2017 E.B. Craney Award Winners
Made possible by the Montana Broadcasters Association and the Greater Montana Foundation.
Radio On-Air Broadcaster of the Year
Winner:
Larry Wilson, KGHL-AM
Runner-Up:
Alyanya Wissink, KDTR-FM
Radio Copywriter of the Year
Winner:
Kevin Skaalure, KIMO/KMTX/KMXM, “Just Tapped Tasty Tuesday Lunch”
Runner-Up:
Jeff Balding, KBZM/KKQX/KSCY, “4 Corners Welding”
Radio Commercial of the Year
Winner:
Jenifer Overlease, KMBR-FM, “Mile High Motors Dan Patrick”
Runner-Up:
Allie Wheeler, KGGL/KXDR/KZOQ, “Iron Horse Towing”
Radio News Story of the Year
Winner:
Peter Christian, KGVO-AM, “Washington Family Carjacked in Missoula”
Runner-Up:
Greg Neft, KCAP-AM, “Capital Update”
Radio Newscast of the Year
Winner:
Peter Christian, KGVO, “Newscast of the Year”
Runner-Up:
Greg Neft, KCAP-AM, “Montana’s Morning News”
Radio Non-Commercial Program of the Year
Winner:
Amy Martin & Josh Burnham, KUFM Montana Public Radio, “Threshold”
Runner-Up:
Beth Anne Austein & Annie Garde, KUFM Montana Public Radio, “Rodeo Radio Theatre: The Frogs Who Wanted a King”
RADIO PUBLIC SERVICE
Winner:
Maggie Davis, KBOW/KOPR/KGLM, “Orphan Girl Children’s Theatre”
Runner-Up:
Jenifer Overlease, KAAR, “Southwest Montana Outdoor Recreation Report”
RADIO SPORTS COVERAGE
Winner:
Ryan Tootell, KKVU-FM, “Tootell & Tucker Sports Coverage”
Runner-Up:
RuBlake Hempstead, KANA-AM, “Blake Hempstead Sports Coverage”
RADIO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Ryan Tootell, KKVU-FM
Runner-Up:
Blake Hempstead, KANA-AM
RADIO STATION PROMOTION
Winner:
Carin Sullivan, KMBR-FM, “United Blood & KMBR Christmas Promotion”
Runner-Up:
Chris Wolfe, KZOQ-FM, “Missoula Bacon & Beer Fest 2016”
RADIO PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Mick Holien, KERR-AM, “In My Opinion”
Runner-Up:
Jon King, KGVO-AM, “Listeners Discuss Trump & Suicide on Talk Back’s Open Phones”
RADIO WEBSITE OF THE YEAR
Winner:
KUFM Montana Public Radio, mtpr.org
Runner-Up:
KYSS-FM, kyssfm.com
TELEVISION COMMERCIAL OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Carley Rainey, KBZK, “Commercials”
Runner-Up:
Matt Reid, KBZK, “Commercials”
TELEVISION WRITER-COMMERCIAL & PUBLIC SERVICE
Winner:
Shawn Newton, KXLH
Runner-Up:
Carla Rainey, KBZK
TELEVISION WRITER-NEWS & LONG FORM PROGRAMMING
Winner:
Cyndy Koures, KECI
Runner-Up:
Mikenzie Frost, KTVH
TELEVISION NEWSCAST OF THE YEAR
Winner:
KULR-8 News Team, KULR-8
Runner-Up:
NBC Montana News Team, KECI
TELEVISION NON-COMMERCIAL PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Scott Sterling, KUSM MontanaPBS, “The Violin Alone”
Runner-Up:
Ray Ekness, Gus Chambers, John Twiggs & William Marcus, KUFM MontanaPBS, “Backroads of Montana: Sharp Shooters”
TELEVISION PUBLIC SERVICE
Winner:
Andrew Yancey, KXLH, “A Helping Hand”
Runner-Up:
Carley Rainey, KBZK, “Carley’s 2017 PSA’s”
TELEVISION SPORTS STORY OR SERIES
Winner:
Brandon Sullivan, KTVQ, “Indian Relay Races”
Runner-Up:
Tom Wylie, KRTV, “Central Montana Stories: Turning Tragedy into Triumph”
TELEVISION SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Melinda Lee, KULR
Runner-Up:
Shawn Rainey, KTMF
TELEVISION STATION PROMOTION
Winner:
Andrew Demarest, KULR, “KULR History of Station”
Runner-Up:
Brian Oestreich, KTVQ, “TV Station Promotion”
TELEVISION ON-AIR BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Jill Valley, KPAX
Runner-Up:
Beth Saboe, KUSM MontanaPBS
TELEVISION FEATURE NEWS
Winner:
Shawn Newton, KXLH, “Under the Big Sky”
Runner-Up:
Aja Goare, KTVQ, “Mary Kennan’s Story”
TELEVISION COMMERCIAL PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Shawn Newton, KXLH, “Under the Big Sky”
Runner-Up:
The Weather Authority Team, KFBB, KULR and KTMF, “Weathering the Big Sky”
TELEVISION HARD NEWS
Winner:
Stella Daskalakis and Chris McCulley, KULR, “Human Trafficking Survivor Tells Her Story”
Runner-Up:
Steve Fetveit and James Wicks, KECI, “Delinquent Taxpayers Put Pinch on Schools”
TELEVISION WEATHERCASTER OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Curtis Grevenitz, KTVH
Runner-Up:
Erin Yost, KPAX
TELEVISION BREAKING NEWS
Winner:
KPAX News Team, KPAX, “Hamilton Roaring Lion Fire”
Runner-Up:
RuNBC Montana Staff, KECI, “Roaring Lion Fire Blows Up Near Hamilton”
TELEVISION WEBSITE OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Dillon Davies & Shawn Newton, KXLH
Runner-Up:
Carly Garrison, KTVH