January 31, 2026

Here are the 2023 INBA Crystal Mic Awards winners

2 years ago

INBA President Rachel Lippmann, left, stands with Yvonne Boose from WNIJ after Boose’s station won awards in the 2023 Crystal Mic competition. More photos from the awards ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 9, in Urbana will be posted soon.

The Illinois News Broadcasters Association is proud to announce the winners in the 2023 INBA Crystal Mic Awards.

The first-place Crystal Mic trophies and the second-place plaques were handed out Saturday, Sept. 9, as part of the INBA’s Fall Convention in Urbana.

2023 Crystal Mic Awards

Large Market TV finalists

  • Best Station: First place: ABC7 Chicago; Certificate of Merit: KSDK
  • Paul Davis Award for Best Newscast: First place: ABC7 Chicago; Runner up: KSDK
  • Investigative Report: First place: Chuck Goudie, ABC7 Chicago; Runner up: Jason Knowles, ABC7 Chicago
  • Best Weather Operation: First place: ABC7 Chicago; Runner up: KSDK
  • Breaking News: First place: Tre Ward, ABC7 Chicago; Runner up: Eric Horng, ABC7 Chicago
  • Best Digital Presence: First place: Anne Stegen, KSDK; Runner up: ABC7 Chicago Staff
  • Best Reporter: First place: Justina Coronel, KSDK
  • Sports Report: First place: Frank Cusumano and Randall Schwentker, KSDK
  • Writing: First place: Mike Bush, KDSK; Runner up: Eric Horng, ABC7 Chicago

Large Market Radio finalists

  • Paul Davis Award for Best Newscast: First place: Wayne Pratt, St. Louis Public Radio
  • Investigative Report: First place: Will Bauer, St. Louis Public Radio
  • Best Reporter: First place: Eric Schmid, St. Louis Public Radio
  • Sports Report: First place: Jeremy Goodwin, St. Louis Public Radio
  • Use of Sound: First place: Danny Wicentowski, St. Louis Public Radio; Runner up: Eric Schmid, St. Louis Public Radio
  • Writing: First place: Marissanne Lewis-Thompson, St. Louis Public Radio; Runner up: Brian Munoz, St. Louis Public Radio

Small Market TV finalists

  • Best Station: First place: WREX
  • Paul Davis Award for Best Newscast: First place: WREX; Runner up: WGEM
  • Best Weather Operation: First place: WEEK; Runner up: WQAD
  • Best Digital Presence: First place: WREX
  • Best Reporter: First place: Deron Molen, WAND; Runner up: Jon Schoenheider, WEEK
  • Breaking News: First place: Devin Brooks, WQAD; Runner up: Gregory Deffenbaugh, WREX
  • Investigative Report: First place: Marta Berglund, WIFR; Runner up: William Ingalls, WREX
  • Sports Report: First place: Kurt Pegler, WMBD; Runner up: Victoria Bordenga, WGEM
  • Use of Videography: First place: Devan Mascuilli, WEEK; Runner up: Jenna Webster, WQAD
  • Writing: First place: Josh Lamberty, WQAD; Runner up: Jenna Webster, WQAD

Small Market Radio finalists

  • Best Station: First place: WGLT; Runner up: WCBU
  • Best Newscast: First place: Charlie Schlenker, WGLT; Runner up: Dan Lynch, WLBK
  • Best Digital Presence: First place: WGLT; Runner up: WCBU
  • Best Reporter: First place: Lyndsay Jones, WGLT; Runner up: JuanPablo Ramirez-Franco, Northern Public Radio
  • Breaking News: First place: Andrew Pritchard, Illinois Newsroom; Runner up: Michelle O’Neill, WVIK
  • Investigative Report: First place: Ryan Denham, WGLT; Runner up: Dave Dahl, WTAX
  • Podcasting: First place: Yvonne Boose, Northern Public Radio; Runner up: Peter Medlin, Northern Public Radio
  • Sports Report: First place: Maria Gardner Lara, Northern Public Radio; Runner up: Jane Carlson, Tri-States Public Radio
  • Use of Sound: First place: Charlie Schlenker, WGLT; Runner up: Yvonne Boose, Northern Public Radio
  • Writing: First place: Peter Medlin, Northern Public Radio; Runner up: Ryan Denham, WGLT
Jeff Bossert
Morning Edition Host, WVTF, Roanoke, Virginia

When I was working in radio for the first time, I had no idea whether I could truly handle the demands. But INBA made me curious and want to improve. Even now, when I’ve maybe worked a lot of hours or planned some stories that didn’t come together for one reason or another, what I learn from an INBA conference gets me re-invigorated about the business.

Andrew Tanielian
Freelance Video Journalist

INBA taught me how to network in a meaningful way. The scholarship process taught me how to endure a hard job interview and thrive.

Ryan Denham
Digital Content Director, WGLT (Normal)

I recently attended my first INBA conference—and it won’t be my last. The combination of professional and student journalists learning together is electric. Everyone learns from each other and walks away with new friends (and LinkedIn connections). I know I did.

Bob Roberts
Retired, WBBM-AM, Chicago

INBA is as much about friendship and as it is about achieving common goals. It provides two things individual newsrooms cannot: in-service training, and the ability to speak out on issues affecting the profession. But most of all, it brings newspeople together.

Alexis McAdams
Fox News National Correspondent

INBA played a huge part in preparing me for my broadcasting career. The INBA conventions connect students with on-air talent and news directors who give feedback on now to improve your work. Through relationships I made at those conventions, I was able to obtain my first on air reporting job.

Michelle Eccles McLaughlin
Public Relations Account Manager, Horace Mann Insurance

INBA is an organization that really caters to continuing education for professionals. It offers a relatively inexpensive way to learn new things, reinforce best practices and network.

Jennifer Fuller
Assistant Director of Legislative Affairs, John A. Logan College

INBA is not only a great networking tool, it also provides advocacy and support for journalists in an ever-changing world.

Molly Jirasek
News Director, ABC57, South Bend, IN

One of my top goals in my career was to get to Chicago. Thanks to INBA I met Margaret Larkin. She remembered our great conversations about Chicago and first alerted me to a job opening in the city I might be interested in. Lo and behold, I got that job! INBA helped me reach my dream.

Mike Miletich
Capitol Bureau Reporter, WAND-TV, Decatur

Joining the INBA was one of my best life decisions. I met some of the best broadcast journalists while I was still a college student. Plus, I ended up getting a job through the connections I made!

Aaron Eades
Former Morning Anchor at WCIA-TV, Champaign

As a student, it's often difficult to picture what working in the real world will be like. For me, the INBA bridged that gap by giving me the chance to talk to professionals who used to be in the same shoes I'm in now.

Nora Baldner
Professor, Quincy University

The support INBA gives to student journalists is vitally important as we all discover how technology is changing news dissemination, INBA monitors and actively encourages truth, transparency and accountability from students and their universities.

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