The INBA is thrilled to release the winners of our second annual INBA Crystal Mic Awards. The awards will be presented at our Fall Convention in Bloomington on Saturday, Oct. 8. To register, head to our Eventbrite link. You can also book a room at the Parke Regency Hotel and Conference Center at our group rate through Sept. 16. To book now, click here.

Small Market Radio

Best Station                          

1st place               WCBU-FM, Peoria                                              

2nd place              WNIJ-FM, DeKalb

Best Newscast                     

1st place               WGLT-FM, Normal                                              

2nd place              WLBK, DeKalb

Best Reporter                      

1st place               Joe Deacon, WCBU-FM, Peoria                                        

2nd place              Lyndsay Jones, WGLT-FM, Normal

Breaking News                     

1st place               WMBD, Peoria, “BioUrja Ongoing Disaster”                                  

2nd place              WILL, Urbana, “Rare December Tornado Hits Coles County”

Best Digital Presence         

1st place               WVIK-FM, Quad-Cities

2nd place              WNIJ.org/Hola, DeKalb

Investigative Report           

1st place               WNIJ-FM, DeKalb, Peter Medlin, “Water Woes”

2nd place              WIUM-FM, Macomb, Jane Carlson, “A One Hospital Town”

Sports Report                      

1st place               WILL, Urbana, “Women’s Basketball Hires Shauna Green As Head Coach”

2nd place              WIUM-FM, Macomb, Jane Carlson, “A National Champion”

Use of Sound                       

1st place               WTAX, Springfield, “Fair Fare”

2nd place              WVIK-FM, Quad Cities, “Do You Want To Work On The Railroad?”

Best Writing                         

1st place               WTAX, Springfield, Dave Dahl

2nd place              WNIJ-FM, DeKalb, Yvonne Boose

Large Market Radio

Best Station                          

1st place                WBBM-Chicago                                   

Best Newscast                     

1st place               WBBM-Chicago                                   

2nd place              WLS-Chicago

Best Reporter                      

1st place                Lisa Fielding, WBBM, Chicago                                          

2nd place              Eric Schmid, KWMU, St. Louis

Investigative Report           

1st place                KWMU, St. Louis, “Lack Of Tornado Safe Rooms For Metro East Warehouses”

Sports Report                      

1st place                WBBM, Chicago, “Sports Report with Jeff Joniak”

Use of Sound                       

1st place                KWMU, St. Louis, “This app lets you see what Cahokia Mounds looked like 1,000 years ago”

2nd place              WBBM, Chicago, Lisa Fielding

Small Market TV

Best Station                          

1st place               WREX-TV, Rockford                                            

2nd place              WCIA-TV, Champaign

Paul Davis Best Newscast                  

1st place               WREX-TV, Rockford                                            

2nd place              WGEM-TV, Quincy

Best Reporter                      

1st place                Mike Miletich, WGEM-TV, Quincy                                    

2nd place              Shelby Kluver, WQAD-TV, Moline    

Breaking News                     

1st  place              WGEM-TV, Quincy, “Firefighters Battle Fire And Ice”

2nd place              WIFR-TV, Rockford, “Jury Finds Floyd Brown Guilty Of Second Degree Murder”

Best Digital Presence         

1st place               WREX-TV, Rockford

2nd place              WMBD-TV, Peoria

Investigative Report           

1st place               WEEK-TV, Peoria, Kyle Beachy, “Panhandling in Peoria: How A Pandemic Has Fueled A Problem”

2nd place              WAND-TV, Decatur, Deron Molen/Eric Ahola, “Transferring Trauma”

Sports Report                      

1st place               WQAD-TV, Moline, “La Panterita”

2nd place              WEEK-TV, Peoria, “All-American Hometown Hero”

Use of Video                        

1st place               WQAD-TV, Moline, “John Deere Strike”

2nd place              WMBD-TV, Peoria, “Destination Illinois: Bob & Tom Excellent Adventures”

Best Writing                         

1st place               WIFR-TV, Rockford, Mike Garrigan

2nd place              WQAD-TV, Moline, Josh Lamberty

Best Weather Operation

1st place               WGEM-TV, Quincy

2nd place              WREX-TV, Rockford

Large Market TV

Best Station                          

1st place               KSDK, St. Louis                                    

2nd place              WLS-TV, Chicago

Paul Davis Best Newscast                  

1st place               KSDK, St. Louis                                    

2nd place              WLS-TV, Chicago

Best Reporter                      

1st place                PJ Randhawa, KSDK, St. Louis                                           

2nd place              Emily Manley, KTVI, St. Louis

Breaking News                     

1st  place               WGN, Chicago, “Oak Brook Mall Shooting”                   

