WKMG-TV News Director Allison McGinley named Chair-Elect to Radio Television Digital News Association

WKMG-TV News Director Allison McGinley

The Radio Television Digital News Association on Saturday selected WKMG-TV News 6 News Director Allison McGinley as its Chair-Elect for the 2020-21 season.

McGinley will serve one year as Chair-Elect before becoming Association Chair in one year. She’ll serve in that role for one year before spending the final year of a three-year term as the organization’s Foundation Chair.

The RTDNA offers numerous recourses for the broadcast and digital news community, such as professional development opportunities, discussions on ethics, development of leadership skills and the support of First Amendment issues.

McGinley has spent 26 years at WKMG and has been the station’s news director since 2015.

Graham Media Group's 'Trust Index' recognized among industry's best as fact-checking efforts surge

As the 2020 election draws closer and closer, broadcasters across the country are bolstering their fact-checking operations -- and Graham Media Group is among them.

In fact, Graham Media Group was recognized in a recent TV News Check article for the company's Trust Index, the initiative and verification system to combat misinformation campaigns that target local media.

Trust Index was created out of a partnership with Fathm, a global leader in the fight against misinformation. Since the start of the year, Graham Media Group has been working with Fergus Bell, Fathm’s founder and CEO, in conjunction with newsroom leadership, to train the company's journalists to identify and stop the spread of misinformation.

“The misinformation tactics we saw in the 2016 election have evolved, so we need to ensure we’re constantly updating our strategies for dealing with this challenge,” Bell said in the article. “Journalists at Graham stations now have even more robust and versatile verification and fact-checking processes that can just as easily deal with pandemics as with election coverage. To be able to engage with audiences on this issue at such a local level is really exciting.”

Here's how Trust Index is designed to work: Viewer inquiries trigger news stories, with Graham Media Group reporters working through the Trust Index protocols to produce the report. Graham Media Group reporters also generate their own ideas as for what they can debunk.

Since launching in February, the group has fielded more than 400 tips from consumers, GMG audience development lead Dustin Block said.

Sometimes, the ideas can work across multiple markets. For example, in August, KSAT-TV in San Antonio broadcast a Trust Index-branded report about “pink slime” local news websites, which are automated sites crafted to look like legitimate news organizations. In fact, these have roughly tripled in number in 2020.

KSAT’s reporting revealed that a Delaware-based company called Metric Media had constructed 56 websites that appear to cover news across the state of Texas.

The pink slime exposé idea originated in the Detroit market, making its way south via the Graham Trust Index system.

“What’s come out of it has been some of the best journalism,” said Catherine Badalamente, VP and chief innovation officer at Graham Media Group, referencing the Bell training and the Trust Index, as she says in the article. “That’s one of the things that makes me so proud.”

Graham Media Group is committed to distributing truth. This collective effort proves that.

When people accuse news groups, even in a joking way, with purposefully spreading false information on a wide scale, “it instantaneously makes me furious," Badalamente said. “If they only knew how serious these newsrooms take their job, and how serious we as an organization take what we do, in terms of serving our community. We need to do a better job of combating it, and … take the power of our airwaves and reinforce why we’re not like everyone else.”

WSLS-10 to host a socially distant Halloween event

Wondering what television stations are doing about Halloween as the coronavirus pandemic continues on with seemingly no end in sight?

For a safe and free Halloween experience, WSLS-10 in Roanoke, Virginia, is hosting a drive-through trick-or-treating event.

It's slated for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 30 at Layman Family Farms.

“Our goal is to create a safe experience where our children and neighbors can continue making positive memories during these trying times,” Vice President and General Manager Jaimie León said.

The event is intended to be a fresh way to support local communities and sprinkle in some fun during a pandemic.

People can be prepared for candy, music and so much more, the station said.

On the WSLS 10 drive-through route, visitors will stop at 20 candy stations. There will be about 120,000 individually wrapped pieces of candy. Center in the Square for providing all those treats.

In a partnership with Layman Family Farms, visitors will be offered discounted tickets to its fall festival.

To help keep visitors healthy and safe, WSLS 10 volunteers will be wearing masks and dropping candy directly into Halloween bags, to avoid physical contact.

CEO Emily Barr tells Broadcasting & Cable what sets GMG stations apart

Emily Barr, president and CEO of Graham Media Group -- not to mention, Broadcasting + Cable’s Broadcaster of the Year for 2020 -- was recently featured in an online article from B+C, appropriately titled “Best in Broadcasting, Barr None.”

Barr spoke about what sets her stations apart, the stations’ coverage of COVID-19 and racial equality, how they reach younger viewers and what the future looks like for local broadcast.

“I have great faith in local television,” Barr told B+C. “I believe it’s incredibly important -- maybe more important today than ever.”

Here’s an excerpt from the interview.

B+C: Do you look to acquire stations?

