27 Broadcast News Organizations

Winners of the 2021 Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association Awards were announced June 4, 2022, in Ocean City, Md. 

Twenty-seven news organizations in Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia submitted 357 entries in the contest.

CAPBA also awarded a $3000 scholarship to Natalie Adams, a rising senior studying broadcast journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland in College Park, Md.

The CAPBA is an independent association comprised of local members of The Associated Press, a not-for-profit news cooperative that represents thousands of newspapers and broadcast stations across the United States.

Winners in the 2021 Chesapeake AP Broadcasters Association Contest:

ALL DIVISIONS:

Best in Show—Television: WUSA 9, Washington, for “Stories of the Capitol Riot” in the News Series category.

Best in Show—Radio: Karsonya Wise Whitehead, Justina Pollard and Andre Melton, WEAA-FM, Baltimore, “An Attack on the Capitol Is an Attack on Democracy” in the Talk Show category.

Best Podcast-Audio: First, Lindsay Watts, Van Applegate and Mia Rosas, WTTG-TV, Washington, "Siege on Democracy"; Second, Paul Wagner, WTOP-FM, Washington, "American Nightmare: Season 2."

TV I/LARGE MARKET:

Outstanding Spot News Reporting: First, Delia Goncalves and James Hash, WUSA 9, Washington, "One-Year-Old Killed"; Second, WJLA-TV, Washington, "Pentagon Attack."

Outstanding Coverage of a Continuing Story: First, WJLA-TV, Washington, "Chaos at the Capitol"; Second, WRC-TV, Washington, "The Insurrection Investigation."

Outstanding News Series: First, WUSA 9, Washington, "Stories of the Capitol Riot"; Second, Maxine Streicher and Philip Dupont, WBFF-TV, Baltimore, "Breaking the Glass Ceiling."

Outstanding Photography: First, Ruth Morton, WBFF-TV, Baltimore; Second, James Hash, WUSA 9, Washington.

Best Producer: First, Kelly Chase, WJLA-TV, Washington, "Election Night 2021"; Second, Teneille Gibson, WRC-TV, Washington, "Quiet Storm: Melodies, Moods and Mixes of Melvin Lindsey."

Outstanding Public Affairs: First, WRC-TV, Washington, "Inequality in America: The Redline in Housing Discrimination"; Second, Chris Papst, Carolyn Peirce and Dwayne Myers, WBFF-TV, Baltimore, "Failure Factory."

Outstanding Specialty Reporting: First, Susan Hogan, Rick Yarborough and Steve Jones, WRC-TV, Washington, "The Rollaway Risk"; Second, Eric Flack and Jordan Fischer, WUSA 9, Washington, "Digging Deeper Into the Capitol Riot."

Outstanding Documentary/In-Depth Reporting: First, WUSA 9, Washington, "Democracy Divided: Stories of the Capitol Riot"; Second, Chris Papst, Carolyn Peirce and Jed Gamber, WBFF-TV, Baltimore, "Failure Factory."

Outstanding Enterprise Reporting: First, Chris Papst, Carolyn Peirce and Ray Rogowski, WBFF-TV, Baltimore, "The Bus Bust"; Second, Larry Miller, Tom Kopania and Loriston Sindass, WUSA 9, Washington, "Appraising Prince George's County."

Outstanding Sports Feature: First, Cory Sellgren and Max McGee, WJZ-TV, Baltimore, "Fighting for Greatness"; Second, Mikenzie Frost and Nathan Frost, WBFF-TV, Baltimore, "Miracle on Ice."

Outstanding Serious Feature: First, Lynn Davis, Marcus Harton and Carolyn Presutti, Voice of America-TV, Washington, "The GPS Man Trapped in Afghanistan"; Second, Jay Korff and Ryan Eskalis, WJLA-TV, Washington, "The Portrait."

Best Meteorologist or Weathercaster: First, Bill Kelly, WJLA-TV, Washington; Second, Doug Kammerer, WRC-TV, Washington.

Video Journalist/One-Person Band Reporter: First, Jay Korff, WJLA-TV, Washington, "Old Man One Man Band Rides Again"; Second, Teneille Gibson, WRC-TV, Washington.

Outstanding Light Feature: First, Jay Korff, WJLA-TV, Washington, "The Pandemic Plane Project"; Second, Morgan Pravato, Capital News Service, College Park, Md., "The Holy Spirit Was Blowing Through."