Best Digital Presence         

1st place               WLS-TV, Chicago

2nd place              KSDK, St. Louis

Sports Report                      

1st place               KSDK, St. Louis, “Justin Hardy Story”

2nd place              WGN, Chicago, “Ukrainian Boxers”

Use of Video                        

1st place                KSDK, St. Louis, “Stone Carver”

Best Writing                         

1st place                KSDK, St. Louis, Mike Bush

Best Weather Operation

1st place                WLS, Chicago

We are excited to share that the INBA Fall 2022 Convention registration is open. The convention is Oct. 7-9 in Bloomington at the Parke Regency Hotel and Conference Center. To register, CLICK HERE.

Convention Schedule

Friday Oct. 7

• 12:00 p.m. – INBA Board Meeting at Parke Regency
• 3:00 p.m. – Hotel check-ins begin
• Evening welcome reception

Saturday Oct. 8

• 9:00 a.m. – President’s Welcome
• 9:15-10:30 a.m. – The future of Electric Vehicles
  • Panelists: 
    • Tucker Kennedy, Ameren Illinois
    • Chris Koos, Mayor of Normal              
    • Session Description:  Increased incentives for electric vehicle production are leading to questions about existing and needed infrastructure to support this evolution in transportation. Learn how energy experts and city leaders are keeping up with the changes.

• 10:30-10:45 a.m. – Break
• 10:45-12:00 p.m. – Cameras and Microphones in the Courtroom
  • Presenters:  
    • William Scanlon of McLean County Courts
    • Maggie Hradecky, Media Coordinator
    • Session Description: It’s been a decade since the pilot program which allowed cameras in the courtroom in Illinois. In 2016, the Illinois Supreme Court filed an Order amending the Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Circuit Courts of Illinois and adopting the program as permanent. This discussion will focus on lessons learned over the past ten years as well as how we can be the best stewards of the additional press freedoms we have been granted.
• 12:00 p.m. -1:15 – Lunch and Business Meeting
• 1:30-2:00 p.m. – Keeping Stamina in News Reporting
  • Panelist:  Alex Degman, Illinois Public Radio
  • Session Description: Getting a job in news is one thing, staying with it is quite another. We hear from a longtime INBA member who has experienced the industry from a variety of roles and recently chose to come back to Illinois to serve as statewide audience in a demanding, daily reporting role.
• 2:30-3:15 p.m. – Vocal Delivery Workshop
  • Presenter: Shawn Allee / WBEZ
  • Session Description: You’ve got a great script, but now what? We learn to mark up scripts for teleprompter apps or paper, warming up, visualizing a listener, handling pick-up lines, and noting which tracks to keep and which to cut.
• 3:30-4:00 p.m. – Illinois Public Radio Meeting
• 4:00 p.m. – INBA Foundation Meeting (Location TBD)
• 5:30 p.m. – Doors Open for Evening Reception
• 6:00 p.m. – Dinner
  • Keynote Speaker: Alexis McAdams, Fox News Correspondent

• About our Keynote: Alexis McAdams currently serves as a national correspondent based in New York City. She joined the Fox network in October 2021.Most recently, McAdams reported live from the Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York, where 10 people were killed in a mass shooting. McAdams previously worked at ABC affiliate WLS-TV in Chicago where she covered the city’s crime beat. In addition, she covered major breaking news stories across the Midwest including natural disasters, mass shootings and major court cases as well as extensive reporting on the protests in Chicago following the death of George Floyd. A graduate of Illinois State University, McAdams holds a Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.
  • INBA Crystal Mic Awards Presentation

Sunday Oct. 9

• 9:30-10:15 a.m. – Pandemic messaging lessons learned

• Presenter: OSF Healthcare
  • Session Description: The media relied on healthcare professionals to get accurate and timely information out to Illinois residents since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot has been learned about the virus itself and how to treat and prevent it. A moderated discussion on what has been learned from both sides of the messaging on best practices to ensure the safety of residents and the audiences we serve.