EB: Gee, no one ever asks me that question! [Laughs.] We kick the tires quite often. We’re always very conscious of the cost. We’re in somewhat volatile times in our industry, so it would have to be just the right deal for us to make a purchase. But we certainly have made it known that we’re interested. If the right opportunity comes along, I’m sure we’ll take a very close look at it.

You can read a more complete transcript of Barr’s conversation with B+C here.

Graham Media Group was named B+C’s Station Group of the Year in 2016.

WDIV-Local 4 names Dianna Sharpe as new Business Manager

WDIV-Local 4, the Graham Media Group-owned NBC affiliate in Detroit, has announced the appointment of Dianna Sharpe as the station’s new Business Manager. Sharpe will replace Kathy Salazar, the current Vice President and Business Manager, who announced her retirement in August. Sharpe and Salazar will work in tandem until the end of the year.

Sharpe will lead and analyze all financial reporting requirements, be responsible for all revenue recognition and reporting and support the General Manager and Department Head team in forecasting, budgeting, expense management and other business activities at the station.

For the last 13 years, Sharpe has worked for the accounting firm KPMG, most recently as a manager in Resource Management. She has demonstrated success in various areas of operations, project management, human resources, recruitment and retention, conflict resolution, change management, diversity and inclusion, and resource scheduling. Prior to KPMG, Sharpe worked for Deloitte Services, DaimlerChrysler Financial Services, and Kelly Services.

“Dianna is the right leader to continue to build an engaged, high performing, and inclusive culture at WDIV-Local 4. She has the enviable combination of great business acumen and expertise in human relations. I’m excited to have her join our leadership team,” said Vice President and General Manager Marla Drutz. “The community is who we serve as a news and information leader, so I’m thrilled that Dianna is also committed to contributing to our region in so many various ways.”

Sharpe believes in empowering the youth of today with the skills and tools to face the challenges of tomorrow. For this reason, she is currently the Treasurer of the Michigan PTA and a member of the National Association of Black Accountants. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from Davenport University.

Sharpe lives in Southfield with her husband and children.

WKMG News 6 introduces new Space Curious podcast

It seems only right that our WKMG-TV team on the Space Coast would come up with a new podcast about all things space.

How did the International Space Station get assembled in orbit? What happens to all the space junk? What is a white hole? Space Curious, the new podcast by WKMG News 6 and Graham Media, will answer those questions and more.

Hosted by WKMG space reporter Emilee Speck and edited by Graham Media Director of Podcasts, Zak Rosen, each episode answers space-related questions submitted from the audience.

Speck, a Space Coast native, has been covering stories of spaceflight for more than seven years, from planetary science to the recent return and astronaut launches from Florida’s Coast.

With the help from experts, including scientists, engineers, fellow space journalists and astronauts, Space Curious brings fascinating topics to your favorite podcast platform.

Anyone can submit a question to the show for an opportunity to be part of the episode and have your curiosities answered by the experts.

Space Curious was created to inspire everyone, from those with a mild interest in space exploration to the space fanatics.

New episodes will be released every other Wednesday on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow and subscribe to listen along each week.

Check out the trailer below:

WKMG-TV presented with national award for community service

WKMG-TV in Orlando has been awarded the Service to Community Award for Television in the Large Market category during the 2020 Celebration of Service to America Awards program, which aired Saturday night on stations nationwide.

Hosted by the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation, the Service to America Awards recognize outstanding community service by local broadcasters.

“Over the past year, America’s local radio and television stations have demonstrated unparalleled devotion to helping families and communities in need,” NAB Leadership Foundation President Michelle Duke said. “We are pleased to honor these exceptional stations and to celebrate this year’s winners with viewers and listeners during the first-ever broadcast of the Service to America Awards.”

WKMG-TV’s award-winning community service effort, “Driving Change: Florida's Texting and Driving Law,” served as the force behind the win.

After WKMG news anchor Matt Austin was hit and seriously injured by a texting driver, the station initiated a relentless multi-faceted, multi-year campaign led by Austin to strengthen Florida’s texting and driving law.

WKMG gathered stories from viewers, created partnerships with law enforcement and legislators and confronted those lawmakers who were creating roadblocks to a piece of legislation designed to save lives on Florida's roadways.

After three years of work, on July 1, 2019, those efforts resulted in a new law, making texting and driving a primary offense. In the end, many legislators, including those who were originally against a more robust law, credit WKMG with being a major factor behind its passage: Passage of Florida Statute Section 316.305 and 316.306.

About Celebration of Service to America Awards

The 2020 Celebration of Service to America Awards, hosted by the NAB Leadership Foundation, highlight and honor exceptional community service exhibited by local radio and television stations across the U.S.

The 2020 event premiered Aug. 22 as a one-hour televised program featuring high-profile guests and award presentations in eight categories.

About NAB Leadership Foundation

The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the future of broadcasting through leadership, diversity and community service.

