Mark Greenblatt to Scripps TV stations

Mark Greenblatt, former KHOU 11 investigative reporter, leaves ABC News for Scripps TV stations

In January 2012, KHOU 11 investigative guy Mark Greenblatt went to ABC News. Now we learn he is leaving the network and going back to local with Scripps TV stations:

Award-winning investigative reporter Mark Greenblatt, will join The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) as a national investigative correspondent for the Scripps Howard News Service in Washington, D.C., effective April 15.

Formerly with ABC News as a national correspondent, Greenblatt specializes in computer-assisted reporting and the mining of public data through the Freedom of Information Act. His goal is compelling multiple-platform content that results in reform and broad benefit for communities.

"The Scripps Howard News Service is a journalism powerhouse committed to investigative reporting and video story-telling with both a national and local perspective across all of our media platforms and for all of our local TV and newspaper markets," said Brian Lawlor , senior vice president of Scripps television. "Mark is an amazing addition to the team. He is tenacious, yet patient with his investigations. He is thorough and resourceful and is widely respected for his abilities to hunt down a story that enacts change."

With ABC News, Greenblatt contributed to Good Morning America, World News and Nightline. He also wrote stories for ABCNews.com, filed live and taped radio reports for radio stations across the country and reported live for ABC affiliates nationwide and the BBC.

Before moving to network news, Greenblatt spent seven years as an investigative reporter at KHOU-TV in Houston, Texas. He received numerous national awards for his investigations including the Livingston Award, duPont-Columbia, two national Edward R. Murrow Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, National Headliner, National Emmy and an IRE Medal.

He also gained experience working at WBBH-TV in Fort Myers, Fla.; KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and KOMU-TV in Columbia, Mo.

He graduated in 2000 from the University of Missouri's School of Journalism.

Greenblatt and his wife, Regina, will move to D.C. where he will base his work for SHNS. He is the co-director for a national program to mentor investigative reporters and editors. He has volunteered for arts organizations and a program to motivate children to make a difference.

KHOU's Mark Greenblatt and 11 News Defenders up for Harvard award

If you read this blog you've noticed that KHOU's Mark Greenblatt and the 11 News Defenders have walked away with a lot of honors this year. Here is one more. Just today it was announced that Greenblatt is one out of six finalists for an investigative reporting prize handed out by the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government:

Mark Greenblatt
KHOU‐TV, Houston, TX
“Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard”
KHOU‐TV exposed rampant sexual discrimination, abuses of power, cover‐ups to Congress, financial corruption and theft by the National Guard’s top commanding generals. As a result, the Texas governor fired the accused commanders, the FBI and DA have launched criminal probes and three new state laws have been passed, requiring better oversight of the Guard by both the Governor’s office and the state assembly.

This is a big deal because he will be up against newspapers. Typically newspapers and TV do not compete in these type of honors. So congrats to him.

RELATED
- KHOU 11 wins 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award
- KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt wins national Emmy
- Poynter Online interviews KHOU about "Under Fire" investigation

KHOU 11's Greenblatt wins Livingston Award for Young Journalists

Playing catchup from the last few weeks while I was visiting the possibly soon to be deceased European Union (according to many pundits), here is news about KHOU 11. Investigative Reporter Mark Greenblatt has won a 2009 Livingston Award for Young Journalists, a national honor widely regarded as one of the industry’s most prestigious prizes for young journalistic talent from what I understand.

This dude has been winning stuff left and right within the last year. Once again the source of the prize was his story "Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard":

The Livingston Awards hail as the largest all-media, general reporting prizes in the nation with entries from broadcast, print and online journalists competing collectively against one another. Created to honor and support the next generation of journalists, a total of three Livingston Awards are presented each year to journalists under the age of 35 in the categories of Local, National, and International Reporting. Each award is also accompanied by a $10,000 prize.

Judges for the 2009 awards included Christiane Amanpour of CNN, Tom Brokaw of NBC News, Ken Auletta of The New Yorker and other notable journalists from Newsweek, ABC News and more. Past winners include the aforementioned Amanpour, Thomas Friedman of the New York Times and an impressive list of other talented reporters, many of whom went on to win the Pulitzer Prize several times over.

“Mark (Greenblatt) has always displayed tenacity, empathy and perspective in his reporting and the “Under Fire” investigation was no exception,” said Keith Connors, KHOU Executive News Director. “It is no surprise to us that he is now considered one of the best young journalists in the nation.”