10:30-11:00 a.m. – Illinoisan of the Year 

For work completed July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022

Entries accepted starting July 1, 2022 at https://rockourawards.com/register

Entry Deadline: August 8, 2022

Awards presented: October 8 at the Illinois News Broadcasters Association Fall Convention in Bloomington.

MORE AWARDS FAQs HERE

Categories for Station Entries:

INBA Crystal Mic Award: Best Station (Large and Small Market Television and Radio)

INBA Paul Davis Crystal Mic Award: Best Newscast (Large and Small Market Television

and Radio)

INBA Crystal Mic Award: Best Weather Operation (Large and Small Market Television

Only)

INBA Crystal Mic Award: Best Digital Presence (Large and Small Market Television and

Radio)

Categories for Individual Entries:

INBA Crystal Mic Award: Best Reporter (Large and Small Market Television and Radio)

INBA Crystal Mic Award: Breaking News (Large and Small Market Television and Radio)

INBA Crystal Mic Award: Investigative Report (Large and Small Market Television and

Radio)

INBA Crystal Mic Award: Use of Sound – (Large and Small Market Radio)

INBA Crystal Mic Award: Use of Video (Large and Small Market Television)

INBA Crystal Mic Award: Writing (Large and Small Market Television and Radio)

INBA Crystal Mic Award: Sports Report (Large and Small Market Television and Radio)

CLICK HERE to register. You have the option of attending the whole weekend, or just Saturday.

Small Market Radio

Large Market Radio

Small Market Television

Large Market Television

For many years, INBA conventions served as host for the annual Illinois Associated Press awards. These competitive categories allowed us to share in the recognition and celebration of the impressive work of broadcasters who serve Illinois markets. It has been one of the highlights of our conventions.  

The Illinois Associated Press notified the INBA board this past winter that it would be discontinuing its statewide awards.

One of my first tasks as incoming INBA President was to determine if and how we would continue to provide a space to celebrate the accomplishments of broadcasters through an awards ceremony. 

There was quick interest in forming a new awards contest. There was also caution of the time, energy, and financial considerations to conduct an awards program. 

INBA formed and ad-hoc (now permanent) awards committee. We discussed best practices in managing a competition with integrity that would be competitive, affordable, and financially viable for INBA. 

We named a contest administrator H Wayne Wilson to develop category descriptions and contest rules. We contracted with Rock Our Awards, an industry leader in managing submissions. Additionally, we arranged a “judge swap” with the Iowa Broadcast News Association. INBA membership also voted unanimously to name The INBA Crystal Mic award for Best TV Newscast in honor of two-time INBA Illinoisan of the Year Paul Davis. Davis is a former WGN-TV News Director and past president of INBA. Just before his death in April, Davis called the honor, “A remarkable present– a nice tip of the hat.” 

I appreciate the efforts of this committee to focus on a smaller scale initially with an eye on expanding our categories long-term. We feel this year’s categories will represent the “Best of the Best.” The Crystal Mics themselves are pretty impressive pieces of art too for you to share with your team and audience should you snag one this year! 

I may have buried the lead here, but what we need now are your entries. We have heard from many stations already, but feel there is room for more. Believe me, the daily deadlines make sitting down and reflecting on the past year and a half a tough task to schedule. But we believe it is essential for us all to look back at the work of our reporters and teams and submit them for consideration to be recognized for their impact on the audience. That’s why we are extending the entry deadline until August 7^th.  

CLICK HERE FOR CONTEST DETAILS AND TO ENTER

ROCKFORD (INBA) – The Illinois News Broadcaster’s Association is pleased to announce its first in-person event since the pandemic.

“INBA members remained active and connected during the pandemic, but we know there is simply no substitute for the networking and lively engagement of an in-person convention. We are thrilled to gather safely in Rockford for a weekend to remember,” said INBA President and WNIJ News Director, Jenna Dooley.

Our fall convention will be in Rockford from Sept. 24-26 at the Embassy Suites.

REGISTER FOR CONVENTION HERE.

RESERVE HOTEL ROOM AT SPECIAL RATE HERE:

Details about our workshops, panels, and speakers are coming soon. On top of reconnecting with broadcast journalists across the state, there will be a ceremony for our first ever INBA Crystal Mic Awards.

The INBA Crystal Mic Awards will be presented at Saturday night’s banquet. Here are the award categories:

• Station of the Year
• Digital Presentation of the Year
• Reporter of the Year
• Weather Operation of the Year (TV Only)
• Radio Newscast of the Year and the Paul Davis TV Newscast of the Year

To enter to win, CLICK HERE.

