The Pennsylvania AP Broadcasters Association is pleased to announce the winning stations in the 2013 PAPBA News Awards contest. Entries were judged by members of The Associated Press in Louisiana. The awards recognize outstanding broadcast journalism efforts by AP member radio and television stations, cable television and networks in Pennsylvania.
“For our peers to recognize the amazing depth of talent that is assembled at ESPN Radio Williamsport is very rewarding to me,” according to General Manager Todd Bartley.
The order in which the winners finished (first, second or third place), the judges’ comments will not be announced until the presentation at the awards banquet on Saturday, May 31, at the Penn Stater in State College.
ESPN Radio Williamsport (WLYC) competes in Division RADIO B – MEDIUM AND SMALL MARKET STATIONS (Which is every market other than Pittsburgh and Philadelphia).
Brian Williams will be awarded for his Local SportsCenter from September 8, 2013 in the Best Regularly Scheduled Sportscast category. This is the second PAPBA Award for Brian Williams since joining ESPN Radio Williamsport and first as an individual entrant.
“For Brian Williams to win this award is a career highlight. Since hiring him in the early days of ESPN Radio Williamsport he has overcome so many challenges put in front of him and been so selfless in the face of those challenges. He continues to put in the time and effort to get better every day; his story and this award are simply inspiring!” Bartley said.
Additionally, Ian Catherine will be awarded for his call of the 2013 Saint John Neumann Boys Basketball District IV Class A Championship game win in the Best Sports Play-By-Play category.
Tom Ferguson will also be awarded in the Best Sports Play-By-Play category for his call of the 2013 USCAA National Championship game at PSU Fayette featuring the Warren Wilson College victory.
These are also the first PAPBA Awards for Ian Catherine and Tom Ferguson since joining ESPN Radio Williamsport.
“It proves year in and year out that our staff is the best in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and we are setting a high standard for each other to strive towards. The true winners in this competition are the student athletes that we cover on a daily basis and the fans who tune into those broadcasts,” Bartley added.
Since re-joining the PAPBA in 2011 ESPN Radio Williamsport has now brought home 8 awards including 5 Best Sports Play-By-Play (Todd Bartley, Trevor Turner, Joe Putnam, Ian Catherine and Tom Ferguson), 2 Best Regularly Scheduled Sportscast (Trevor Turner and Brian Williams), as well as a Best Regularly Scheduled Sports Talk Show Award for the Jed Donahue Show (Host Jed Donahue, Co-Host Phil Grosz, Executive Producer Brian Williams).
Information courtesy of ESPNWilliamsport.com