Greenblatt emerged from a list of 45 finalists from organizations such as CNN, NPR and The New York Times. His entry, “Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard,” was the presentation of a two-year investigation that exposed ongoing sexual discrimination and financial corruption throughout the highest ranks of the Texas National Guard. Reports by Greenblatt and the 11 News Defenders investigative team led to nearly unprecedented action and reform including the removal of three commanding generals by the Governor and the firing of a separate base commander, ongoing D.A. and FBI criminal investigations, hearings by the Texas Senate Finance committee and new laws to prevent similar problems in the future.

YOU CAN WATCH THE STORY HERE


RELATED
- Texas TV and radio stations win regional Murrow Awards
- KHOU 11 in Houston wins Peabody Award
- KHOU 11 does it again
- Texas winners at the 76th annual National Headliner Awards
- KHOU 11 wins 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award
- KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt wins national Emmy
- Poynter Online interviews KHOU about "Under Fire" investigation

KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt joins ABC News

I heard KHOU 11 investigative guy Mark Greenblatt was going network. I asked him to confirm but never heard back. Now we know. ABC News fills us in:

Mark Greenblatt joins ABC News as a correspondent in New York and will file for all platforms. He comes to us from KHOU-TV where he worked for seven years as an investigative reporter, winning many awards including the duPont-Columbia, Peabody, National Headliner, National Emmy and two National Murrows.

Over the course of his career, Mark’s investigative reports have led newscasts at WBBH-TV in Fort Myers, FL; KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs, CO; and KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO.

Mark credits his considerable reporting gifts to his parents. His late father spoke 16 languages fluently, and worked in military intelligence before retiring to the civilian sector. His mother worked as a paralegal for much of her professional career and always kept her teaching license because of her love of English and writing.

While in Houston, Mark spent significant time volunteering with arts organizations and speaking to children about making a difference. He enjoys road cycling and recently completed the MS150, a 180-mile two-day ride from Houston to Austin. A native of Denver, Mark is an avid Boston Red Sox fan and looks forward to rooting for his team even when he lands in the Big Apple. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri's School of Journalism.

RELATED
- KHOU 11's Christine Haas to KNSD 7 NBC San Diego
- KHOU 11's Lucy Noland headed to KNBC 4 LA
- Former KHOU 11 reporter Dave Fehling joins NPR
- KHOU 11's Alex Sanz to WPTV 5

KHOU 11 does it again

KHOU 11 in Houston just won the prestigious IRE Medal award. That's as high as it gets in this contest:

Under Fire: Discrimination & Corruption in the Texas National Guard — KHOU-Houston; Mark Greenblatt, David Raziq, Keith Tomshe, Chris Henao, Robyn Hughes, Keith Connors
- Judges' comments: No system can be more impenetrable for a team of reporters than the military "old boys" network, but that's exactly what reporter Mark Greenblatt and producers David Raziq and Chris Henao took on when they followed up on a tip to check out the "Vagisil Award" being given to women in the Texas National Guard. From that one tip, the team – which also included photographer/editor Keith Tomshe and graphic artist Robyn Hughes – found a system of misogynistic actions that went beyond humiliation. In some cases, female officers were being disciplined or even discharged despite exemplary service records. Data and documents gathered by the team showed a systematic refusal to consider women for top posts, and swift punishment for any who complained about the male power structure. In the end, this two-year investigation resulted in the Texas governor firing three top generals in the Texas National Guard and the state legislature changing the way it oversees Texas Guard operations.

- FINALISTS:
- 33 Minutes to 34 Right — KMGH-Denver; Jeff Harris, Tony Kovaleski, Tom Burke, Arthur Kane, Jason Foster
- Beyond the Verdict — KMSP-Minneapolis; Jeff Baillon, Brad Swagger, Eric Gedrose, Spencer Driskill
- Deporting Justice — WFAA-Dallas; David Schechter, Mark Smith, Kraig Kirchem
- Safety for Sale — WFAA-Dallas; Byron Harris, Mark Smith, Sasha Gurevich, Kraig Kirchem, Billy Bryant, Greg Johnson

Yeah and by the way, the other winner was a little newspaper up East. You might have heard of it. It's called The New York Times.

SEE THE OTHER WINNERS

RELATED
- Texas winners at the 76th annual National Headliner Awards
- KHOU 11 wins 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award
- KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt wins national Emmy
- Poynter Online interviews KHOU about "Under Fire" investigation

KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt recalls agency leaking his investigations to competitor

Yesterday, KTRK 13 Undercover's Wayne Dolcefino gave us an inside look into the world of Houston investigative reporting. This sort of stuff is why I write this blog. Hopefully we all can learn something from posts like this.