Best Reporter: First, Matthew Torres, WUSA 9, Washington; Second, Jay Korff, WJLA-TV, Washington.

Outstanding Year-Round Local Sports: First, Darren M. Haynes and Sharla McBride, WUSA 9, Washington; Second, WJLA-TV, Washington.

Outstanding Website: First, Greg Ng, Jenny Fulginiti and Tramon Lucas, WBAL-TV, Baltimore; Second, WUSA 9, Washington.

Outstanding Newscast: First, Brian Sasser and Kelly Lamp, WJLA-TV, Washington; Second, Meredith Devereux, WBFF-TV, Baltimore.

Best TV News Anchor: First, Adam Longo, WUSA 9, Washington; Second, Michelle Marsh, WJLA-TV, Washington.

Best TV Sports Anchor: First, Darren M. Haynes, WUSA 9, Washington; Second, Scott Abraham, WJLA-TV, Washington.

Outstanding News Operation: First, WRC-TV, Washington; Second, WJLA-TV, Washington.

TV II/SMALL MARKET:

Outstanding Spot News Reporting: First, Randi Bass, WDVM-TV, Hagerstown, Md., "Rock Creek Flooding"; Second, Chandler Parr and Zeke Dumm, WRDE-TV, Milton, Del., "President Biden's Arrival Outside of the Milford Boys and Girls Club."

Outstanding Coverage of a Continuing Story: First, John Dearing, Ron Krisulevicz and Bill Mich, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md., "The Murder of Corporal Keith Heacook"; Second, WMDT-TV, Salisbury, Md., "Delmar Police Tragedy."

Outstanding News Series: First, Rodaris Richardson, Telemundo Delmarva, Milton, Del., "Hispanic Heritage Month: Covering Hispanic Culture on Delmarva"; Second, Daniela Cado, Telemundo Delmarva, "Hispanic Heritage Month Series."

Outstanding Photography: First, Charlie Paparella, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md., "Travels With Charlie: Faith in a Flower."

Best Producer: First, Kyle Johnson, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md.

Outstanding Public Affairs: First, Ross Simpson, Katie Misuraca and Anthony Deng, WDVM-TV, Hagerstown, Md., "Veterans Voices - Pearl Harbor 80th Commemoration"; Second, John Dearing and Bill Shull, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md., "One Year Later."

Outstanding Specialty Reporting: First, Jordan Kudisch and Mike Lawrence, WMDT-TV, Salisbury, Md., "Trail to the Truth"; Second, Rodaris Richardson, WRDE-TV, Milton, Del., "Covering the Hispanic Community Across Delmarva."

Outstanding Documentary/In-Depth Reporting: First, John Dearing, Ron Krisulevicz and Bill Mich, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md., "Honoring Corporal Keith Heacook"; Second, Jordan Kudisch and Mike Lawrence, WMDT-TV, Salisbury, Md., "Trail to the Truth: Chovonne Dolberry."

Outstanding Enterprise Reporting: First, Kyle Johnson, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md., "Nursing Home Reunion"; Second, Rodaris Richardson, Telemundo Delmarva, Milton, Del., "Learning About the History of Horseshoe Crabs on Delaware's Coast."

Outstanding Sports Feature: First, Zach Parnes, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md., "Anya Knappenberger: Fighting Fires, and Fighting the Competition"; Second, Brandon Bossert, WMDT-TV, Salisbury, Md., "After the Whistle."

Outstanding Serious Feature: First, Rodaris Richardson, Telemundo Delmarva, Milton, Del., "H2B Visa Workers, an Essential Part of Maryland's Crab Picking Industry"; Second, Kyle Johnson, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md., "Lynching Memorial."

Best Meteorologist or Weathercaster: First, Paul Williams, WRDE-TV, Milton, Del.; Second, Mike Lichniak, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md.

Video Journalist/One-Person Band Reporter: First, Hunter Landon, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md.; Second, Kyle Johnson, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md.

Outstanding Light Feature: First, Rodaris Richardson, Telemundo Delmarva, Milton, Del., "Members of a Guatemalan-Mexican Band in Sussex County Work to Become Successful at All Costs"; Second, Joseph Olmo and Caleb Popper, WDVM-TV, Hagerstown, Md., "A Day in the Life of a CBP Officer."

Best Reporter: First, Hunter Landon, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md.; Second, Rodaris Richardson, WRDE-TV, Milton, Del.

