Feature: Jay James and Bobby Chhabra, WINA-AM/FM,
Charlottesville, VA, "NCAA Tournament and COVID-19"; Barry Richmond, WAKG-
FM, Danville, VA, "Nascar Noise."
Best Sports Play-by-Play: Dave Koehn, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA.
Best Reporter: Jay Hart, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA; Janet Michael, WZRV-
FM, Front Royal, VA.
Best Website: Janet Michael, WZRV-FM, Front Royal, VA.
Best Station Promo: Jon Talbott, WAKG-FM, Danville, VA, "Good Morning I'm
Jack Garrett."
Best Newscast: Jack Garrett, WBTM-AM, Danville, VA; Jay Hart, WINA-AM/FM,
Charlottesville, VA, "Another Go at Governor for Terry."
Best Radio News Anchor: Jack Garrett, WAKG-FM, Danville, VA; Dori Zook,
WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, "Chief Lantz Crashes the Newscast."
Best Radio Sports Anchor: Luke Neer, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA.
Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias: Dori Zook, Rob Graham and Jay
Hart, WINA-AM/FM, Charlottesville, VA, "We Wanna Grab Your Attention."
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