Leading in Local by Staying Connected

Amidst all the noise about the TV industry, and where it's going, local news-and the journalists who deliver it-remain the steadfast cores of broadcasting. Keen on building deep-seated viewer trust, the country's topper-forming news talent have long played a range of community roles-neighbor, advocate, informer and analyst. All of which has become even more evident, and more critical, as an increasingly unwieldy world has pushed localism to the forefront.

In the last year, local broadcasters from Chicago, New Orleans and Jacksonville, Fla., to Dothan Ala., have been there-keeping viewers safe from destructive storms, guiding them through a brutal election season and reporting on the devastating shootings that rocked communities. In our annual spotlight on winning journalists around the country, B&C highlights some of the most popular, and effective, local broadcasters on-air today, based on the wins and reputations they have in their markets.

STATION: WGN

MARKET: Chicago (DMA No. 3)

OWNER/AFFILIATION: Tribune/Independent

PROGRAM/TIME: WGN Morning News

ANCHOR TEAM: Larry Potash and Robin Baumgarten

TRACK RECORD: WGN Morning News from 6 a.m.-9 a.m. has ranked No. 1 with adults 25-54 for six years. THEIR YEAR IN NEWS: The day after Donald Trump was elected president was among WGN's biggest news days of 2016; Iraqi War vet Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat, unseated Illinois' incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk; baseball's Chicago Cubs broke the Billy Goat curse, beating the Cleveland Indians to win the World Seriesfor the first time in 108 years.

WHY IT WORKS: Baumgarten and Potash take Chicago's news, and its impact on viewers, very seriously. But when it comes to themselves and the rest of the morning crew, all bets are off. It's like working with the brothers you wish you never had, Baumgarten said. Take, for instance, the time the studio's audio board crashed; the team delivered their show via hand-written signs, rather than opting for a technical difficulties message. And when sometimes we suck, we say we suck, said Potash, adding that real-life delivery goes far. As Bozo used to teach us, Someone's got to get the pie in the face if it's going to be funny.' Admitted Baumgarten, And it's usually me.

STATION: KDFW

MARKET: Dallas-Fort Worth (DMA No. 5)

OWNER/AFFILIATION: Fox Television Stations

PROGRAM/TIME: Good Day

ANCHOR TEAM: Tim Ryan and Lauren Przybyl

TRACK RECORD: Good Day has ranked No. 1 from 4:30 a.m.-9 a.m. with adults 25-54 for the last 14 years.

THEIR YEAR IN NEWS: In July, a sniper gunned down five Dallas police officers during a peaceful protest, garnering national outcry during a summer of unrest; Texas politics, and how it played out in the presidential election, was rife with incredible headlines; the Cowboys tied for the most regular season wins in team history with 13.

WHY IT WORKS: The way Ryan and Przybyl see it, their long-standing appeal in the market stems from the consistency and transparency they and the rest of their morning team bring to the job. All four of us are the same people on camera as we are off camera, Przybyl said. [Viewers] connect with us on all different levels, and in all different stages of our lives. Plus, they all genuinely like each other-something that certainly resonates when covering tragedy, such as last summer's police shooting, or good times like the Cowboys' winning streak. You can be together for 20 years, but if you don't have the chemistry, viewers can figure it out pretty quickly, Ryan said. Added Przybyl, We lift each other up.

STATION: WRC

MARKET: Washington (DMA No. 7)

OWNER/AFFILIATION: NBCUniversal Owned TelevisionStations

PROGRAM/TIME: News4 Today

ANCHOR TEAM: Eun Yang and Aaron Gilchrist

TRACK RECORD: News4 Today from 5 a.m.-7 a.m. has ranked No. 1 with adults 25-54 for the last 33 months. THEIR YEAR IN NEWS: Exploring the presidential election's impact on federal workers; Inauguration Day coverage spanned platforms-the seven-hour Inauguration Caf , an interview show broadcast from a local caf , aired on WRC digital platforms and the digital sub-channel, Cozi TV.

WHY IT WORKS: Our viewers have told us that they want a morning news program that doesn't waste their time and makes them smarter and more keyed in, said Gilchrist. We're lucky to be an anchor team of friends who enjoy each other and care deeply about the people whose expectations we work to meet every day. Gilchrist added that he and his morning show colleagues share a primary goal: delivering news that's informative and preps viewers for the day ahead, which seems an ever-more vital charter in the nation's capital. If we can do that and help folks get their first smile of the day, we can feel like we've earned the privilege to try to do the same thing tomorrow, he said.

STATION: WSCV

MARKET: Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (DMA No. 16)

OWNER/AFFILIATION: NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations/Telemundo

PROGRAM/TIME: Noticiero Telemundo 51 a las 11 p.m.

ANCHOR TEAM: Fausto Malav and Daisy Ballmaj

TRACK RECORD: WSCV's 11 p.m. weekday newscast has ranked No. 1 in the market with adults 25-54 for 46 of the last 47 months.

THEIR YEAR IN NEWS: Fidel Castro's death in November generated nearly 23 hours of nonstop coverage; a destructive April earthquake in Ecuador yielded coverage from the hardest hit areas, as well as the collection and distribution of aid; Cuban Exodus included special reports on Cuban immigrants' journies to South Florida, and the hardships they faced throughout the ordeal.

WHY IT WORKS: In serving the market's Spanish speakers, Malav and Ballmaj don't distinguish between being journalists and being advocates for their Hispanic viewers. We are committed to being the voice of our community, said Ballmaj .

LINK:	http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/leading-local-staying-c...
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