Outstanding Year-Round Local Sports: First, WMDT-TV, Salisbury, Md.

Outstanding Website: First, WMDT-TV, Salisbury, Md.; Second, Kye Parsons, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md.

Outstanding Newscast: First, John Dearing, Ron Krisulevicz and Bill Mich, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md.; Second, Tanjeen Twinkle, Matt Pencek and Bill Shull, WRDE-TV, Milton, Del.

Best TV News Anchor: First, Rodaris Richardson, Telemundo Delmarva, Milton, Del.; Second, Jimmy Hoppa, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md.

Best TV Sports Anchor: First, Zach Parnes, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md.; Second, Brandon Bossert, WMDT-TV, Salisbury, Md.

Outstanding News Operation: First, John Dearing, Ron Krisulevicz and Bill Mich, WBOC-TV, Salisbury, Md.; Second, WMDT-TV, Salisbury, Md.

RADIO I/METRO:

Outstanding Spot News Reporting: First, Karen Moskow, Nathan Hager and Richard Trueman, Bloomberg 99.1, Washington, "Insurrection at the Capitol"; Second, Rachel Baye, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "General Assembly Passes Last-Minute Laws Related to Immigration, Parole, Sports Betting."

Outstanding Coverage of a Continuing Story: First, WTOP-FM, Washington, "Capitol Insurrection"; Second, WBAL-AM, Baltimore, "Baltimore's Battle Against Crime."

Outstanding News Series: First, Rachel Baye, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "Missed Shots: COVID-19 Vaccine Resistance in Garrett County"; Second, J.J. Green, WTOP-FM, Washington, "COVID-19 Conspiracy."

Outstanding Use of Sound: First, Mike Murillo, WTOP-FM, Washington, "Fire Ops"; Second, Sarah Y. Kim, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "The Fight Against COVID-19 Goes to the Sewers."

Outstanding Talk Show: First, Karsonya Wise Whitehead, Justina Pollard and Andre Melton, WEAA-FM, Baltimore, "An Attack on the Capitol Is an Attack on Democracy"; Second, Tom Hall, Malarie Pinkard-Pierre and Rob Sivak, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "Critical Race Theory."

Outstanding Editorial or Commentary: First, Joel Oxley, WTOP-FM, Washington, "Enough Is Enough"; Second, Karsonya Wise Whitehead, Justina Pollard and Andre Melton, WEAA-FM, Baltimore, "Not an Equal Pay Day for All."

Outstanding Public Affairs: First, Sheilah Kast, Maureen Harvie and Melissa Gerr, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "The Painful Reality of Long COVID-19"; Second, Mike "Nyce" Middleton and Mike Ballard, WEAA-FM, Baltimore, "Baltimore City Mural Series."

Outstanding Specialty Reporting: First, John Lee, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "The Baltimore County Public Schools"; Second, Rachel Baye, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "Vaccinating an Often Overlooked Population -- Homeless Marylander."

Outstanding Documentary/In-Depth Reporting: First, Emily Sullivan, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "Searching for a Turn-Around on the Highway to Nowhere"; Second, Robert Lang, WBAL-AM, Baltimore, "The Shooting of a Baltimore Police Officer."

Outstanding Enterprise Reporting: First, Megan Cloherty and Jack Moore, WTOP-FM, Washington, "DFS Scandal"; Second, Emily Sullivan, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "Baltimore's Tax Sale in the Pandemic Era."

Outstanding Sports Feature: First, Dave Johnson, WTOP-FM, Washington, "Sports and the Black Experience."

Outstanding Serious Feature: First, Emily Sullivan, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "Tangled Titles Obstruct Generational Wealth for Thousands of City Families"; Second, Emily Sullivan, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "Baltimore Faith Community, City Leaders Grapple With Killing of Evelyn Player."

Outstanding Light Feature: First, John Aaron, WTOP-FM, Washington, "Datsun Spirit"; Second, John Lee, WYPR-FM, Baltimore, "To Shake or Not to Shake: Coming to Grips With Hand Shaking."

Best Reporter: First, John Domen, WTOP-FM, Washington; Second, Mike Murillo, WTOP-FM, Washington.

Outstanding Year-Round Local Sports: First, WTOP-FM, Washington.

Outstanding Website: First, Micarie Kemp, WEAA-FM, Baltimore; Second, WTOP-FM, Washington.