WDIV-Local 4 hosts virtual Education Town Hall on return-to-school plans

WDIV-Local 4 hosted a virtual town hall Aug. 13 all about education and the return to school amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Anchors Devin Scillian and Paula Tutman were joined by education leaders from across the state to answer questions about the complicated decisions being made by schools and parents heading into the 2020-21 school year.

It’s part of an all-encompassing station campaign.

Education 4 All is a multiplatform reporting and community engagement commitment by WDIV-Local 4/ClickOnDetroit.com to extensively cover the complicated issues of education, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of what the station does now will have a far-reaching impact on our children’s physical and mental health, achievement, policy and state’s trajectory.

An “Education 4 All” special is planned for Aug. 31.

Currently, WDIV-Local 4/ClickOnDetroit.com is doing daily Education 4 All stories and has multiple digital reports delving into the complex issues from every angle.

Education 4 All will include:

• News reports

• Digital content

• Digital town halls and more

To watch the recording of WDIV's "Education 4 All Town Hall," click the or tap here.

WSLS 10 casts spotlight on racial disparities in '20/20 Focus: The Push for Equality'

Graham Media Groups’ WSLS 10 aired an hour-long original production called "20/20 Focus: The Push For Equality" on Aug. 6. The special program put a spotlight on racial disparities, covered a wide breadth of history and explored how Virginia can move forward toward a more equitable future.

“Racial injustices dominate headlines daily; it’s our responsibility to go past that. Journalists must dig deep into the issues,” station News Director Rick Moll said. “The work WSLS 10 put in to share difficult conversations while educating is a testament to the connection between our brand and our viewers.”

“It was sobering, informative, engaging and full of hope,” said Graham Media Group President and CEO Emily Barr.

The live experience online brought in 42% new audience.

“Our staff delivers quality and trusted content,” said station Vice President and General Manager Jaimie León. “There really is a difference in local news showing up in people’s feeds: 49% came from social and 49% directly from wsls.com. This shows our communities’ confidence in local news. We are honored and do not take their trust for granted.”

WSLS 10 is proud to serve audiences on every platform.

Click here to watch the full episode, or watch a preview of '20/20 Focus: The Push For Equality' below.

Jacksonville chooses News4JAX in July 2020

News4JAX is again Jacksonville’s top choice for local news, winning all local news time periods from early morning through late night.

News4JAX had the most Adult 25-54 viewers for the recently concluded July ratings period, according to independent ratings data released by the Nielsen Company. News4JAX also grew over July 2019 for Adults 25-54 in morning news 7-10 a.m., early news 5-7 p.m. and late news 10-11:30 p.m.

Morning News is No. 1 in all major demos, and leads the way with News4JAX at 4:30 a.m. earning 5,300 Adult 25-54 viewers and a 9 share.

News4JAX at 5 a.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 7,000 Adult 25-54 viewers.

At 5:30 a.m., News4JAX wins with 9,000 Adult 25-54 viewers, tripling the nearest competitor. News4JAX at 6 a.m. is No. 1 with adults in the 6-7 a.m. time period, bringing in more than 11,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and an impressive 14 share. That is double the closest competitor.

"The Morning Show" (7-9 a.m.), anchored by Jennifer Waugh, Bruce Hamilton and Richard Nunn, is No. 1 in the time period with 12,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and a 14 share to beat out local and national competitors. "The Morning Show" also has growth in all major demos over last July while its competitors have declines.

At 9 a.m., "The Morning Show 2" beats "Today Show" third hour by 116% with 9,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and shows year-over-year increases while WTLV has declines.

“At a time when accurate, important information is literally developing every hour, we are again very proud to be the place the people of Jacksonville trust above all others for local news,” said Bob Ellis, WJXT and WCWJ Vice President and General Manager. “I’m very proud of how we continue to cover the stories that matter to our community and help people make informed decisions on how to keep themselves and their friends and family safe.”

News4JAX at 4 p.m. has 9,000 Adult 25-54 viewers, beating "Action News Jax at 4 p.m.," "Dr. Phil," "Judge Judy" and "Ellen."

In Evening News, News4JAX is No. 1 from 5-6:30 p.m. and shows growth year over year in every major demo. News4JAX at 5 p.m. takes the time period with 12,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and beats the WTLV/WJXX and WJAX/WFOX duopolies even when these stations add their newscasts together. News4JAX at 5:30 p.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 13,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and beats the WTLV/WJXX and WJAX/WFOX combos. News4JAX at 6 p.m., anchored by Tom Wills, Mary Baer and John Gaughan is No. 1 with 15,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and a 10 share.

“The growth of our news ratings during the pandemic is a testament to the hard work by our staff to deliver quality, trusted content and (reporting) facts and not (creating) fear,” Ellis said. “With more anchors and reporters people know and trust, there really is a difference between the local news outlets in Jacksonville. We watch the other stations in town follow our lead every day. It’s clear our community recognizes that and knows we are Jacksonville’s one true local television station.”

