2024 Crystal Mic Award finalists announced; join us in East Peoria to celebrate
Judging for the 2024 Illinois News Broadcasting Association Crystal Mic Awards, honoring the best radio and television work serving Illinois audiences, is complete!
Below is the list of finalists, organized by category. Names are listed in alphabetical order.
The reveal of who wins the coveted first-place Crystal Mic trophies and the second-place plaques will happen Saturday, Sept. 21 as part of the INBA Fall Convention in East Peoria.
Finalists: Please join us to pick up your award and celebrate your accomplishment with your broadcasting colleagues.
Tickets for all or part of the weekend convention are on sale now. Act quickly to take advantage of cheaper early bird pricing, which runs through Aug. 31.
Attendees also can receive a discounted hotel rate of $119 plus tax per night at the site of the convention, the Holiday Inn and Suites in East Peoria.
SMALL MARKET TV
- Best Station: WREX
- Paul Davis Best Newscast: WREX 13 News Team; WTVO Staff
- Best Digital Presence: WREX
- Best Reporter: William Ingalls, WREX; Lizzie Seils, WEEK
- Breaking News: WREX
- Investigative Report: William Ingalls, WREX; Lizzie Seils, WEEK
- Writing: Deron Molen, WAND; Jenna Webster, WQAD
- Sports Reporting: Patrick Cunningham, WMBD; Blake Hornstein, WHBF
- Best Weather Operation: WIFR, Mark Henderson, Aaron Wilson and DJ Baker; WREX Weather Team
- Use of Videography: Kyle Vincent, WEEK
SMALL MARKET RADIO
- Best Station: WCBU, WNIJ
- Best Newscast: WNIJ Staff; WTAX News Team
- Best Digital Presence: WCBU, WGLT
- Best Reporter: Jane Carlson, Tri States Public Radio; Lyndsay Jones, WGLT Radio
- Investigative Report: Farrah Anderson, WILL/Illinois Public Media; Jane Carlson, Tri States Public Radio
- Writing: Peter Medlin, WNIJ; Lauren Warnecke, WGLT
- Sports Reporting: Charlie Schlenker, WGLT
- Podcasting: Dialogue, WILL; Welcome to Forgottonia, Tri States Public Radio
- Use of Sound: Tri States Public Radio Book Brigade; Tri States Public Radio Piersen Strong
LARGE MARKET TV
- Best Station: ABC7 Chicago; KSDK
- Paul Davis Best Newscast: ABC7 Chicago; KSDK
- Best Digital Presence: ABC7 Chicago; KSDK, Anne Stegen
- Best Reporter: Mike Bush, KSDK; Justina Coronel, KSDK
- Breaking News: Eric Horng and Cate Cauguiran, ABC7 Chicago; Eric Horng and Tre Ward, ABC7 Chicago
- Investigative Report: Jenna Barnes, WGN-TV; Chuck Goudie ABC7 Chicago
- Writing: Mike Bush, KSDK; Eric Horng, ABC7 Chicago
- Sports Reporting: Mike Bush and Tom Stasiak, KSDK
- Best Weather Operation: ABC7 Chicago Staff; KTVI-TV Weather Department
- Use of Videography: Brian Ledford, KTVI
LARGE MARKET RADIO
- Best Station: St. Louis Public Radio; WBBM
- Best Newscast: Abby Llorico, St. Louis Public Radio
- Best Digital Presence: Large Market Radio: St. Louis Public Radio; WBBM
- Best Reporter: Nancy Harty, WBBM; Jason Rosenbaum, St. Louis Public Radio
- Breaking News: Nancy Harty, WBBM
- Investigative Report: Kavahn Mansouri, Kate Grumke, St. Louis Public Radio; Jason Rosenbaum, St. Louis Public Radio
- Writing: Lisa Fielding, WBBM; Marissanne Lewis-Thompson, St. Louis Public Radio
- Podcasting: Elaine Cha, Ulaa Kuziez; St. Louis Public Radio; Danny Wicentowski, St. Louis Public Radio
- Use of Sound: Carolina Garibay, WBBM; Jeremy Goodwin, St. Louis Public Radio
Large Market categories include Chicago and St. Louis. Small Market categories are for stations serving an Illinois audience outside of the Chicago/St. Louis metro markets, including border markets in Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Indiana that have a signal in Illinois.
We look forward to recognizing the best in Illinois news broadcasting and celebrating together!