KCAL News Recaptures Top Spot in Emmy Awards

After losing out last year to KCBS-TV Channel 2, KCAL-TV Channel 9 regained its position of top award winner at the 50th annual Los Angeles Emmy Awards over the weekend. But KTTV-TV Channel 11 and KMEX-TV Channel 34 made off with the prized awards for best daily newscasts.

KCAL scored eight trophies at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Saturday night in recognition in local programming during 1997, two more than second-place KCBS. KCAL was citied for its live coverage of the North Hollywood bank robbery, best news special (“Hong Kong: The Dragon and the Pearl”) and other achievements.

But KTTV, which came in third place with five awards, walked off with honors for best daytime newscast and best daily newscast over 35 minutes with its morning “Good Day L.A.” and 10 p.m. broadcast, respectively..

Spanish-language KMEX made off with only one award, but it was one of the evening’s most prestigious--best daily newscast under 35 minutes for the station’s 11 p.m. news.

Meanwhile, the “Special Investigations” unit at KCBS and reporter Joel Grover accounted for half of the station’s six awards. Grover and executive producer Sylvia Teague were cited in a tie for best serious news story (multi-part) for “Behind the Kitchen,” which exposed unsanitary conditions at restaurants, and “License for Sale,” which detailed how Department of Motor Vehicle employees illegally sold drivers’ licenses. Both series resulted in widespread reform.

KCOP-TV Channel 13, KTLA-TV Channel 5, and KNBC-TV Channel 4 each won four awards, KABC-TV Channel 7 and KCET-TV Channel 28 nabbed three, and City TV, Fox Sports West 2, KSCI-TV Channel 18 and L.A. City View garnered one each.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented its Governors Award to veteran KNBC anchor and commentator Jess Marlow.

Here is the full list of winners:

Regularly scheduled daily news over 35-minute format: “Fox 11 News at 10,” KTTV.

Regularly scheduled daily news under 35-minute format: “Noticias 34 at 11 p.m.,” KMEX.

Regularly scheduled daytime newscast: “Good Day L.A.,” KTTV.

Live Coverage of an unscheduled news event: “North Hollywood Bank Shooting,” KCAL.

Informational/public affairs series (studio-based): “Life & Times,” KCET.

Sports series: “Inside Cal-Hi Sports,” Fox Sports West 2.

News special: “Hong Kong: The Dragon and the Pearl,” KCAL.

Sports special: “Here’s to You, Mr. Robinson,” KTLA.

Live special events: “An Evening at the Academy Awards: Pre-Show,” KABC.

Entertainment programming: “Ragtime: The American Premiere,” KCOP.

Serious news story (single report): “Trauma Team,” KNBC.

Serious news story (multi-part) “Behind the Kitchen Door” and “License for Sale,” KCBS.

L.A. local color: “Travel Cafe: Best of L.A.,” KNBC.

Crime/social issues: “Dreams on Fire”, Life & Times, KCET.

Education: “L.A. Fire!: Rescue Operations,” L.A. City View.

Children/youth programming: “Kids View,” KABC.

Arts and culture/history: “KTLA at 50,” KTLA.

Health and science/environment: “4 Your Health,” KNBC.

Information segment: “Farewell to Farms,” Life & Times, KCET.

Investigative reporting: Joel Grover, KCBS.

Hard news reporting: Drew Griffin, KCBS.

Sports reporting: Steve Hartman, KCBS.

Live sports coverage: “Fight Night,” KCAL.

News feature reporting: Steve Hartman (reporter), Les Rose (producer), KCBS.

Light news story (single report): “Lewd Videos,” KCAL.

Light news story (multi-part): “Alaska,” KTTV.

Feature segment: “Kobe Bryant (Lakers Basketball),” KCAL.

News director: Kimberly Crawford, KTTV.

News videographer: Robert Pastoriza, KCAL.

Non-news videographer: Joel R.S. Fallon, KCAL; George A. Prince III, Jack Chisholm, Gary Emrick, Dean Hall, Craig Hampton, Ray Figelski, Mike Keeler, Ray Liu, Bruce Oldham, Martin Clancey, Doug Larson, Ross Elliott, KTLA.

News editor: Burke Ewing III, KCOP; Mark Sudock, KTTV.

Non-news editor: Garry Ashton, KCAL.

News writer: Randy Roach, KABC.

Non-news writer: Dave Goetz, KCOP.

Non-news director: Robert Manciero, KSCI.

Technical creative crafts: KTLA.

Short promo: “1997 News Image Campaign: Hometown,” KNBC.

Public, municipal and operator produced cable: “A Community of Caring,” City TV.