The "E. B. Craney Awards" are named in memory of Montana broadcast pioneer Ed Craney. The "EBs" recognize excellence in local news, production, promotion and public service. The awards are presented annually during the Montana Broadcasters Association convention. These awards are sponsored through the generosity of the The Greater Montana Foundation (www.greatermontana.org) which Mr. Craney established to encourage communication, with an emphasis on electronic media, on issues and trends of importance to Montanans.

E.B. Craney Awards

Non-commercial Radio Program of the Year
Winner:
Flavors Under the Big Sky, Stella Fong, Yellowstone Public Radio, Billings
Runner-Up:
The Write Question, Lauren Korn, Montana Public Radio, Missoula
Podcast
Winner:
Fireline, Corin Cates-Carney, Montana Public Radio, Missoula
Runner-Up:
Montana Murder Mysteries, Angela Marshall, ABC/Fox Montana, Missoula
Radio Commercial
Winner:
Kara Kochivar, STARadio, Great Falls, "Liberty Fireworks 2022"
Runner-Up:
Shawn Hertel, STARadio, Great Falls, "Bloom and Bean Retro Valentines"
Radio Copywriter
Winner:
Kevin Skaalure, Montana Radio Company, Helena, "Cheddars"
Runner-Up:
Shawn Hertel, STARadio, Great Falls, "Wicked Year"
Radio News Story
Winner:
Freddy Monares, Montana Public Radio, Missoula, "Pandemic relief will help build affordable housing on reservations"
Runner-Up:
Shaylee Ragar, Montana Public Radio, Missoula, "As Montanans Struggle To Access Affordable Child Care, Officials Can't Agree On Solutions"
Radio News of the Year
Winner:
Peter Christian, KGVO Radio, Missoula
Runner-Up:
Troy Mellinger, STARadio, Great Falls
Radio On-Air Broadcaster of the Year
Winner:
Brian Lee & Chris Wolfe, KZOQ Radio, Missoula
Runner-Up:
Paul Panisko, Butte Broadcasting, Butte
Radio Program of the Year
Winner:
David Squires, KOJM Radio, Havre, "Afternoon Music Report with Davey Squires"
Runner-Up:
KC Kloppel, KGVO Radio, Missoula, "Real Estate Revolution with Jason Baker"
Radio Public Service
Winner:
Shawn Hertel, STARadio, Great Falls, "Non-Profit Relief"
Runner-Up:
Aubrey Nilsen, Missoula Broadcasting Company, Missoula, "KKVU-PSA entries for consideration"
Radio Sports Coverage
Winner:
Paul Panisko, Butte Broadcasting, Butte, "Paul Panisko RadioSportsCoverage"
Runner-Up:
Colter Nuanez, Missoula Broadcasting Company, Missoula, "Colter Nuanez Sports Coverage Submission"
Radio Sportscaster of the Year
Winner:
Colter Nuanez, Missoula Broadcasting Company, Missoula
Runner-Up:
Paul Panisko, Butte Broadcasting, Butte
Radio Station Promotion
Winner:
Aubrey Nilsen, Missoula Broadcasting, Missoula, "KYJK- Sing for those tickets sweet child o' mine"
Runner-Up:
Brian Lee, KZOQ Radio, Missoula, "Max Variety - World Off"
TV Daily News Report
Winner:
Andrea Lutz, KTVQ, Billings, ""At Capacity" man denied critical surgery at clogged hospitals"
Runner-Up:
Angela Marshall, ABC/Fox Montana, Missoula, "Arlee Students Hit"
TV Digital
Winner:
Shawn Newton & Dillon Davies, KXLH/MTN, Helena, "Under the Big Sky Digital"
Runner-Up:
Spencer Martin, Chris Byers, Shaun Rainey, Alex Eschelman, ABC/Fox/SWX, Missoula/Billings, "FCS Championship Week"
Non-commercial Television Program of the Year
Winner:
Scott Sterling, Kelly Gorham, & Aaron Pruitt, Montana PBS, Bozeman, "Mavericks"
Runner-Up:
Scott Sterling & Aaron Pruitt, Montana PBS, Bozeman, "11th & Grant"
TV Breaking News
Winner:
Casey Conlon, KTVQ, Billings, "Wind rips trees down, causes major damage in Wyoming town"
Runner-Up:
NBC Montana News Team, KECI, Missoula, "Wildfire breaking news coverage"
TV Commercial
Winner:
Shawn Newton, KXLH/MTN, Helena, "Shawn Newton - Television Commercial"
Runner-Up:
Alex Lillie, KPAX, Missoula, "Scott Edman Coffee Shop"
TV Feature News
Winner:
Shaun Rainey, ABC/Fox Montana, Missoula, "The Fighting Falcons"
Runner-Up:
Jill Valley & James Rafferty, KPAX/MTN, Missoula, "Under the Influence"
TV Hard News
Winner:
Ben Wineman, ABC/Fox Montana, Missoula, "Help Me Ben-Dream Home Nightmare"
Runner-Up:
Megan Mannering, KPAX/MTN, Missoula, "A Crisis We Can Fix"
TV Broadcaster of the Year
Winner:
Melanie Willardson, ABC/Fox Montana, Billings
Runner-Up:
Andrew Curtis, KTVH/MTN, Helena
TV Public Service
Winner:
James Sally, KBZK/MTN, Bozeman, "Book Drive Whittier Elementary"
Runner-Up:
Carley Rainey, KBZK/MTN, Bozeman, "Carley Rainey - PSA of the Year"
TV Sports Story or Series
Winner:
Shaun Rainey & Joe Lesar, ABC/Fox Montana, Missoula, "Griz Golf: Moving Fore-ward"
Runner-Up:
Andrea Lutz & Brandon Sullivan, KTVQ/MTN, Billings, "River Dreams"
TV Sportscaster of the Year
Winner:
Shaun Rainey, ABC/Fox Montana, Missoula
Runner-Up:
Scott Breen, KTVQ/MTN, Billings
TV Station Promotion
Winner:
Andrew Demarest, ABC/Fox Montana, Billings, "Montana My Home 2021"
Runner-Up:
James Sally, KBZK/MTN, Bozeman, "KXLF Book Drive Kennedy Elementary"
TV Weathercaster of the Year
Winner:
Elizabeth Copeland, KPAX/MTN, Missoula
Runner-Up:
Brooke Foster, KECI/NBC Montana, Missoula
TV Writer-Commercial & Public Service
Winner:
Matt Reid, KBZK/MTN, Bozeman
Runner-Up:
Lindsay McNay, KFBB, Great Falls
TV Writer-News and Long Form Programming
Winner:
Kevin Maki, KECI/NBC Montana, Missoula
Runner-Up:
Shannon Newth, KRTV/MTN, Great Falls
Television Program of the Year
Winner:
Casey Conlon & Brandon Sullivan, KTVQ/MTN, Billings "Covering Kaczynski"
Runner-Up:
Carley Rainey, KBZK/MTN, Bozeman, "Murder At Cameron Bridge: Who Killed Danielle Houchins?"
TV Newscast of the Year
Winner:
KTVQ/MTN, Billings
Runner-Up:
KTMF/KFBB, ABC/Fox Montana, Missoula/Great Falls