69 News wins big at Pa. Associated Press awards

WFMZ-TV is honored to be the winner of eight awards, including five top prizes in the 2011 Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association news awards contest.

The awards, which recognize outstanding broadcast journalism by AP member radio and television stations, cable television and networks in Pennsylvania, were presented last night at the PAPBA's annual awards banquet in Harrisburg.

We're proud to announce the following winners:

REGULARLY SCHEDULED NEWSCAST - 1st Place
69 News at 5
Dan Rinkus, producer; Amy Unger, senior producer; Manoj K. Shamdasani, asst. news director; Brad Rinehart, news director; Rob Vaughn, anchor; Wendy Davis, anchor; Brett Schutter, director

NEWS DOCUMENTARY - 1st Place
Aftershocks: Earthquake in Haiti
Jaccii Farris, docujournalist and Lee Jenkins, photojournalist

SPOT NEWS - 1st Place
Deadly gas explosion
Dan Rinkus and Janelle Hill, producers; Amy Unger, senior producer; Manoj K. Shamdasani, asst. news director; Brad Rinehart, news director; Brett Schutter, director; Joscelyn Moes, Bo Koltnow, Jaccii Farris and Stephanie Esposito, reporters

SERIES - 1st Place

"What can Davis save us?"
Wendy Davis, anchor and Manoj K. Shamdasani, asst. news director

NEWS OR SPORTS TALK PROGRAM - 1st Place
The Big Ticket
Troy Hein, sports director

SPORTS PLAY-BY-PLAY - 3rd Place
The Big Ticket
Troy Hein, sports director

PUBLIC AFFAIRS - 3rd Place
The 2011 Freddy Awards
Barry Fisher, general manager; Shelley Brown, executive producer; Jamie Balliet, producer

SPORTSCAST - 3rd Place
69 Sports
Troy Hein, sports director and Jim Vaughn and Neille Giffune, sports anchors