Viewers made that clear again in late news with wins in all major demos and year-over-year growth with male viewers. WJXT is No. 1 at 10 p.m. with 16,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and again at 10:30 p.m. with 13,000.

News4JAX is No. 1 at 11 p.m. with 11,000 Adult 25-54 viewers, beating the WJAX and WFOX Action News newscasts even when they report the ratings for both stations added together for all major demos. Late news shows year-over-year increases from 10-11:30 p.m. for Adults 25-54.

Graham Media Group's President and CEO Emily Barr named Broadcasting and Cable’s 2020 Broadcaster of the Year

Graham Media Group’s President and CEO Emily Barr has been named Broadcasting and Cable’s 2020 Broadcaster of the Year.

Before she receives an award at TVB’s Alt Forward Conference on Oct. 1, she will be profiled in B+C’s awards issue Sept. 21.

Barr, who has led the broadcast division of Graham Holdings since 2012, has previously received the Golden Mike Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America in 2018 -- and in 2016, she was inducted into the 2016 Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Additionally, Graham Media Group was named B+C’s Station Group of the Year in 2016 under Barr’s leadership.

Along with her accolades, Barr is proud to be the TV Board chair of the National Association of Broadcasters and the vice chair for the NBC Affiliate Board.

She also serves on boards of the Television Bureau of Advertising and the Associated Press. Barr has also been an active member of the National Association of Broadcasters and the Illinois Broadcasters Association.

Chicago-based Graham Media Group is comprised of seven local media hubs, Graham Digital and Social News Desk, delivering local news, programming, advertising solutions and digital media tools for television, online, mobile, OTT, podcasts and audio devices.

GMG operates in six states: KPRC–Houston, WDIV–Detroit and WSLS–Roanoke (NBC); KSAT–San Antonio (ABC); WKMG–Orlando (CBS); WJXT–Jacksonville (fully local) and WCWJ–Jacksonville (CW).

Based in Detroit, Graham Digital is a digital media and technology development group widely recognized as a leading industry innovator.

Social News Desk, headquartered in Atlanta, provides its more than 2,500 worldwide newsroom-customers with a single dashboard to publish, measure, curate and monetize local news content on social platforms.

WSLS 10’s 'Find Your Money' puts more than $1 million back into Virginia economy

More than $1 million: That’s how much money WSLS 10’s Find Your Money program has pumped back into Virginia’s economy during the past four years.

WSLS 10 partners with the Virginia Department of Treasury’s Unclaimed Property division for a two-day Find Your Money phone bank, which has been worth $2 billion in the state, as one in four Virginians has unclaimed property.

“With your station, we have been able to reach so many people in that part of the Commonwealth,” said Diana Shaban of the Treasury Department. “That’s so exciting for us.”

In years past, Virginia Treasury staff made the two-day trip to Roanoke to staff the phone bank. This year, due to COVID-19, Find Your Money was done virtually.

“We helped viewers find $169,000 over this past two-day event,” "Virginia Today" anchor Rachel Lucas said. “We found $92,000 for a local church this year and our grand total now stands at $1,069,000. That’s amazing.”

Added WSLS 10 news director Rick Moll, “Our viewers have found anywhere from under $1 to thousands of dollars. Little by little, big or small, we’ve broken through that $1 million threshold. That’s fantastic.”

The money comes from forgotten accounts, life insurance policies, uncashed payroll or refund checks, unclaimed stock dividends or tangible items from safe deposit boxes.

“With so many people, businesses and nonprofits taking a financial hit during the pandemic, it was important for WSLS to help return some of this money back to our viewers,” WSLS 10 Vice President and General Manager Jamie Leon said. “I’m very proud of our effort.”

The Find Your Money phone bank ran from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16 and again from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 17 during local newscasts.

WSLS 10 will hold another Find Your Money event in November.

Channel 4 The Local Station the most-watched TV station in Jacksonville for the 2019-20 broadcast season

Channel 4 The Local Station is the most-watched television station in Jacksonville for the 2019-20 broadcast season, according to numbers released by independent measurement from Nielsen Media Research.

WJXT is No. 1 total day in the most-coveted demographic for advertisers, adults ages 25-54. In all three of the marquee local news day parts, News4JAX finished No. 1 in the same key adult 25-54 demos for the 2019-20 broadcast season in the Jacksonville TV market. The strength of News4JAX broadcasts are driven by the station’s original reporting, breaking news and weather coverage, news anchors viewers know and trust, and the station’s deep connection to the local community.

WJXT continues to be a prominent choice for prime-time viewing as well in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. The lineup of "Last Man Standing," "Blackish" and "The Big Bang Theory" beat ABC prime for adults 25-54, men 25-54 and men 18-49 for the 2019-20 season overall.