On the heels of the Dolcefino Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lesson, we hear from another major Houston investigative reporter. KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt has been a friend of the mikemcguff.com blog and offers his thoughts on reporters investigating other reporter's work.

"It is my deep belief that journalists who file public information requests for the purpose of stealing or “beating” another journalist to a story are doing a strong disservice to the profession of journalism," Greenblatt told the mikemcguff.com blog over email. "Worse yet, they’re hurting the public they *should* be aiming to serve.

"Why? When a reporter engages in a war of a trying to do what I call a “crash piece” just to ruin a competing news organization’s in-depth work, sometimes, that competitor may feel forced to air an in-depth project before it has been carefully reviewed. In that rush to “get it first”, they sometimes forget what’s more important: to get it right."

Greenblatt offers another interesting perspective. What about when an agency that a reporter is investigating, gives stories to other journalists in efforts to weaken the piece? It's happened to Greenblatt.

"I had suspected a local agency I was investigating was “leaking” stories to a competitor, calling them up to tell them about stories so they might do a story first that would be “thin,” not well sourced, investigated, or vetted for accuracym," Greenblatt recalled. "In this way, the p.r. department of that agency also knew the reporter they were giving the story to, wouldn’t have time to learn enough about the subject to ask hard-hitting questions of the agency that handed the story over to them on a silver platter.

"I began to grow suspicious after a pattern of this sort of stuff. So I filed a FOIA, or to be more precise a request under the Texas Public Information Act- for all the communications between that news organization and the agency I was investigating. Immediately, the emails that were turned over proved up all my worst suspicions… and unfortunately even more. Indeed, the agency was very much leaking my stories- likely figuring it would be better to take a soft hit from a “crash” piece than a hard one. I saw a lot of other things in those emails that would raise a lot eyebrows in the ivory towers of ethics classes in journalism schools. Writing a story about this sort of relationship … wouldn’t necessarily serve the public in my mind. It would only make them lose faith in a bunch of squabbling journalists (similar to how the public loses faith in politicians that run negative ads). I didn’t want to do that. I like to aspire- to be better than that. I did, however, in my own way let both the reporter – and the agency know that I knew what was going on. And I gave the top people at that agency a choice on future stories (citing what I had learned): They could get a call from me from now moments before we were about to run a major report on their agency… leaving THEM scrambling from now on- or they could immediately cease and decist from this horrific behavior. They chose… to stop leaking my stories. And while I never ran a public story about any of this… in that way, the public had already won."

RELATED
KTRK 13 Undercover's Wayne Dolcefino says stop copying my work

KHOU 11 wins 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award

KHOU 11 in Houston lets us know it has won a 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award. This is a big deal in broadcast journalism. The honor came for the 11 News Defenders one-hour special “Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard.” This is the fourth duPont-Columbia Award won by KHOU’s investigative team:

“Under Fire” was the culmination of a two-year investigation by the 11 News Defenders. During the course of their investigation, Reporter Mark Greenblatt, Executive Producer for Investigative David Raziq and Photojournalist Keith Tomshe unearthed a series of deep-rooted problems in the Texas National Guard that ultimately led to the firing of three top Generals.

The investigation found high-ranking female officers being pushed out of the National Guard through harassment, punishment and sabotage by an all-male leadership. It was then discovered that subsequent discrimination investigations were often mired at the highest levels. The unraveling continued when the Defenders exposed other forms of corruption, including embezzlement, double-billing and the funding of private businesses with National Guard resources.

You can watch the story here. Congrats to Greenblatt and the Defenders team. See the other stations that also won the award.

RELATED
- KHOU 11 honored with a dozen Lone Star EMMY Awards
- KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt wins national Emmy

KHOU 11 Wins 23 Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Awards

I told you a few days ago how the winners of the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters 2009-2010 Television Contest were announced. KHOU 11 lets us know it won 23 awards in the competition.

Of the 23 awards won by KHOU, ten were first place honors, giving the 11 News team the most total awards won and most first place awards won by any large market television station in Texas.

