WKMG was the big winner when the 2006 Florida Associated Press Broadcasters awards were presented on Saturday night. Local 6 News won both first- and second-place awards in the Best TV Newscast and Individual Achievement categories, plus a first place in spot news.
The Jan. 11, 2005, WKMG newscast — featuring exclusive video of a fatal plane crash on Dubsdread Golf Course — was voted best newscast, edging another WKMG newscast from Aug. 2. Sky 6 pilot Dan McCarthy and photojournalist Chris Miller won the spot news category with the aerial video of the Dubsdread crash.
In the Individual Achievement competition, Tony Pipitone took first place with a composite of live, investigative and feature reports, while Local 6’s Erik von Ancken won the second-place award.
WFTV received a first-place award in Hard News Feature for Berndt Petersen’s "Lake County Cold Case." Channel 9 also picked up second-place awards for Sportscast, Public Affairs and Best Overall.
WESH received one award, for a Marc Rice photo essay with Kathy Marsh titled "The Chicken Man."
Orlando’s stations were competing in the AP’s large-market division, that also includes stations from Miami and Tampa.