"The Big Bang Theory" on WJXT is the top-syndicated entertainment show in Jacksonville. Also, "Entertainment Tonight" finished the broadcast season as the top entertainment news show, and "Inside Edition" finished the broadcast season as the top-syndicated news magazine show.

“When you consider the options today for viewing with cable and streaming, to outperform all of these choices validates the point broadcast television is still as important as ever,” said Bob Ellis, vice president and general manager of WJXT and WCWJ. “People today are led to believe broadcast TV is dying. That’s just simply not true. In Jacksonville, over the long haul, it is clear broadcast television is still the most popular place to watch news, entertainment and special events. This also means it is still far and away the absolute best place for advertisers to get their messages seen and heard.”

Morning News on Channel 4 continues to win every major demo from 4:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and in most time periods, beats all news competitors in the market combined. News4JAX at 4:30 a.m. is No. 1 by 100% for adult 25-54 impressions.

News4JAX at 5 a.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 11,000 adult 25-54 viewers and nearly beats "First Coast News" on WTLV and "Action News Jax" on WJAX and WFOX combined.

At 5:30 a.m., News4JAX wins by 136% with 14,000 adult 25-54 viewers, nearly tying all other news competitors combined.

News4JAX at 6 a.m. is No. 1 with 16,000 adult 25-54 viewers in the 6 to 7 a.m. time period.

"The Morning Show" (7 to 9 a.m.), anchored by Jennifer Waugh, Bruce Hamilton, Melanie Lawson and Richard Nunn is No. 1 in the time period with 15,000 adult 25-54 viewers, beating out all other newscasts, including the national broadcasts of NBC’s "Today" on WTLV, CBS "This Morning" on WJAX and ABC’s "Good Morning America" on WJXX.

It also has nearly double the viewers of "Action News Jax" on WFOX. May 2020 marks The Morning Show’s 107th consecutive month winning the time period in household ratings, as well. At 9 a.m., The Morning Show 2 beats the Today Show 3 in all major demos.

“I’m fortunate to see first-hand the commitment of the News4JAX team to this community,” Ellis said. “The work they put in to be there when it matters most and to produce important, engaging local content every day is what we do. To see that same commitment by the viewers of Jacksonville back to us reflects the special relationship Channel 4 continues to have with our community. It’s been that way for decades. We are honored and do not take it for granted.”

In evening news, News4JAX at 5 p.m. is the most-watched in the time period with an average of 13,000 adults ages 25-54 watching every day for the broadcast season.

News4JAX at 5:30 p.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 14,000 adults 25-54.

News4JAX at 6 p.m., anchored by Tom Wills, Mary Baer, chief meteorologist John Gaughan and sports analyst Mark Brunell, is No. 1 with 17,000 adults 25-54, beating the closest competitor, "Action News Jax" on WJAX, by 44%.

The story continues in late news where WJXT is No. 1 with "The Ten O’Clock News" with 17,000 adult 25-54 viewers and outperforms "Action News Jax" on WFOX by 132%.

Again at 10:30 p.m., News4JAX is No. 1 with 14,000 adult 25-54 viewers, beating WFOX by 138%.

News4JAX is No. 1 at 11 p.m. for adults 25-54 with 12,000 tuning in.

Source: Nielsen September 23, 2019 - May 15, 2020 average. PAVs for News programming. Prime is based on time-period averages, WJXT and WFOX M-F 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., WTLV, WJXX, WJAX, WCWJ 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Total day is M-F 3 a.m. to 3 a.m.

WJXT proves to be most trusted source for local news in Northeast Florida, South Georgia during COVID-19 pandemic

Jacksonville has spoken: The majority of people choose one local news organization above all others when it mattered most.

News4JAX is, once again, Jacksonville’s top choice for local news, winning all local news time periods from early morning through late night, as it was announced this week by WJXT Vice President and General Manager Bob Ellis.

News4JAX had the most adults ages 25 to 54 as viewers for the recently concluded May ratings period, according to independent ratings data released by the Nielsen Company, the demographic coveted most by advertisers. News4JAX.com was also the most viewed website, according to independent data released by comScore.

Morning News is No. 1 for all major demos, and leads the way with News4JAX at 4:30 a.m. earning 5,000 A25-54 viewers and a 7-share.

News4JAX at 5 a.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 7,000 A25-54 viewers. At 5:30 a.m., News4JAX won with 10,000 A25-54 viewers, more than doubling the nearest competitor.

News4JAX at 6 a.m. is No. 1 with adults in the 6 to 7 a.m. time period, bringing in more than 13,000 A25-54 viewers and a 16-share, nearly three times the closest competitor.

