AFTRANS WIN BIG AT 10th ANNUAL AIR AWARDS

By Mark Roberts

PITTSBURGH (December 1, 2005) Some of the biggest names in local radio were in attendance at Riverwatch in the Strip yesterday for the tenth annual March of Dimes Achievement in Radio awards.

Presenter teams for this year's show included: Gary Love and Beth Bershok of WLTJ, Larry Richert and Monte from KDKA and Y108 respectively, Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann of WDVE, Ron Antill and Sara Lockard from WSHH, and Anji and GQ from WAMO.

Once again, Pittsburgh AFTRA members came away with the bulk of the awards, with members or signatory stations winning at least 22 of the 28 talent-related awards presented.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to longtime KDKA news anchor and AFTRAn Bob Kopler. Barbara Boylan presented the award to her co-anchor. The March of Dimes hosts the annual competition to raise funds for the prevention of birth defects. In the past 10 years, the Pittsburgh A.I.R. awards have raised more than a quarter of a million dollars.

	Bob Kopler with his Lifetime Achievement Award and his sixth Best Newscaster Award. Photo: Archie Carpenter - Click photo for larger image.

This year's winners are:

TALENT

Best Morning Show: Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann (WDVE-FM)

Best Midday Show / Music Station: Summer / DJ Boogie / Middays @106.7 WAMO (WAMO-FM)

Best Midday Show / News Talk, Personality or Sports Station: Mike Pintek (KDKA-AM)

Best Afternoon Show / Music Station: Scotty (WKST-FM)

Best Afternoon Show / News Talk, Personality or Sports Station: The Fred Honsberger Show (KDKA-AM)

Best Evening Show / Music Station: Scott Alexander (WZPT-FM)

Best Evening Show / News Talk, Personality or Sports Station: Ellis Cannon's Sportsline Pittsburgh (WPGB-FM)

Best Weekend Show: BJ Forsyth (WZPT-FM)

Best Sports Reporter: Ellis Cannon (WPGB-FM)

Best Traffic Reporter: Amy Blyth (Metro Networks)

Best New Talent in the Market: Summer In the City (WAMO-FM)

Best Individual Performance in a Radio Spot: Darren Eliker -- Chick-fil-A / "The Precinct"

Best Talk Show Host: Fred Honsberger (KDKA-AM)

Regional Achievement in Radio Awards

Best On-Air Talent: Ron Arlen's Rock'n Roll Chronicles (WXKC-FM, Erie)

NEWS

Best Newscaster: Bob Kopler (KDKA-AM)

Best News Coverage: Downtown Flood (KDKA-AM)

Best Sports Coverage Play-by-Play: Pirates 2005 (KDKA-AM)

Best Sports Coverage Reporting: Grid-Iron Girl Talk (WZPT-FM)

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Best Coverage of Infant & Maternal Health Issues and Problems: Pregnant Women Who Smoke: No. 1 With a Deadly Bullet (WDVE-FM)

Best Public Affairs Program or Feature: Duffy's Dossier Anger (KDKA-AM)

ADVERTISING

Best Commercial Spot by a Radio Station: Crossroads Chiropractic/Over Exertion (WORD-FM)

Best Commercial Spot by an Agency: Saint Vincent/Heart(Blattner Brunner)

Best Public Service Announcement: Decision 2004 (WDSY-FM)

Best Public Service Campaign: Volunteer in Arts Awards (WQED-FM)

Best Radio Advertising Campaign: Saint Vincent Campaign (Blattner Brunner)

Best Use of Humor in a Spot: Now You Know/Sports (Elisco Advertising)

Best Original Music in a Spot: Highmark "Local Economy" (Street Level Sound)

STATION

Best Station Sponsored Community Event: Lenny Kravitz -- Live at Hard Rock Cafe, A Flood Relief Benefit (WZPT-FM)

Best On-Air Audience Promotion: North Pole Radio (WZPT-FM)

Best Station Image Promo: K-ROCK Photograph Weekend (WRKZ-FM)

Best Production/Creative Services Director: Drake Donovan (WZPT-FM)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - Bob Kopler