Best Weathercast
First Place: KHOU, Houston- Gene Norman, Aired 5 p.m. 9-25-09

Best News Anchor/Team
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Christine Haas

Best Spot Coverage/Station
Honorable Mention: KHOU, Houston - April Flood

Best Spot Story/Individual
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Kevin Reece, Leo Gonzalez & Tom Empey, Fire Trucks Collide
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Jeff McShan & Greg Hamilton, Subway Robber

Best Feature/Serious
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Jeremy Rogalski, Keith Tomshe & David Raziq, Soldiers at Risk - Iraq Water Investigation

Best Feature/Light
Honorable Mention: KHOU, Houston - Kevin Reece, Ernesto Torres & Chris Desmond, Rescue Me

Best Investigative
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Mark Greenblatt, David Raziq & Keith Tomshe, Under Fire: Discrimination & Corruption in the Texas Army National Guard

Best Photojournalism/Station
First Place: KHOU, Houston

Best Photojournalism/Individual
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Todd Rogenthien

Best Sports Story
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Daniel Gotera, Winning One for LZ
Honorable Mention: KHOU, Houston - Len Cannon & Chris Desmond, Wrestling School

Best Documentary
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Mark Greenblatt, Keith Tomshe & David Raziq, Under Fire: Discrimination & Corruption in the Texas Army National Guard

Best Specialty/Beat Reporting
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Kevin Reece, Christine Haas, Brad Woodard &Todd Rogenthien, Soldier Stories
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Alex Sanz, Harris County Government

Best Reporter
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Brad Woodard
Honorable Mention: KHOU, Houston - Kevin Reece

Best General Assignment
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Brad Woodard, Frank McBride & Guy Tubbs, American Icon Abandoned

Best Continuing Coverage
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Kevin Reece, Chris Desmond & Ernesto Torres, Rescue Me

Best Deadline Editing
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Ernesto Torres, Galveston Trees

Best Feature Editing
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Todd Rogenthien, Hearts for Hunter

Best Online/Special Content
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Houston Snow

Best Morning Newscast
2nd Place: KHOU, Houston - Aired 6-10-09

RELATED
- KENS 5 wins 20 awards, including 'best newscast' from Texas AP Broadcasters
- Mike McGuff wins at TAPB 2008-2009

Gabe Gutierrez to NBC News Atlanta

Gabe Gutierrez surprised me today. My pals at TV Spy and TV Newser are reporting the KHOU 11 Houston City Hall reporter is outta here. He's off to the big leagues at NBC News Atlanta.

That means he is following in the footsteps of former KHOU 11 investigative colleague Mark Greenblatt who recently left for a position at ABC News New York.

Gabe Gutierrez only joined KHOU 11 in March of 2010 as a general assignment reporter. Before Houston, he was a weekend morning anchor and reporter at WJRT-TV, the former KTRK 13 ABC owned sister station in Flint, Michigan.

Gutierrez joins NBC in two weeks says TV Newser.

Wow and the KHOU bon voyage list just keeps growing and growing. Who is next? Good thing there are always new spots in Midtown (near KHOU) opening up for goodbye parties.

- Allison Triarsi leaves KHOU 11
- KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt joins ABC News
- KHOU 11's Christine Haas to KNSD 7 NBC San Diego
- KHOU 11's Lucy Noland headed to KNBC 4 LA
- Former KHOU 11 reporter Dave Fehling joins NPR
- KHOU 11's Alex Sanz to WPTV 5

KHOU 11 Honored for Station Excellence at 8th Annual Lone Star EMMY Awards

KHOU 11 lets us know it received 20 Lone Star EMMY Awards for 2010 - more than any other station in Houston.

HOUSTON –– For the third time in eight years, KHOU took home the Lone Star EMMY Award Saturday night for overall Station Excellence. KHOU received 20 Lone Star EMMY Awards in various categories – topping all other stations in the Houston market.

Lone Star EMMY Awards are presented by the Lone Star Chapter of the National Television Academy and aim to recognize news excellence across the state of Texas. To see a complete list of winners and nominees, visit www.LoneStarEmmy.org.