The Morning Show (7 to 9 a.m.), anchored by Jennifer Waugh, Bruce Hamilton and Richard Nunn, is No. 1 in the time period with 16,000 A25-54 viewers and a 16-share. That is growth of three share points compared to a year ago, and beat all other newscasts, including the national broadcasts of NBC’s "Today" on WTLV, CBS "This Morning" on WJAX, ABC’s "Good Morning America" on WJXX and other local newscast in the time period on WFOX.

At 9 a.m., The Morning Show 2 beats "Today" by 54% with 12,000 A25-54 viewers.

“There has never been a time when news has been more important than during the COVID-19 pandemic," Ellis said. "To again be the top choice for our community from morning through night, day-in and day-out, for this critical information confirms the people of Jacksonville want news from a trusted source. As Jacksonville’s only truly local television, we are very proud to lead the market again, and it confirms our goal to serve our community continues to resonate.”

In early evening news, in addition to winning the A25-54 demo, News4JAX also had the most year-to-year ratings growth.

News4JAX at 4 p.m. had 8,000 A25-54 viewers, beating Action News Jax at 4 p.m., "Dr. Phil," "Judge Judy" and "Ellen."

News4JAX at 5 p.m. is most-watched in the time period with 13,000 A25-54 viewers. News4JAX at 5:30 p.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 15,000 A25-54 viewers. News4JAX at 6 p.m., anchored by Mary Baer, Tom Wills and John Gaughan, is No. 1 with 17,000 A25-54 viewers and a 12-share.

“The growth of our news ratings during the pandemic is a testament to the hard work by our staff to deliver quality, trusted content and reports facts and not create fear,” Ellis said. “With more anchors and reporters people know and trust, there really is a difference between the local news outlets in Jacksonville. It’s clear our community appreciates and recognizes that fact.”

News4JAX also won all major demos in late news. WJXT is No. 1 at 10 p.m. with 17,000 A25-54 viewers and again at 10:30 p.m. with 14,000.

News4JAX was No. 1 at 11 p.m. with 12,000 A25-54 viewers, beating both First Coast News and the WJAX and WFOX Action News newscasts, even when added together.

Late news has seen year-over-year growth particularly at 10 p.m., where there is a 26% increase over last May.

WJXT also recently received recognition for its work from two major award organizations.

WJXT earned a prestigious Edward R. Murrow Overall Excellence award from the Radio and Television News Directors Association. The RTNDA also awarded the station Murrow Awards for Breaking News Coverage for its work during the Miami Airplane crash at NAS JAX and News4JAX.com was named best website.

News4JAX also earned 11 awards from The Florida Association of Broadcasters, including Best Newscast, Best Website, Best Investigative Story and the organization's top award as Station of the Year.

Graham Media Group stations, affiliates take home 7 LMA digital innovation awards

The Local Media Digital Innovation Awards, powered by Second Street, recognizes the best in local digital media -- and this year, Graham Media Group is proud to announce that our stations won seven of the honors.

The LMA awards are highly competitive, designed to recognize large and small media companies for their outstanding and innovative work.

This year's contest was judged by Rich Gordon, professor and director of digital innovation at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, and his graduate students: Avery Dews, Meredith Gallo, Ju Park, Sonia Singh, Mark Stenberg and Andrew Weiler.

Included with the contest winners’ information are comments from the judges and details about the entry.

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Best Social Media Strategy*

This award recognizes the most successful and creative plans when it comes to leveraging social media to expand audience and heighten engagement.

WDIV/ClickOnDetroit took second place. "Strong voice, all content seemed to be on-brand. Engagement in the comments demonstrated that the audience found the content fun and engaging."

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Best Digital Audience and Engagement Strategy*

This award recognizes sites that are developing high-quality content, processes and user experiences that have proven to increase overall audience.

KPRC-2 in Houston took first place. "Robust audience and engagement strategy that meets the audience at multiple levels. Thoughtful, well-executed strategy with a strong focus on KPIs and growth. Their strategy to drive audience is centered around a three-pronged approach: 1. Own the big story of the day and do it differently 2. Create content that is fun, useful and evergreen 3. Write for the reader."

Graham Media Group (nationwide) took third place. "A well-executed “best of local” initiative that has generated substantial audience engagement and incremental revenue."

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Best New Digital Initiative*

Launching a new digital initiative takes time and resources, so this award showcases the best use of both that drove positive results. This broad category can encompass a digital initiative launched in the last year such as OTT, podcasting, virtual reality, insight selling, custom CMS, or something else that is new and emerging.

In the more than 750,000 unique visitors classification ...

KPRC-2 (Ask2) took third place. "In 2019, KPRC launched Ask 2, through Hearken, in an effort to answer questions they thought their readers were generally curious about. The Hearken platform and model were used effectively not only to engage with readers but also to build branding and content strategy for the station."

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Best Digital News Project*

The award for best digital news project will be given to entries that display captivating, innovative, and intentional storytelling. This can be a single piece, a collection, or an ongoing series. Did you take an investigative story, a big project or an ongoing topic and tell the story like no one else could? Did you build a digital experience that was enjoyable to read and interactive?

