(Johnston) KSOM/KS95 News received eight awards for small market radio at the Iowa Broadcast News Association’s annual awards banquet in Johnston on Saturday night. Overall, KSOM/KS95 took home six first-place awards, one second and one third.
Tom Robinson and Mandy Billings received first place in the small market category for Overall Excellence. Mandy Billings earned the first place award for Best Newscast, and Bennett Blake brought home the first place award for Best Sportscast. Bennett Blake received a third-place award at this year’s awards banquet for Sports Coverage. Additionally, Tom Robinson received a first-place award in Farm and Agribusiness, Feature, and second place recognition in the category of Public Affairs. Additionally, Mandy and Tom received a first-place award for Spot News coverage. Tom Robinson also received the 2021 Jack Shelley Award, named after the late WHO radio and television news director.
In addition to the awards, Mandy Billings was elected to serve on the Iowa Broadcast News Association Board of Directors representing for the southwest district.
The Iowa Broadcast News Association is a nonprofit corporation of radio-TV news directors, reporters, producers, public relations professionals, and others from Iowa and its adjacent states.
IBNA recognizes outstanding work done by its members during the annual IBNA convention, an awards banquet held annually to honor news reports in several categories. IBNA also awards the Jack Shelley Award for someone who has made substantial contributions to electronic media journalism in Iowa. Money raised through the contest is used to support IBNA activities.
