WAVY-TV, FOX 43 dominate in AP Awards

RICHMOND, Va. - The Associated Press announced the winners of its 2008 news awards for Television and Radio, and WAVY-TV 10/FOX 43 “cleaned up” in the Virginia competition with 10 awards.

The WAVY sports team, comprised of Sports Director Bruce Rader, Chris Reckling, Ahmed Fareed and Brian Parsons took Superior Year Round Sports honors. The team received this recognition for its excellent reporting of local sports stories, ownership of Redskins coverage, and the well known franchise, “Friday Night Flights.”

Reporter Andy Fox received Superior honors for Individual Reporter Effort. This is the third time in Andy’s tenure with WAVY that he has won this award. Andy won with a compilation of reports that included a homecoming, a compelling court case, and a segment on a well-known attorney, Lowell “the Hammer” Stanley. WAVY reporters Melanie Woodrow and Derrick Rose each received Meritorious honors in the same category.

WAVY anchor Tom Schaad received Meritorious recognition in the Feature or Human Interest category for his report, “Flashes of Hope.” The story was about the local chapter of Flashes of Hope, a non-profit organization, dedicated to creating portraits of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Reporter Mary Kay Mallonee received a Superior award for Best Investigative Reporting, in her series of stories called "Daycare Dilemma," where she investigated a Newport News daycare operator, accused of operating illegally in strip mall.

WAVY and FOX 43 have a talented team of newscast producers, and we are pleased the Associated Press recognized FOX 43 10 p.m. newscast producer, Stephanie Duke, with a Superior award for Best Producer.

The WAVY/FOX 43 news photography team scored three AP awards. Photojournalist Colin McIntyre took Superior honors in Feature Photography for his excellent video enterprising on “Cell Phone Dangers,” followed by Meritorious recognition going to photojournalist Andy Miller for the story, “Flashes of Hope.” Finally, photojournalist LaVoy Harrell received Superior recognition in Spot Photography for “Submerged."

"This is a proud day for the WAVY and FOX 43 News Teams," said News Director, Kathy Hostetter. "We are thrilled with this prestigious recognition, and we look forward to carrying on with our award-winning work in 2009."

The Associated Press is a news agency that supplies wire reports to newsrooms across the country. Its Virginia offices are based in Richmond. The Associated Press awards were announced and handed out at the agency’s annual banquet at the Crowne Plaza West Hotel in Richmond on Saturday, April 18th.