In the more than 750,000 unique visitors classification ...

KPRC took second place with “Apollo.” "Excellent, diverse mix of stories in multiple formats, all connected to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo launch."

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Best Branded Content Strategy *

This award showcases the very best in branded content initiatives.

In the more than 750,000 unique visitors classification ...

WDIV took second place. "This branded content initiative highlights high school students and their accomplishments, plus unsung heroes behind the scenes who make a difference and often go unrecognized. Judge’s comments: Impressive incremental revenue was generated by this branded content initiative."

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Best R&D Partner

Congratulations to Social News Desk! Below are some comments from customers that nominated Social News Desk for this year’s Best R&D partner.

“SND and their team have been great at thinking of new and innovative ideas to help local news organizations get their news out to the public in a timely fashion. The program is also a great way for our newsroom to keep track of local police department pages, city pages, fire pages and competitors as we can make columns specifically to track those all in one place.”

“SND supports our Sponsored Content revenue. We are finally able to track and monetize social posts (Facebook) – complete with forecasting and impression (posts) so we can make sure we’re selling at the appropriate CPMs. It also takes the guesswork between coordinating posts from the newsroom and the sales team, so the workflow has been seamless using the SND platform.”

“The entire software they provide for our news station is an incredible tool. The ability to schedule posts, post to multiple platforms, etc. is as powerful of a resource as any for the digital department. The reception addition of an advanced Facebook messenger experience is already opening up a new platform for sponsored content and an immediate increase in clicks and Facebook referral traffic.”

Social News Desk is a Graham Media Group company.

4 Graham Media Group stations honored with prestigious Edward R. Murrow awards

Congratulations are in order for WKMG-TV, KPRC-TV, WSLS-TV and WJXT-TV, all Graham Media Group stations that have been awarded 2020 Radio Television Digital News Association Regional Edward R. Murrow awards for excellence.

The Edward R. Murrow Award is among the most prestigious in broadcast and digital news, and is presented to those who demonstrate excellence in their profession. It recognizes the best electronic journalism produced by radio, television and online news organizations around the world.

WKMG-TV, Graham Media Group’s station in Orlando, is the only local TV station in Central Florida awarded with the Regional Murrow Awards. News 6 was presented with two wins: Excellence in Innovation and Excellence in Sound.

“WKMG works hard every day to serve the members of our community in meaningful and impactful ways,” WKMG Vice President and General Manager Jeff Hoffman said. “I am proud that kind of dedication and commitment is recognized with this prestigious award.”

WKMG conducted a groundbreaking digital and broadcast event on July 4, 2019. As organizations across the country traditionally covered America’s Independence Day celebrations, WKMG took a non-traditional approach, and in doing so, created an innovative, immersive online viewing experience.

An online streaming project harnessed live video from more than 25 different camera angles and sources, allowing viewers to select from a variety of shots, including the first-ever streams directly from mobile phones of reporters and producers in the field. The project paired the Graham Media Group station with several major partners, including Google, YouTube, Amazon Web Services, the Washington Post’s Arc Publishing and Grabyo to incorporate technologies that are outside of traditional broadcasting norms.

“We are constantly searching for new and engaging ways to share the stories of our community and the stories that matter to our community,” WKMG News Director Allison McGinley said. “It is an honor to be recognized for that hard work and innovation, especially with an award as prestigious as the Murrow.”

Two final elements of WKMG’s entry focused on digital journalism. As part of its coverage of the Apollo 11 Anniversary, the News 6 team created an interactive global display, highlighting memories of the original launch from people around the world. To do this, the station solicited calls, then placed them on a map pinpointing where those memories were established. This created a new experience with traditional audio links.

In Houston, Graham Media Group’s KPRC-TV took home two awards, as well.

The station received "Best Newscast" recognition for its 6 p.m. in-depth reporting the day Tropical Storm Imelda hit Houston.

The station’s digital efforts were also recognized for Excellence in Social Media due to its significant growth in the past year.

The station has developed opportunities for reporters and talent to do pre- and post-show Facebook Live broadcasts, as well as created lifestyle-oriented social media programming and developed a social media "good news" brand through Instagram.

In Roanoke, Virginia, Graham Media Group’s WSLS-TV was awarded for Best Multimedia, Best Hard News, for coverage of a high-profile manhunt, and Best Newscast 10 News at 5.

WJXT-TV, Graham Media Group's station in Jacksonville, was awarded with honors for Overall Excellence, Breaking News Coverage, Multimedia and Podcast.

“Trust in your local news team is more important than ever, and it's relentless dedication that earned News4JAX this recognition,” Vice President and General Manager Bob Ellis said. “The WJXT staff works hard every day to serve our community on every platform. I’m proud their hard work is being honored.”

