KCETs SoCal Connected Wins Six Golden Mike Awards -- More an Any r TV News Outlet in Souern California

Los Angeles - January 25, 2010 - SoCal Connected, KCETs hard-hitting weekly news program, won six Golden Mike Awards - more than any other television news outlet in Southern California - for Best News Public Affairs Program, Best News Special, Best Hard News Reporting, Best Light News Reporting, Best Individual Writing, and Best Original News Commentary.

The awards were announced on Saturday by The Radio & Television News Association of Southern California, which presents the Golden Mike Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism every year.

SoCal Connected is honored to receive six Golden Mike Awards, said Bret Marcus, Executive Producer of SoCal Connected and KCET Senior Vice President of Programming and Production. SoCal Connected is committed to bringing viewers stories that can make a difference in their lives, and were proud to be recognized for our efforts.

SoCal Connected, also winner of six Emmy Awards, including awards for Informational/Public Affairs Series (More than 50% Remote) and Information Segment for Foreclosure Alley, airs Thursdays (8:00 - 8:30 p.m.), with repeat broadcasts on Fridays (8:30 - 9:00 p.m.), Saturdays (6:00 - 6:30 p.m.) and Sundays at (12:00 - 12:30 p.m.) exclusively on KCET. For more information, to view episodes online or to post comments, please visit www.kcet.org/socal.

Below is a complete list of SoCal Connecteds Golden Mike Award wins, along with links to segments, descriptions, and names of the individual winners in each category:

Best News Public Affairs Program

Is Anybody Listening?, Meeting the President and Commentary

SoCal Correspondent John Larson reports on a Pomona, CA high-school class video project born out of a discussion of the American Dream. Their eight-minute video entitled Is Anybody Listening? presents first-person narratives by students struggling with foreclosures, hunger and the very real threat of homelessness. Five months later, the project caught the attention of President Obama and he met with the students during a visit to Pomona. Bret Marcus, Executive Producer; Justine Schmidt, Producer, Karen Foshay, Producer, Alberto Arce, Editor, Michael Bloecher, Editor.

Best News Special

Inside Locke High

SoCal Connected Correspondent Angela Shelley profiles a group of teens at Locke High, a school where students are more likely to drop out than graduate. Academically, Locke ranks third-lowest in the state; yet, Green Dot--a charter operation--has taken over and aspires to make a difference. Bret Marcus, Executive Producer; Justine Schmidt, Producer, Angela Shelley, Producer, Michael Bloecher, Editor.

Best Hard News Reporting

Billboard Confidential

SoCal Connected Correspondent Vince Gonzales reports on a two-month investigation, looking at the political alliances--so-called sweetheart deals--that have brought billboards to virtually every neighborhood in the city. Bret Marcus, Executive Producer; Justine Schmidt, Producer, Karen Foshay, Producer, Alberto Arce, Editor.

Best Light News Reporting

The Year of Living Dangerously

SoCal Connected Correspondent Angie Crouch reports through interviews, and remarkable home video shot at sea by sailor Zac Sunderland, the youngest person to sail around the world solo. Bret Marcus, Executive Producer; Justine Schmidt, Producer, Karen Foshay, Producer, Alberto Arce, Editor.

Best Individual Writing

Safe Haven

SoCal Connected Correspondent Judy Muller investigates a day in the life of the Los Angeles Public Library, as Phillip Saffell shows us how this public space serves as his home and workspace. Bret Marcus, Executive Producer; Justine Schmidt, Producer, Karen Foshay and Alex Shey, Producers.

Best Original News Commentary

Marcos Villatoro, David Lazarus, Jill Stewart and Patt Morrison

Other topical issues addressed recently in SoCal Connecteds second season include a six-month investigation of Cal Osha reported by Vince Gonzales and produced by Karen Foshay; an investigation into the process of becoming a medical marijuana patient by SoCal Connected Contributor and award-winning Los Angeles Times columnist and author Steve Lopez; an examination of the egg donor trade and potential health risks to donors by SoCal Correspondent Judy Muller and produced by Saul Gonzalez; and SoCal Correspondent Lisa Lings report on middle class families made homeless in todays economic upheaval.

SoCal Connected is made possible through the generous support of The Ahmanson Foundation, serving the Los Angeles community since 1952; Jim and Anne Rothenberg; Linda and Abbott Brown; The Elizabeth Hofert-Dailey Trust; The John Randolph Haynes & Dora Haynes Foundation; The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, UCLA and U.S. Bank.

LINK:	http://www.kcet.org/about/pressroom/press-releases/kcets-socal-connect...
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