Congratulations to KHOU’s Lone Star EMMY Award recipients listed here:

STATION EXCELLENCE
KHOU-TV Station Excellence
KHOU
Susan McEldoon, President & General Manager

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Star of Hope for the Holidays
KHOU

Deborah Duncan, Host/Senior Producer
Reggie Sadberry, Photographer/Editor
Lisa Shumate, Director of Programming and Marketing
Caroline Shumate, Songwriter

INTERACTIVITY
Belo Texas Interactive Debate Coverage
BELO
Jan Boyd, Producer
Greg Matthews, Producer
Jeff Anastasio, Producer
Doug Boehner, Producer
Michelle Homer, Producer
Christine DiStadio, Producer
Emily Hummel, Producer

NEWSCAST - MORNING/DAYTIME - LARGER MARKETS (1-25)
11 News This Morning
KHOU
Keith Connors, Executive News Director

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT - SINGLE STORY
My Neighborhood Tax Fraud Service
KHOU
Jeremy Rogalski, Investigative Reporter
Keith Tomshe, Photojournalist/Editor

Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard
KHOU
Mark Greenblatt, Investigative Reporter
Keith Tomshe, Photojournalist/Editor
David Raziq, Executive Producer

FEATURE NEWS REPORT - LIGHT FEATURE / SERIES
Rescue Me
KHOU
Kevin Reece, Reporter
Ernesto Torres, News Photojournalist
Chris Desmond, News Photographer

BUSINESS/CONSUMER - NEWS SINGLE STORY / FEATURE
Corporations Helping Crooks
KHOU
Mark Greenblatt, Investigative Reporter

HUMAN INTEREST - NEWS SERIES
Powerless
KHOU
Frank McBride, Photographer/Editor

POLITICS/GOVERNMENT - NEW SERIES
City-Owned Slum Properties
KHOU
Jeremy Rogalski, Investigative Reporter

SPECIALTY ASSIGNMENT REPORT - NEWS SINGLE STORY/FEATURE
Dying to Breed: Panola County Puppy Mill
KHOU
Brad Woodard, Reporter

TEXAS HERITAGE - NEWS SINGLE STORY/SERIES/FEATURE
Black Cowboys
KHOU
Len Cannon, Reporter
Gus Pereyra, Photographer

WEATHER - NEWS SINGLE STORY/SERIES/FEATURE
Still No Home on the Range
KHOU
Brad Woodard, Reporter

WEATHER - PROGRAM/ SPECIAL / FEATURE/SEGMENT
Storm Warnings: Winds of Change
KHOU
Chris Nocera, Producer
Gene Norman, Chief Meteorologist

PROMOTION - NEWS PROMO - SINGLE SPOT
11 News - 2009 Year Ender
KHOU
Bobby Rigg, Promotions Producer

EDITOR - NEWS - WITHIN 24 HOURS
The Daily Grind '09-'10
KHOU
Todd Rogenthien, Photojournalist

ON-CAMERA TALENT - ANCHOR - NEWS
Live, Local, And On The Desk
KHOU
Christine Haas, News Anchor/Reporter

ON-CAMERA TALENT - PROGRAM HOST / MODERATOR / REPORTER - PROGRAMMING
Great Day
KHOU
Deborah Duncan, Show Host/Senior Producer

ON-CAMERA TALENT - REPORTER - INVESTIGATIVE
Jeremy Rogalski/11 News Defenders Investigations
KHOU
Jeremy Rogalski, Investigative Reporter

ON-CAMERA TALENT - REPORTER - SPECIALTY ASSIGNMENT / CONSUMER / MEDICAL
A Voice for the Voiceless: Brad Woodard Reports, 2010
KHOU
Brad Woodard, Reporter

Texas winners at the 76th annual National Headliner Awards

The 76th annual National Headliner Awards winners have been announced and Texas represents as usual.

As I have chronicled a bunch lately, we have Mark Greenblatt and crew taking another one home for KHOU 11. But he's not the only one winning for Houston's CBS affiliate:

KHOU-TV, Houston, Mark Greenblatt, David Raziq, Keith Tomshe, Chris Henao and Robyn Hughes, "Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard"; KHOU-TV, Houston, Jeremy Rogalski, David Raziq and Keith Tomshe, "Solders at Risk: The Iraq Water Investigation"

Out of Dallas we have:

KXAS-TV, Fort Worth, Texas, Matt Barrie and Noah Bullard, "A Game of Hope."

And there were multiple awards for the Austin American-Statesman and The Dallas Morning News.

SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS

KHOU 11 in Houston wins Peabody Award

Unfreaking believable! After just winning the prestigious IRE Medal award, KHOU 11 News Defenders picked up a 69th annual Peabody Award! This is really big:

Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard (KHOU-TV)
KHOU-TV, Houston, Tex., Belo, Inc.
Dogged work by the Houston station’s investigative reporters found such blatant discriminatory treatment of female soldiers that three top Texas Guard generals were fired and a new commanding officer was appointed. SEE FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Congrats again to KHOU's Mark Greenblatt, David Raziq, Keith Tomshe, Chris Henao, Robyn Hughes, Keith Connors. Job well done.

