Big props are in order for the KARK-Fox16 newsroom after winning five regional Emmy awards this past Saturday at a ceremony in Kansas City.

That’s the most Emmy wins for the news side of Team 20.  Back in 2016, the stations picked up five awards total — four from the newsroom.

Our total nominations were down year-to-year.  But after winning just two Emmys in 2017, I’ll gladly take a few less nominations to bring home a few more trophies.

Here’s a rundown of fourteen people who took home a statuette:

Fox16 Good Day Arkansas won the morning newscast category for coverage of March’s flooding.  Producer Lindsey Bryant along with on-air hosts Susanne Brunner, Natalie Walters, and Pat Walker received Emmy statuettes.

Fox16 also picked up a win for best evening newscast.  Executive Producer Mark Moseley, reporter Jessi Turnure, photographer Marc Gustafson, anchor Kevin Kelly, director Alphonso Crater, and Assistant News Director Ernie Paulson took trophies.

This one is particularly fun for me because of the history I have with Marc.  We went to college together and started our careers at the same station in Shreveport.  We’ve worked side-by-side in three markets over 15 years.  This win was many years in the making for “Goose.”

Senior Producer Shealyn Kirkman won an Emmy for best newscast producer.  Her entry featured various segments she’s produced from Fox16 broadcasts.

Shealyn is a great success story in our newsroom.  She started as an associate producer and has worked her way up the ranks over the last few years.  It’s great to see her hard work honored in this way.

KARK anchor Ashley Ketz and photojournalist Marcus Eubanks won an Emmy for their story on the Elaine Massacre in the category of Historic/Cultural – News Story/Feature.

Ashley always puts a considerable amount of time into her special reports to truly ensure they’re special.  I’m glad the judges recognized this duo’s hard work!

KARK picked up its second award of the evening for News Weathercast.   The entry from the statewide noon show Arkansas Today featured coverage of storms and flooding.  Producer Cheesa Williams received the statuette for her work.

Cheesa recently left us to start a new career as the spokesperson for a school district.  During her time with us, Cheesa was just inches away from winning an Emmy a couple different times.  I’m glad she can close the book on this chapter of her journalism career with a big win.

The five Emmys allow us to continue to say we’re the most-awarded television newsroom in the state.

So what’s next?  Time to get back to work!

We have to outdo ourselves in 2019!