KSHB journalists bring home Emmy Awards

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - KSHB-TV brought home five Emmys for individual reports while reporter-anchor Cynthia Newsome was cited for career achievement at the 36th annual Mid-America Emmy Awards gala held Saturday at the Midland Theatre.

The Mid-America Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honored four TV veterans for their decades of service in the industry, including KSHB’s Cynthia Newsome. In addition to Newsome, Mike Bush of KSDK-TV in St. Louis, Kris Ketz of KMBC-TV in Kansas City and Terry Shoptaw of KHBS/KHOG in Rogers, Ark., were inducted into the NATAS Silver Circle, which honors 25 years or more in the industry.

KSHB journalists won Emmys for the following reports:

Reporter Ryan Kath and photojournalist Andy Pollard received an Emmy in the category of General Assignment Report--No Time Limit for their story, “ River Road Trip .” The same duo also took home the Emmy for best Politics/Government News Story or Program for their report titled “ Flying Under the Radar. ”

Kath and Pollard, along with photojournalist Michael Butler and producer Melissa Greenstein received an Emmy in the Investigative category for their report titled “ Questionable Contract .”

Kath and Butler won the Emmy for best Business Consumer News Story for their report “ Deceptive Nonprofit? ”

And finally, the KSHB weather team of Gary Lezak, Brett Anthony, George Waldenberger and Jeff Penner, along with producer Elyna Niles-Carnes, won the Emmy for best Informational/Instructional Program for their report “Surviving the Storm.”

In addition, NATAS presented a Governor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement to the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Produced by the locally based greeting-card giant, the dramatic series has received 80 Emmy awards and is the most-honored program in TV history.

The Mid-America chapter of NATAS includes television markets primarily in Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois and in surrounding metropolitan areas. This was the first time the gala was held in Kansas City, Mo. More than 450 people attended the reception, dinner and awards presentation. The Weather Channel’s Mike Bettes was the host.