Staff Reports
Fox SportsWilliamsport.com
The Pennsylvania AP Broadcasters Association is pleased to announce the winning stations in the 2014 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.
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 30 in Gettysburg.
Talk WilliamsportRadio 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 December 6, 2013 in the Best Regularly Scheduled Sportscast category. This is the third PAPBA Award for Brian Williams since joining Talk WilliamsportRadio Williamsport and the second year in a row he is receiving a award in this category.
“For Brian Williams to win this award in back-to-back years proves his unwavering work ethic and commitment to his craft has truly paid huge dividends.” Bartley said.
Additionally, Ian Catherine will be awarded for his call of the 2014 Saint John Neumann Boys Basketball District IV Class A Championship game win in the Best Sports Play-By-Play category.
Joe Vasile will also be awarded in the Best Sports Play-By-Play category for his call of the Middle Athletic Conference football matchup between the Wilkes Colonels and the Albright Lions. This is also the first PAPBA Award for Joe Vasile since joining Talk WilliamsportRadio Williamsport.
For the first time, Talk WilliamsportRadio Williamsport’s sister station, WWGE-AM 1400 in Loretto, Pennsylvania is also receiving an award, as Joe Vesnesky and Bernie Jubeck are receiving an award in the Best Sports Play-By-Play category for their call of Saint Francis University Women’s Basketball defeating Sacred Heart in the 2013-2014 Northeastern Conference Quarterfinals 132-124 in double overtime.
With the awards going to Ian Catherine, Joe Vasile, Joe Vesnesky, and Bernie Jubeck, Talk WilliamsportRadio Williamsport and WWGE-AM 1400 have swept the Best Sports Play-By-Play category for 2014. This marks the first time that the radio group has swept a category.
“For our peers to recognize the amazing depth of talent that is assembled at Talk WilliamsportRadio Williamsport and WWGE-AM 1400 is very rewarding to me,” according to Station Owner Todd Bartley.
“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 WWGE-AM 1400 and Talk WilliamsportRadio Williamsport have now brought home a combined 12 awards including 8 Best Sports Play-By-Play (Todd Bartley, Trevor Turner, Joe Putnam, Ian Catherine, Tom Ferguson, Joe Vasile, Joe Vesnesky, Bernie Jubeck), 3 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).