I want to walk through the KHOU 11 studios now. I want to drink from their water fountains. Touch their desks. Eat from the station snack machine. Maybe some of it will rub off on me.

RELATED
- KHOU 11 does it again
- Texas winners at the 76th annual National Headliner Awards
- KHOU 11 wins 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award
- KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt wins national Emmy
- Poynter Online interviews KHOU about "Under Fire" investigation

740 KTRH's Michael Berry comments on Houston TV news

740 KTRH's Michael Berry knows the Houston media scene. Either from being a radio talk show host or sitting on the Houston city council, Berry has witnessed all sides.

That's why I want to spotlight a comment Berry left on my blog about the Houston TV news investigative world. It was on my post "KTRK 13 Undercover's Wayne Dolcefino says stop copying my work."

Here it is:

Wayne Dolcefino does the best investigative pieces in Houston. Period. He doesn't always do the best "investigations", but he presents them in the most entertaining style. Say what you will, his style is distinctive, unique, and entertaining. He tells stories, in a manner that makes you wonder if he isn't half laughing while he does so. He's been the best in town for years.

I will say, though, that Greenblatt at 11 has done some good work, as has Jeremy Rogalski on frequent occasion of late. Rogalski's pieces have been notable in the past year. Channel 2's Arnold & Dean do some good work, but it seems they have to file too many to be as in-depth.

Give Wayne his due: imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Ask anyone inside the news biz, and they'll tell you that Wayne's pieces are must-watch.

I sat on City Council for 6 years, and I'll tell you that elected officials quaked when he walked in. There was fear that he had targeted you, because once he did he would lay it all bare.

I've seen how he goes about investigating, the extent to which he chases down sources, and I admire how he weaves it all together. His multiple day pieces are good for ratings, and they're just good tv.

Mike, thanks for writing about this. This is the sort of thing that people need to know about, and maybe this will end the ugly practice.

By the way, who posts anonymously? Sign your post so we know if you have an axe to grind or an ass to kiss.

--Michael Berry
12/20/2010 12:43:00 PM

RELATED
KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt recalls agency leaking his investigations to competitor

Texas TV and radio stations win regional Murrow Awards

Just announced this morning, Texas TV and radio stations are bringing home the gold sort of speak for the Lone Star State in the 2010 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award contest.

In Region 6 (Texas and Oklahoma) Houston TV kicked ass with KHOU, KTRK, KPRC, and KRIV winning. KXAS won for Dallas-Fort Worth.

Overall Excellence
KHOU-TV - Houston, TX
KHOU Overall Excellence

Video Continuing Coverage
KPRC-TV - Houston, TX
Cold Case Cracked

Video Reporting: Hard News
KTRK-TV - Houston, TX
Too Much Trauma

Video Investigative Reporting
KHOU-TV - Houston, TX
Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard

Video News Documentary
KHOU-TV - Houston, TX
Under Fire

Video Newscast
KHOU-TV - Houston, TX
11 News at 5

Video Sports Reporting
KXAS-TV - Fort Worth, TX
A Game of Hope

Use of Video
KHOU-TV - Houston, TX
Todd Rogenthien, Photojournalist

Web site
KHOU-TV - Houston, TX
KHOU.com

Writing
KRIV-TV - Houston, TX
Greg Groogan 2009

SEE THE ENTIRE LIST INCLUDING SMALL MARKET AND RADIO

A special shout out to KTRK 13's Tom Abrahams, John Mubarak, Johnny Marquez and Bob Dows who won for hard news reporting concerning a story on the overloaded trauma center at the Memorial Hermann hospital in Houston. And no surprise that a certain Mark Greenblatt and company take home another prestigious award!

Houston Press Best of Houston 2010 edition

The Houston Press Best of Houston 2010 edition is out. GO CHECK IT OUT

The highlights for those who read this blog include:

Best Radio Talk Show
Partisan Gridlock, KPFT

Best Flack
Norm Uhl, HISD (He's great, worked with him off and on for years for stories)

Best Weathercaster
Casey Curry, KTRK abc13

Best Local TV Talk Show
InnerVIEWS (Ernie Manouse knows the art of the interview for sure)

Best Radio Station
103.7 FM

Best Local Blog
Swamplot (I predicted this one)

Best Local TV News Reporter
Mark Greenblatt — KHOU (anyone reading this blog sees the amount of awards he brings in)

Best Radio Host (Talk)
Michael Berry — KTRH (the Press attacks him during the year, but then gives him the best usually)

Best School - 2010
T.H.Rogers
Since I attended the school, I had to make a note. Congrats principal David Muzyka!