Outstanding Newscast: First, WTOP-FM, Washington; Second, WBAL-AM, Baltimore.

Best Radio News Anchor: First, Dimitri Sotis, WTOP-FM, Washington; Second, Robert Lang, WBAL-AM, Baltimore.

Outstanding News Operation: First, WTOP-FM, Washington; Second, WBAL-AM, Baltimore.

RADIO II/NON-METRO:

Outstanding Spot News Reporting: First, Ryan Hedrick, Kevin McManus and Dianah Gibson, WFMD-AM, Frederick, Md., "Mass Shooting."

Outstanding Coverage of a Continuing Story: First, Rita Rich and Julie Reiter, WNAV-AM, Annapolis, Md., "Tornadoes Strike Annapolis and Edgewater."

Outstanding News Series: First, Amy Cherry, WDEL-FM/AM, Wilmington, Del., "Tales of Hope"; Second, Don Rush, WSCL/WSDL, Salisbury, Md., "The Biogas Battle."

Outstanding Use of Sound: First, Don Rush, WSCL/WSDL, Salisbury, Md., "Maskless Third Friday."

Outstanding Talk Show: First, Rick Jensen and Darryl Scott, WDEL-FM/AM, Wilmington, Del., "The Rick Jensen Show"; Second, Frank Mitchell and Tim May, WFMD-AM, Frederick, Md., "Mid-Maryland Live."

Outstanding Editorial or Commentary: First, Michael O'Loughlin, WSCL/WSDL, Salisbury, Md., "Police Incident in Ocean City"; Second, Michael O'Loughlin, WSCL/WSDL, Salisbury, Md., "September 11th."

Outstanding Public Affairs: First, WDEL-FM/AM, Wilmington, Del., "Feed a Friend Food Drive"; Second, Rita Rich, WNAV-AM, Annapolis, Md., "Men and Women in Blue Committing Suicide: 'Operation 22 to Zero'."

Outstanding Specialty Reporting: First, Sophia Schmidt, WDDE-FM, Dover, Del., "Coastal Marshes Help Mitigate Climate Change. So Why Is This Delaware Marsh Contributing to It?"

Outstanding Documentary/In-Depth Reporting: First, Sophia Schmidt, WDDE-FM, Dover, Del., "Researchers Say Some Delawareans Pay Too Much for Flood Insurance, Others Too Little"; Second, Don Rush, WSCL/WSDL, Salisbury, Md., "Fighting the Sludge Facility."

Outstanding Enterprise Reporting: First, Amy Cherry, WDEL-FM/AM, Wilmington, Del., "Wrongful Eviction."

Outstanding Sports Feature: First, Sean Greene, WDEL-FM/AM, Wilmington, Del., "Running From the Past"; Second, Don Rush, WSCL/WSDL, Salisbury, Md., "Girls on the Softball Field."

Outstanding Serious Feature: First, Sophia Schmidt, WDDE-FM, Dover, Del., "More PFAS Testing in Delaware Could Be Coming. Where Does the Contamination in New Castle Stand?"; Second, Mark Fowser, WDDE-FM, Dover, Del., "Can 'Capping' I-95 Reconnect Parts of Wilmington It Divided?"

Outstanding Light Feature: First, Bailey Morris, WSCL/WSDL, Salisbury, Md., "The Foodie Tour"; Second, Rebecca Baer, WDDE-FM, Dover, Del., "Delawareans Seek a Return to 'Normal' Holiday Season While Pandemic Concerns Linger."

Best Reporter: First, Amy Cherry, WDEL-FM/AM, Wilmington, Del.; Second, Rita Rich, WNAV-AM, Annapolis, Md.

Outstanding Year-Round Local Sports: First, Steve Nibbs and Bob Dacey, WFMD-AM, Frederick, Md.

Outstanding Website: First, WDEL-FM/AM, Wilmington, Del.; Second, WFMD-AM, Frederick, Md.

Outstanding Newscast: First, WDEL-FM/AM, Wilmington, Del.; Second, Kevin McManus and Nate Saunders, WFMD-AM, Frederick, Md.

Best Radio News Anchor: First, Chris Carl, WDEL-FM/AM, Wilmington, Del.; Second, Julie Reiter, WNAV-AM, Annapolis, Md.

Outstanding News Operation: First, WDEL-FM/AM, Wilmington, Del.; Second, Kevin McManus and Dianah Gibson, WFMD-AM, Frederick, Md.