WPTA, Quincy’s NBC affiliate in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, took home the top prize for Overall Excellence in the Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards. “In doing so,” said Jonathan Shelley, WPTA’s news director, “a station that scarcely operated as a traditional Big Four affiliate just a few years ago took home the statuette over six other finalists – all from long-established broadcast operations in Indianapolis and Cleveland.”
WPTA, Quincy’s ABC affiliate in Ft. Wayne, Ind., took home the top prize for Overall Excellence in the Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards. The Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards include submissions from TV stations in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. Click here to see the full list of stations.
“In doing so,” said Jonathan Shelley, WPTA’s news director, “a station that scarcely operated as a traditional Big Four affiliate just a few years ago took home the statuette over six other finalists — all from long-established broadcast operations in Indianapolis and Cleveland. It was a legitimate shock to all of us, not because we questioned our work, but the very idea that we had come this far this fast was simply hard to fully grasp.”
WPTA’s submission included these elements:
- The documentary, Precious Forever, which explored a project that paired a local photographer with infants battling life-threatening or life-altering ailments.
- The Fort Wayne’s NBC special project Hooked, examining the opioid epidemic through a series of in-newscast reports as well as a 30-minute special.
- Market-leading coverage of major news stories, including reports over six months, from arrest to sentencing, focused on the April Tinsley case. Tinsley was a young girl when she was raped and murdered 30 years ago. Her killer was finally captured through intensive work by detectives and DNA scientists.
- Unique reports, such as the station’s 4-day trip to the Florida panhandle to shadow Hoosiers working on recovery efforts following Hurricane Michael.
- Sports specials, like the market’s only in-depth preview of Notre Dame’s 2018 football campaign, through their trip to cover the team at the Cotton Bowl.
- Community service projects, including the station’s revival of the Jefferson Awards in their viewing area, their work with the Community Harvest Food Bank, Coats for Kids and Riley Hospital for Children.
- Fun and innovative ways to showcase what’s going on. This included the installation of a temporary ice rink outside their studios – which was used to enhance their coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
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