KHOU 11 wins National Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence

Things are going very well for KHOU 11 in Houston. The station just won its second National Edward R. Murrow Award in 2010:

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has recognized KHOU with two National Edward R. Murrow Awards. The station earned top honors for a large market television station with the award for Overall Excellence, recognizing coverage that consistently demonstrates depth and scope.

“Winning the Murrow Award for Overall Excellence is an honor shared by everyone who works at KHOU, said Susan McEldoon, KHOU President and General Manager. “I am proud of their efforts, their good work and of the commitment they demonstrate every day to serving viewers.”

KHOU also received a National Edward R. Murrow Award in the Video News Documentary category for the investigative special “Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard.”

Together, the pair of Murrow Awards highlights an already exceptional year for KHOU. In the past 12 months, KHOU has won more awards for journalistic excellence than any other station in Texas, in part due to the impact and success of “Under Fire,” which continues to capture national journalistic honors.

“Under Fire” was the presentation of a two-year investigation that exposed ongoing sexual discrimination and financial corruption throughout the highest ranks of the Texas National Guard. Reports by the 11 News Defenders investigative team - reporter Mark Greenblatt, executive producer David Raziq, photojournalist Keith Tomshe and art director Robyn Hughes - led to significant action and reform.

"It's a testament to the commitment our journalists share to not just cover the news,” said Keith Connors, KHOU Executive News Director. “At KHOU we take pride in uncovering the important stories that impact our community."

“Under Fire” has been recognized with a duPont-Columbia Award, the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Medal, a George Foster Peabody Award, a National Headliner Award for Investigative Reporting and it was a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize from the Shorenstein Center at Harvard.

Other accolades for KHOU this year include six regional Edward R. Murrow Awards –the most of any large market station in the Texas-Oklahoma region – and 23 Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Awards – again more awards with more first place finishes than any large market station in the state.

The National Edward R. Murrow Awards are presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) for excellence in electronic journalism. Winners will formally be recognized on October 11 at the RTDNA Awards Dinner in New York. For a complete list of 2010 winners, visit www.rtdna.org.

RELATED
- Texas TV and radio stations win regional Murrow Awards
- KHOU 11 in Houston wins Peabody Award
- KHOU 11 does it again
- KHOU 11 Wins 23 Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Awards
- KHOU 11 wins 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award

Vicente Arenas jumps to CBS News from KHOU

KHOU 11 weekend anchor Vicente Arenas to CBS News Miami

UPDATE Sep. 14, 2015
Vicente Arenas Out at CBS News

KHOU 11 weekend anchor Vicente Arenas is heading off to CBS News Miami as a national correspondent. Arenas will be the first KHOU reporter to go straight to CBS News as a national correspondent since Dan Rather according to an internal memo sent to the KHOU newsroom by news director Philip Bruce that was obtained by mikemcguff.com:

Vicente Arenas

Vicente Arenas has done so many great things for KHOU. As weekend anchor, his affection for and knowledge of Houston is a key reason why we typically dominate the ratings each Saturday and Sunday. As a reporter, he brings not only years of experience but respect and empathy for the people he covers. And as a community ambassador for KHOU, Vicente represents us in a way that always builds bridges and reflects the very best qualities we have to offer those we serve.

Beyond all that, Vicente is a true gentleman, a good soul and a friend. Which makes it so hard to say goodbye.

One week from today, Vicente leaves KHOU to start a great new adventure---as the Miami based national correspondent for CBS News. This is a huge opportunity and guarantees that Vicente will have a front row seat to history, in Cuba, Central and South America and across the US.

We are so proud of Vicente and so happy that he’ll still be in the family, reporting on the CBS Evening News and all the network’s news broadcasts.

KHOU and our old Belo Family have a legacy of producing great network talent—that includes the guy in the big chair at CBS, Scott Pelley. We’re proud of Anna Werner, our former I-Team reporter, who’s now a national correspondent at CBS News; of Gabe Gutierrez, Janet Shamlian and Charles Hadlock (all at NBC News) and Mark Greenblatt (who went to ABC).

