Founded in 1934 by the Press Club of Atlantic City, the National Headliner Awards program is one of the oldest and largest annual contests recognizing journalistic merit in the communications industry.
The winners of the 90th National Headliner Awards have been announced. The annual contest honors the best print, radio, television and online journalism in the United States published during 2023.
Founded in 1934 by the Press Club of Atlantic City, the National Headliner Awards program is one of the oldest and largest annual contests recognizing journalistic merit in the communications industry.
The first National Headliner Awards were presented in 1935. Since then, more than 2,850 Headliner medallions have been presented to outstanding writers, photographers, daily newspapers, magazines, graphic artists, radio and television stations and networks, and news syndicates.
Here are the first-place winners in the Television category:
Broadcast or cable television stations newscast
“News at 6: Tornado Touchdown”
KPRC Houston
Judges’ comments: KPRC had wall-to-wall coverage of a devastating tornado touching down in January. Going to several neighborhoods, the crews show the scope of the damage and the monumental cleanup ahead, as well as the spirit of communities helping each other cope.
Broadcast or cable television stations coverage of a live breaking news event
“Escaped Inmate Captured Live On Air”
WBAL Baltimore
Judges’ comments: Talk about being at the right place at the right time! Not only did this station cover the inmate’s re-capture live, but one of the photographers also talked to the guy wandering through the search area before he was caught. The crew helped redirect police, and story coverage moved from the ground to the air as police moved in.
Broadcast or cable television stations continuing coverage of a single news event
“Hoarding Home Danger”
WLKY Louisville, Ky.
Judges’ comments: WLKY had expansive coverage of this home filled with explosives, showing how they’re owning that story, from the discovery of the hazardous materials and explosives to the eventual cleanup and the followup with neighbors who still have concerns about long-term effects and the response of officials from various agencies.
Broadcast or cable television stations feature, sports or human interest story
“Victory Day”
KCCI Des Moines, Iowa
Judges’ comments: This is a feel-good piece from start to finish, as the Iowa State football team makes kids with special needs the stars of a special event on and off the field. The story follows one young energetic kid from the parking lot, to the locker room, to the field where he gets the experience of scoring a touchdown, meeting the head coach and saying thank you to everyone along the way. Interviews with the players, coaches and parents come only after we feel the excitement and energy of the day, with outstanding point-of-view visuals and wall-to-wall sounds that make us feel like we’re there with the kids too.
Broadcast or cable television stations public service
“Overpayment Outrage: Investigation of Social Security Clawbacks”
Cox Media Group TV Stations and KFF Health News
Judges’ comments: This intriguing look into demands of the Social Security Administration that beneficiaries repay the government even when given overpayments by the agency’s own miscalculation became a national story. By telling the tale through its victims, the story takes a potentially complicated money issue and presents a cogent narrative. Results: Some are getting the paybacks waived and Congress is now looking into the situation.
CLICK HERE to watch entry.
Broadcast or cable television stations documentary or series of reports on the same subject
“Georgia’s Gitmo”
WANF Atlanta
Judges’ comments: This is an intense journey toward uncomfortable truths, bringing to light the subhuman conditions hidden behind the bars of one of America’s most notorious lockups, Fulton County Jail. This piece of journalism pulls the curtain back on a massive government failure, uncovering hundreds of inmates detained with no criminal charges and a court backlog that has created dangerous conditions for people inside, that won’t be resolved even if taxpayer funds are raised and allocated to build a new facility. The WANF News team masterfully merged expert reporting with exceptional filmmaking.
Broadcast or cable television stations investigative reporting
“The Unicorn”
Project Baltimore
WBFF Baltimore
Judges’ comments: Fox 45 Baltimore wondered how a school’s police officer could be pulling down more than $200,000 in overtime in a single year. It was remarkable – by checking overtime sheets against social media postings, Fox 45 provided a convincing case that the overtime was earned while the officer was on vacation, or boating on the Chesapeake Bay, or during other activities not related to policing. It was such a convincing case that the FBI decided to follow up. Skillful documents work and persistence in seeking answers made this “Project Baltimore” report a winner.
Broadcast or cable television stations business and consumer reporting
“Deadly Product Recall Delays”
Spotlight on America – Sinclair Broadcast Group
Judges’ comments: These reports shed light on product recalls that resulted in tragedies with small children – tragedies that could have been prevented. The reporter works to find the systematic failures within the government and also exposes the loophole exercised by major corporations. Throughout the piece, she asked the pervasive questions the audience is thinking – ‘How does this even happen?’ And got the answers. The combination of powerful storytelling, dogged journalism and accountability of government proved this to be the winner of the business and consumer reporting category.
Broadcast or cable television stations health/science reporting
“KARE11 Investigates: Broken Promises”
KARE Minneapolis
Judges’ comments: KARE’s persistence in demanding answers about a number of veterans denied health benefits by the VA yielded two remarkable outcomes: A high public outrage factor and the firing of a VA doctor who consistently and for years misdiagnosed veterans to keep them out of treatment for brain injuries and other dire disorders.
Broadcast or cable television stations environmental reporting
“Poisoned without Permission”
WANF Atlanta
Judges’ comments: When multiple water sources are determined to contain cancer-causing PFAS toxins, and the Georgia state department of health refuses to test residents for consumption of pollutants, the news station orders and does its own PFAS blood testing on a sample of residents. These tests show that toxins were detected as expected, but at significantly higher levels than the national median. While the state waits for the EPA to release guidelines on how to move forward, the station further reports that even the local freshwater fish are dangerous to eat based on pollutant levels… and a connection is drawn between some resident deaths due to cancer in a more concentrated area that makes it seem causal rather than coincidence.
Broadcast or cable television stations severe weather reporting
“Tornadoes Leave Path of Destruction”
WCVB Boston
Judges’ comments: In New England, WCVB continues to be the region’s leader in breaking severe weather as its execution in tracking and reporting tornadoes in Rhode Island firmly demonstrates. From its weather center, to the rapid response on the ground and compelling video and sound from victims of the storm and helicopter vantages, Channel 5 owned the scene while it was happening and for hours afterward. Headliners has been impressed in previous years with WCVB’s weather response and this year is no exception. Viewers apparently feel the same way too, helping the station with video and stills from the ground including an arresting dashcam of a funnel crossing a major highway and slashing through traffic.
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