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"Hurricane Evacuation Route Tested" has won a national award.
It's been an award-winning year for the Action 4 News team.
Taking action for our viewers on a daily basis is its own reward but outside observers are recognizing KGBT-TV for its quality work.
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) announced on Monday that Action 4 News weather forecaster Romeo Cantu and photographer Brandon Garcia are among the winners of the organization's annual journalism awards.
Both Romeo and Brandon submitted a 2007 story entitled "Evacuation Route Tested" where they tested the state's evacuation route ahead of Hurricane Dean.
Although Dean never missed the Rio Grande Valley, the two found that construction and flooding would have blocked an evacuation along State Highway 186.
Judges said the piece pointed out flaws without sensationalizing the story.
The same story won a Texas Associated Press Broadcasters award earlier this year.
Romeo and former KGBT-TV photographer Rob Liendo also won an Lone Star Emma for their two-part series "Bye, Bye Bob Barker".
Just last month, Action 4 News' Ray Pedraza, Marcy Martinez and Ryan Wolf were put on the Texas Association of School Boards 2008 Media Honor Roll by the Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District.
The International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) awarded Ray with a "Quill & Badge Award" for his coverage about the McAllen Police Officer's Association struggle to negotiate salary and retirement benefits.
The prestigious award was announced last week at IUPA's 2008 convention which took place last week in Orlando, Florida.
The coverage organized officers and allowed them to received a fair compensation package.
NAHJ JOurnalism Award
http://www.nahj.org/sponsorship/specialevents/2008/noche/08awardwinners.shtml
Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Award
http://tapb.org/?page_id=76
Lone Star EMMA Award
http://lonestaremmy.org/_emma_awards/_emma_awards_08_2.php
Texas Association of School Boards 2008 Media Honor Roll
http://www.tasb.org/news/press_releases/2008/july/media_honor_roll.aspx
IUPA Badge & Quill Awards
http://www.iupa.org/
