07 Mar Tribune Broadcasting Stations Receive Digital Innovation Awards by Local Media Association
Three Stations Win 8 Total Awards
Including Best Website, Best Social Media Strategy, Best Audio
Chicago, March 7, 2019 – Tribune Broadcasting today announced three of its stations had been honored by the Local Media Association (LMA), which recognizes the best digital innovation in the media industry. A total of 8 awards, more than any other media organization, will be presented to Tribune Broadcasting stations at LMA’s Digital Revenue Summit April 22-23 in Chicago.
WPIX/New York received 5 honors, including 3 first place rankings. KTLA/Los Angeles, WJW/Cleveland and KTXL/Sacramento also received honors.
In addition, Steve Baron, VP/Digital and Head of Products, was named Digital News Innovator of the Year by LMA.
LMA is comprised of more than 3,000 newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, directories and research & development partners with the goal of assisting local media companies with their transformation strategies via cutting-edge programs, conferences, webinars, research and training, with a focus on helping local media companies discover new sustainable business models.
The following are the awards won by Tribune Broadcasting stations:
Best Local Website
This award recognizes the best all-around local media websites. Judges considered all aspects including: site design and organization, content, use of photos, graphics and video, user experience and engagement, presentation of advertising, mobile adaptability, and more. Judges were looking for creative, intuitive and robust websites that are beautifully designed with strong local content.
- Third Place: KTLA/Tribune Broadcasting
Best Social Media Strategy
This award recognizes the most successful and creative plans when it comes to leveraging social media to expand audience and heighten engagement. Judges were looking for interesting and new approaches to platforms such as Facebook, Reddit and Instagram that inspire audiences to connect with media and their local community.
- First Place: WPIX/Tribune Broadcasting
Judges’ comments: I liked how they had a very direct four pillar approach in their strategy, shared good examples, and then showed actual year-over-year metrics to back up their claims of success.
• Third Place: WJW Fox 8 Cleveland/Tribune Broadcasting
Best Strategy to Grow Digital Audience
This award recognizes sites that are developing high-quality content, processes, and user experiences that have proven to increase overall audience. Judges were looking for innovative and successful plans, such as new products, investments or tools, executed in the last year.
- Third Place: WPIX/Tribune Broadcasting
Best New Digital Initiative
Launching a new digital initiative takes time and resources, so this award showcases the best use of both that drove positive results. This broad category can encompass a digital initiative launched in the last year such as OTT, podcasting, virtual reality, insight selling, custom CMS, or something else that is new and emerging. Judges looked at how the initiative was planned, executed and whether company goals were met as a result of the initiative.
- First Place: WPIX/Tribune Broadcasting
Judges’ comments: The WPIX Social Media Studio – a studio in a box – is a smart investment in agile, multi-platform video programming creation. The team leveraged the ability to stream to many channels without needing a TV studio and drove great first-year results: 700 streams, 16 million impressions, 200,000 reactions comments and shares – and nearly $300K in gross digital revenue.
Best Events Strategy
This award recognizes local media companies that have put an exceptional strategy together when it comes to events. - Third Place: WPIX/Tribune Broadcasting
Best Audio and/or Voice Strategy
This award showcases achievement in audio or voice strategy at local media companies. This can include technological projects, sponsored podcasts, marketing plans, and other examples of how local news is reaching listeners through various devices. Judges were looking for strong models with scalability that generate interest and/or provide new options for the audience.
- First Place: WPIX/Tribune Broadcasting
Judges’ comments: WPIX-TV has an audio strategy that not only lands content in more traditional ways like podcasts, but also gives the audience excellent options using new technologies like Alexa in a sustainable way. It’s clear WPIX-TV is invested in producing audio content that meets listeners where they are in a fun and engaging way. From the Alexa Briefing to the station’s Alexa weather to a super fun podcast, there’s so much to applaud! - Third Place: KTXL/Tribune Broadcasting
ABOUT TRIBUNE MEDIA:
Tribune Media Company (NYSE: TRCO) is home to a diverse portfolio of television and digital properties driven by quality news, entertainment and sports programming. Tribune Media is comprised of Tribune Broadcasting’s 42 owned or operated local television stations reaching approximately 50 million households, national entertainment cable network WGN America, whose reach is more than 77 million households, and a variety of digital applications and websites commanding 54 million monthly unique visitors online. Tribune Media also includes Chicago’s WGN-AM, the national multicast networks Antenna TV and THIS TV, and Covers Media Group, an unrivaled source of online sports betting information. Additionally, the Company owns and manages a significant number of real estate properties across the U.S. and holds a variety of investments, including a 31% interest in Television Food Network, G.P., which operates Food Network and Cooking Channel.
Jessica Bellucci
VP, Communications
Tribune Broadcasting
220 East 42nd Street, 10 Floor
New York, NY 10017
O: 212-210-2626
C: 917-463-7037
@BellucciPR
jessica@tribunemedia.com