But there’s something very special about KHOU’s connection to CBS. We have many KHOU alums working there now behind the scenes. And now Vicente joins the ranks.

Here’s an interesting fact---Vicente Arenas is the first KHOU reporter to go directly to CBS News as a national correspondent since Dan Rather.

He’s not gone yet---and even though the news director typically is the last to know anything about what’s happening in the newsroom, I’m betting there’ll be a party.

Congratulations Vicente!

According to his bio, Arenas joined KHOU 11 News in January 2003 as a weekend anchor and weekday reporter. He previously worked at WOAI in San Antonio as the weekday morning anchor/consumer reporter and as a reporter for KTRK abc13.

Arenas, an award winning journalist, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Journalism.

TVSpy reports Arenas starts his new gig with CBS March 17.

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KHOU 11 honored with 3rd straight ‘Overall Excellence’ Murrow Award and more

KHOU 11 and KHOU.com continue to rack up the awards. The station won three Regional Murrows and two Headliners Foundation of Texas Awards. This is the third year in a row I've written a post like this so I'll let the info KHOU 11 sent me take it from here:

The Radio Television Digital News Association has once again recognized KHOU 11 with the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in the Texas-Oklahoma Region. This is the third consecutive year for KHOU to receive this distinction, having gone on to win the National Edward R. Murrow in this category in 2010.

“The Murrow Award for Overall Excellence recognizes the talent of each individual at KHOU,” said Susan McEldoon, KHOU 11 President and General Manager. “To win three years in a row truly highlights the exemplary standard of news our team upholds day after day.”

In all, KHOU won three Regional Murrow Awards. Photojournalist Todd Rogenthien was honored for the second consecutive year in the category of Best Use of Video, and the award for Best Series went to reporter Jeremy Rogalski, photojournalist Keith Tomshe and executive producer David Raziq for the series “Drowning in Neglect.”

The Headliners Foundation of Texas also recently announced winners of its Charles E. Green Awards for excellence in Journalism, naming KHOU’s Kevin Reece as Best Reporter and presenting KHOU.com with the award for Best Online/Special Content for its digital coverage of the I-Team investigation surrounding radiation in the Houston water supply.

The Headliners Foundation works in partnership with the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters (TAPB). Each year the TAPB recognizes excellence and achievement in journalism with awards in various categories. In March, KHOU received 20 TAPB Awards, eight of which were Division winners that went on to compete for the Headliners Foundation distinction.

“The commitment to journalism runs deep throughout the newsroom – on air and online,” said Philip Bruce, KHOU 11 Executive News Director. “It is humbling to be honored by organizations so respected in our industry.”

A breakdown of recent KHOU 11 awards is as follows:

Edward R. Murrow Awards – Region 6:
Overall Excellence: KHOU-TV
Use of Video: Todd Rogenthien, Photojournalist
Series: Drowning in Neglect – Jeremy Rogalski, Keith Tomshe, David Raziq
Headliners Foundation of Texas Charles E. Green Awards:
Best Reporter: Kevin Reece
Best Online/Special Content: Radiation and Houston Water Supply – KHOU.com

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Division 1 Winners:
Best Newscast
Best Morning Newscast
Best Anchor: Christine Haas
Best Reporter: Kevin Reece
Best Feature Editing: Nathan Kvinge
Best Spot News Coverage: Bank Hostages – Kevin Reece, John Shaw, Leo Gonzalez
Best News Series: Corporations Helping Crooks – Mark Greenblatt, Keith Tomshe
Best Online/Special Content: Radiation and Houston Water Supply – KHOU.com

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KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt wins national Emmy

I told you how Channel 11 KHOU's investigative team was nominated for a national Emmy (not the same as the Lone Star Emmys). Guess what, they won:

On Monday, The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) presented KHOU-TV with an award for Outstanding Regional News Story – Investigative Reporting at the 30th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards in New York City.

Channel 11 was one of only two local stations in the nation to receive an award at the event and the only local station to be awarded in the investigative category. READ MORE

I didn't get a press release from Channel 11. I actually learned about this from blogHOUSTON. Kevin Whited says Channel 11 didn't send him a release either - someone else did. I wonder why KHOU does not send out press releases to blogs?

Kanye: "KHOU doesn't care about new media."

Hold it Kanye, that is not true. Now I see why President Obama called you a "jackass."  The station has blogs and Twitter accounts. I just hope it thinks of us next time there is some good news. And KHOU is not the only media to ignore blogs.   The other TV stations and media should send us news items too!