FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (WWLP) – 22News was recognized for several top honors at the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association’s 2019 Sound Bites Awards Thursday evening.
The MBA honored 22News with five awards this year:
‘Above and Beyond’ First Place to Digital Reporter Monica Ricci
She is also known as staff sergeant when she is not working at 22News and is among the one percent of Americans who proudly serves in our U.S. military. As a member of the Air Force Reserve, she has the unique opportunity to grow simultaneously in both her military and civilian careers. With one deployment and various temporary duty assignments under her belt, Monica has just completed her first six-year enlistment in the Air Force Reserve as a photojournalist and public affairs specialist assigned to Westover Air Reserve Base. Every month, Monica works a 12-day stretch between 22News and her reserve drill weekend.
Over the last year, Monica has participated in two multinational military exercises in Europe, supervised younger Airmen, and has taken on an additional duty as unit deployment manager for the 439th Airlift Wing. Monica continues to be worldwide deployable herself, and is slated to deploy overseas in summer of 2020.
Even with such a demanding commitment, Monica continues to exemplify the Air Force Core values—Integrity, Service Before Self, and Excellence—here at 22News. She has spearheaded the company-wide Digital First initiative at the station by transitioning from digital content producer to our first-ever digital multimedia journalist. In the last year, Monica began paving the way for other digital MMJs across the company, by mastering the use of small tech equipment to shoot engaging content for WWLP’s digital platforms and by being among the dozen digital team members appointed to the Nexstar Digital First Taskforce. As the second longest-standing member of the digital team, Monica often trains new digital employees and looks over content before it is published. She is always a text or call away when other members of the digital team need guidance.
Photojournalist First Place to Michael Houle
Air Personality Merit Award to Meteorologist Nick Bannin
Nick Bannin joined the 22News Storm Team in October 2010. It was a busy start for Nick at 22News with major weather events such as the June 1st tornado, Tropical Storm Irene and the October Snow Storm happening all within his first year!
He can be seen bringing you the forecast each weekday morning on 22News starting at 4:30 a.m. and on 22News at Noon.
Sports Feature Merit Award for Miracle League Opening Day
Miracle League of Western Massachusetts makes spring season debut
Children with disabilities who at one time could only dream of playing baseball like all the other kids now get their chance thanks to the Miracle League found in 2015.
Station Promotional Announcement Merit Award
“Everywhere I Go”
The 22News Promotion Department received a Merit Award for Station Promotional Announcement for the Winter and Spring versions of our Everywhere I Go campaign spots created to promote our weekday morning news.
The MBA is a voluntary trade association that represents over 200 on-air radio and television broadcasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
This year’s gathering was held at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel.
PHOTOS: MBA Sound Bites 2019
See a complete list of Massachusetts Broadcasters Association winners
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