SoCal Connected Wins Four Golden Mike Awards

SOCAL CONNECTED WINS FOUR GOLDEN MIKE AWARDS

Los Angeles - January 21, 2012 - KCET, the nations largest independent public television station serving Southern and Central California, is pleased to announce SoCal Connected, the stations hard-hitting weekly news program was honored with four Golden Mike Awards in division A by the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California (RTNA), including Best News Public Affairs Program, Best Documentary, Best Investigative Reporting and Best Original News Commentary.

Formally announced at the awards ceremony on Saturday, the Golden Mike Awards recognize excellence in broadcast journalism. Last year, SoCal Connected received seven Golden Mikes - more than any other station.

Were proud to be honored by Golden Mike Awards for a fourth season in a row, said Bret Marcus Executive Producer of SoCal Connected and KCET chief content officer. SoCal Connected is committed to producing quality investigative reporting that can make a difference in our communities, and were excited to be recognized for our work.

SoCal Connected, winner of the Peabody and duPont-Columbia awards, has also won 14 Emmy Awards, a total of 19 Golden Mikes, including two for Best News Public Affairs Show, 25 LA Press Club Awards for journalism, the Edward R. Murrow Award for Best News Documentary and Los Angeles Magazines Best New Local TV Program of 2009.

Below is a complete list of SoCal Connecteds 2011 Golden Mike Award wins, along with links to segments, descriptions and names of the individual winners in each category:

Best News Public Affairs Program

SoCal Connected: Red Light Cameras/ Meter Madness/ Slow Down & Shut Up

Youve got to watch out for more than just road hazards when youre driving around town. First, correspondent Judy Muller examines the business of red light camera tickets. They cost a lot of money, but do they make us any safer? Next correspondent Laurel Erickson explores the bizarre and punitive world of parking in West Hollywood. And finally, humorist Brian Unger has a few thoughts about his own forte - talking - and when its just the right time to keep quiet. Bret Marcus-Executive Producer, Justine Schmidt-Co-Executive Producer, Kat Keeney-Broadcast Producer, Karen Foshay-Producer, Val Zavala- Anchor, Judy Muller-Correspondent, Laurel Erickson-Correspondent, Brian Unger-Commentator, Rocio Zamora-Associate Producer, Lata Pandya-Associate Producer, Alberto Arce-Editor, Michael Bloecher-Editor, Peggy Holter-Story Editor.

Best Documentary

Separated by War: The Homecoming

Marine Staff Sgt. Tim Gallagher represents the new face of Americas military -- service members with children. More than 40% have at least one child younger than 18 years old. Staff Sgt. Gallagher left his wife and three young children behind for his tour of duty in Afghanistan. The family bands together during his dangerous deployment and welcomes him home in a poignant reunion seven months later. Bret Marcus-Executive Producer, Justine Schmidt-Co-Executive Producer, Angela Shelley-Producer, Steve Lopez-Correspondent, Christal Smith-Associate Producer, Michael Bloecher-Editor.

Best Investigative Reporting

Show Me the Money: The Junketeer

Hundred-thousand-dollar trips. Lunches and dinners at the swankiest restaurants. Gifts ranging from iPods to monogrammed sweaters. Thats what SoCal Connected found in its groundbreaking investigation into spending by officials at HACLA - the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles -- ironically, the billion-dollar agency responsible for sheltering the citys most vulnerable residents. The year-long investigation showed an agency out of control and accountable to no one, with literally thousands of bills and receipts to prove it. In the end, the head of the Housing Authority, Ken Simmons, was fired from his job just eight months after his predecessor, Rudy Montiel had also been ousted. The storys team for all four episodes included: Bret Marcus-Executive Producer, Justine Schmidt-Co-Executive Producer, Karen Foshay-Producer, Laurel Erickson-Correspondent, Lata Pandya-Associate Producer; Rocio Zamora, Associate Producer; Alberto Arce-Editor; Peggy Holter, Story Editor.

Best Original News Commentary

West Hollywood Fur Ban

SoCal Connecteds humorist Brian Unger looks at one of the countrys most politically correct communities, West Hollywood, and the controversial legislation they endorse, like banning fur clothing.

About SoCal Connected

SoCal Connected, winner of the Peabody and duPont-Columbia awards, 14 Emmy Awards, 19 Golden Mikes, 25 LA Press Club Awards, the Edward R. Murrow Award for Best News Documentary and Los Angeles Magazines Best New Local TV Program of 2009, airs Fridays (9:00 p.m.), with encores Saturdays (6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.), Sundays (1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.) and Mondays (10:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.) exclusively on KCET. For more information, to view episodes online or to post comments, please visit http://www.socalconnected.org

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

# # #

LINK:	http://www.kcet.org/about/pressroom/press-releases/socal-connected-win...
	See more stories from kcet

Most recent headlines