We can’t wait to see you and catch up!

COVID-19 Precautions

We are asking all attendees to follow current CDC and IDPH guidelines for COVID-19.

Right now that means we’re asking unvaccinated attendees to wear a face mask during INBA gatherings.

Masks are not required for vaccinated individuals.

Davis is a former WGN-TV News Director and past president of INBA. He also served as president of both the Radio-Television News Directors Association and the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi.

Davis grew up in Effingham in a broadcasting family. His mother was news director of WCRA radio for 37 years.

Davis also worked at WCIA-TV in Champaign before serving as news director at WGN.

Davis was awarded the Illinoisan of the Year in 1993 and again in 2013 surrounded by family and friends.

Davis calls the honor, “A remarkable present– a nice tip of the hat.”

INBA general membership voted wholeheartedly at the organization’s spring convention in favor of creating the “Paul Davis Best TV Newscast Crystal Mic” which will be presented at INBA’s fall convention in Rockford to the station who wins this category.

Thanks to Paul for his generous service to INBA over the years.

We’ll have several sessions throughout the day including a FOIA Tips and Tools workshop, a “Write Like You Talk” lesson, and our general business meeting. Though we will miss clinking our glasses in person, the convention wouldn’t be complete without a virtual happy hour (you don’t even have to tip the bartender!). We will also present our 2020 scholarship winners and SINBA award winners. This year, we’re ecstatic to present our largest scholarship checks in INBA history at $2,200 each. Scholarship finalists are being determined now and will be interviewed before four winners will be chosen. 

Whether you want to log in for a few minutes, an hour or two, or the whole day, INBA welcomes you! Stay tuned for a schedule of events. 

During our Spring Convention we usually have an awards ceremony for Illinois AP award winners. However, the AP Broadcasting Awards were discontinued. The good news is the INBA is launching its own contest: INBA Crystal Mic Awards. The INBA is excited to launch this prestigious celebration of the best broadcast journalists in Illinois. Our first awards will be presented at the INBA Fall Convention in Rockford. You can read more about the awards here. 

This convention is free for INBA members. Non-members can attend and become an INBA member for $25 through our virtual convention this spring. Our usual member dues are $35. 

You can register online now by clicking here.

MORE ABOUT OUR WORKSHOPS 

Write Like You Talk! 

Award winning TV journalist Jeff Butera will lead this session. Butera has worked at ABC7 in Fort Meyers, FL. since 2012. He’s earned four Emmy Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and was named Best Reporter twice by the AP. Butera is known for being one of the authors of the latest edition of “Write Like You Talk”; a book to help broadcasters improve their writing. While he grew up in Florida, we’ll welcome him with open arms in Illinois since his station bio says he’s a Chicago Cubs fan! 

Like Butera’s book, this session is aimed at helping you finesse your writing and give you a chance to ask questions. 

FOIA Tips and Tools 

Jessica Huseman from Votebeat will lead this session. Votebeat is a non-profit newsroom covering voting rights, election administration, and redistricting. She is also an analyst for CNN and a former lead reporter for ProPublica’s Electionland project. Huseman will join us from Dallas, TX. to answer your FOIA questions and teach you new skills. In her LinkedIn bio she says, “I’m interested in boosting local journalism, making collaboration between newsrooms work and helping new reporters realize their potential.”

INBA Crystal Mic Categories: 

• Station of the Year
• Newscast of the Year
• Digital Presentation of the Year
• Reporter of the Year
• Weather Operation of the Year (TV Only)

There will be a first place “Crystal Mic” statue and second place plaque awarded in each category.

Important Deadlines:

For work completed January 1, 2020-June 30, 2021

Entries accepted starting July 1, 2021 at INBA.net

Entry Deadline: July 31, 2021                                      

Judging: August 1-20 (judging partners Iowa Broadcast News Association)

Finalists announced: early September

Awards presented: September 25, 2021 at the Illinois News Broadcasters Association Fall Convention in Rockford.

Price per entry:

Large Market TV               $45

Small Market TV               $30

Large Market Radio         $35

Small Market Radio         $20

Specific entry instructions and rules for each category will be available in coming months at INBA.net. Follow us on our social media platforms for future announcements.

Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

For questions, contact INBA Crystal Mic Contest Manager H Wayne Wilson at hwilson@mtco.com