Graham Media Group's 'Something Good' show offers a feel-good take on the news

Graham Media Group is unveiling a new show, “Something Good,” that highlights the best in humanity as the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold and dominate headlines globally.

“News can be serious and times can be tough, but that’s when people band together and uplift others, in ways never thought possible,” show creator Jeremy Allen said.

“Something Good” lets people see that side of the story. It’s a show providing a weekly roundup of genuinely inspiring content.

As communities navigate these tricky times, it can be easy to lose sight of the goodness in people, but it’s there.

“Something Good” is a show that aims to highlight those moments -- the ones that make people smile, feel good and applaud humanity.

Graham Media Group TV stations have been covering the havoc brought on by COVID-19, but also working to showcase the positive news wherever crews can find it.

From beer and boat companies transforming into PPE manufacturers to musicians helping grocery store shoppers smile -- there have been birthday parades, sidewalk chalk exhibits and even "bear hunts."

The show has debuted in several markets, and you can learn more here.

WSLS 10 news team wins multiple Associated Press awards for reporting

The WSLS 10 News team was honored to take home multiple awards Saturday afternoon at the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters awards for content that aired in 2019.

It was a virtual ceremony this year, and the awards honor the news media in Virginia and West Virginia.

The 10 News team won the following:

• First Place - Best Team News Coverage - Michael Brown

• First Place - Best Serious Feature - John Carlin and Paul Eldert for Project Ezekiel

• First Place - Best News Promo - Marine Manhunt, Michael Brown Arrested

• First Place - Douglas Southall Freeman Award - Jenna Zibton and Howard Swank for ’30 Days of Hope'

• Second Place - Continuing Coverage: Missing Marine Manhunt

• Second Place - Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias - John Appicello, Brooke Leonard, Eric Johnson

• Second Place - Best Newscast

Graham Media Group launches new daily podcast

Graham Media Group is pleased to offer a daily dose of solace and hope in the form of a new podcast, "The Best Advice Show."

Hosted by Zak Rosen, veteran audio producer and Graham Media Group director of podcasts, "The Best Advice Show" is a daily, one- to three-minute podcast, sharing the weird and wonderful ways humans survive and thrive in these unpredictable times.

Advice includes managing email overload, parenting in the time of social distancing, what to do with your pasta water, how to stretch your back to release psychic stress, why eating an orange in the shower will help you jumpstart your day and so much more.

“I began working on this show months before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold,” Rosen said. “But now that we’re living in a new reality, the tenor of the show has evolved to consider this historic moment, and to hopefully help listeners remember that we all have ways to effectively make it through challenging, uncharted times.”

Each "The Best Advice Show" episode is built around a contributor offering advice, pragmatic and poetic, drawn from their life’s experience. These contributors include notable artists, writers and journalists, alongside listeners and some amazingly wise children.

“I need this show like I need hand sanitizer,” said Graham Media Group’s VP and Chief Innovation Officer Catherine Badalamente. “People are facing challenges they have never experienced before and 'The Best Advice Show' reminds us that we have each other to rely on, and that each of us has something to offer.”

The show will be available for download on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and wherever else you find your podcasts.

KPRC 2 joins Alex's Army, Alex Bregman to raise $2 million to feed Houston

KPRC 2 is joining Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and his Alex’s Army effort to raise $2 million to help feed Houston-area residents experiencing food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis.

Proceeds raised through Bregman’s FEEDHOU campaign will directly benefit the Houston Food Bank, a nonprofit committed to feeding the hungry in the Houston area.

“By working together with KPRC 2 to benefit a great organization like the Houston Food Bank, we can all do our part to ensure Houston’s underserved children and families continue to get the support they need during these difficult times,” Bregman said.

Bregman’s FEEDHOU campaign recently reached his initial fundraising goal of $1 million in donations. At KPRC 2, the station had been working with its audience to "Help Feed Houston," raising more than $50,000. By working with Alex’s Army, KPRC can help make a greater impact for neighbors in need.

“The need throughout our community due to the COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented,” said KPRC 2 Vice President and General Manager Jerry Martin. “Teaming with Alex Bregman and Alex’s Army, we hope to raise even more to feed Houston’s hungry.”

The FEEDHOU campaign, encouraging donations and volunteering, will begin airing this week across KPRC 2 and MeTV Houston airwaves and all digital platforms.

There are two ways people can help:

• Give. Every $1 donated can help provide three meals. Donations can be made by typing “FEEDHOU” in a text message to the number 41444 or by visiting click2houston.com.
• Volunteer. If you are healthy and want to make an impact, the Houston Food Bank needs you! Register at houstonfoodbank.org to see available volunteer shifts for individuals or small groups. Volunteer safety is a priority and appropriate safety measures will be taken, including social distancing.

Familiar Houstonians, including local entrepreneur Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, rapper Paul Wall and Bregman’s fiancé Reagan Howard, have also lent their support to the FEEDHOU campaign.