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News 8 Austin





Network Information

  Network Name News 8 Austin
  Network Logo
  Branding News 8 Austin
  Country United States
  Network Type Cable Television Network
  Slogan "Your news now"
  Available Time Warner Cable systems in Austin, Waco, Fredericksburg only
  Owner Time Warner Cable
  Launch Date September 13 , 1999


News 8 Austin is a 24-hour local cable , and Fredericksburg service areas on channel 8.

The channel operates on a wheel format, offering pre-recorded blocks of news, features, and weather. Producers update the wheel throughout the day, inserting new material as stories are filed and updated information becomes available. Weather segments air every 10 minutes "On The Eights", often providing "wall-to-wall" coverage during severe weather.

News 8's studios are located at 1708 Colorado Street in Austin, just north of the Capitol and immediately south of the main campus of the University Of Texas .

Without the traditional limitations faced by network affiliates, News 8 is well known in Austin for its deep coverage of community news and hype-free, tempered coverage of TV news staples such as crime and scandal. The channel is also distinct from traditional TV news operations in that its shows are traditionally hosted by a single anchor and in that its reporters occasionally set up, shoot and edit their own stories without the assistance of a video photographer.

The channel also has a video-intensive website, www.news8austin.com, which features an extensive weather section and a video application which allows site users to build customized online newscasts that mimic the channels on-air programs.

News 8 also operates several other video and information services, including:
  • News 8's RadarNOW, a 24-hour Doppler Radar service, with NOAA Weather Radio audio.

  • News 8's Non-Stop Weather, 24-hour regional weather channels in both English and Spanish.

  • News 8's TrafficNOW, a 24-hour traffic camera service utilizing TxDOT roadway cameras from around the Austin area.

  • News 8's Non-Stop Sports, a 24-hour sports headline channel featuring local and national sports highlights.

  • News 8 on Demand, a video-on-demand archive of features, series and event coverage from News 8.


Time Warner operates seven other similar local cable news operations including New York 1 , Capital News 9 in Albany, News 10 Now in Syracuse, R News in Rochester (all in New York state) as well as three news channels operating under the News 14 Carolina banner serving Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro. Bright House Networks also operates two former Time Warner Cable news channels -- Bay News 9 and Central Florida News 13 .


ON-AIR PERSONALITIES

Anchors: Todd Boatwright, Paul Brown, Crestina Chavez, Gina Swanson, Veronica Castelo

Sports: Jeff Power (Sports Director), Shane McAuliffe, Ricky Doyle, Leslie McCaslin

Weather: Burton Fitzsimmons (Chief Meteorologist), Ernie Pacheco, Rich Segal, Marc Gomez, Maureen McCann, Miguel Montoya (Espanol), Carolina Saiz (Espanol)

Reporters:
Amy Hadley (Fit for Friday/Forever Families), Reagan Hackleman (City of Austin Reporter), Bob Robuck (General Assignments Reporter), Catie Beck(State Capitol Reporter), Kendra Mendez (General Assignments Reporter), Chelsea Hover (Williamson/Bell County Reporter), Russell Wilde (Hays/Caldwell County Reporter)


NEWS PRODUCERS


Executive Producers: Mary Nell Sanchez, Annette Smith

Senior Producers: Meredith Rainey, Lessly Stallings, Chris Lambert

Producers: Bob Hernandez, Hardy Meredith, Meghan Blanton, Michelle Cortez

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Chief Photographer: Ed Keiner

Senior Photographer: Roy Kuntz

Photojournalists: John Pope, Drew Moses, Andy Brooksbank, Geoff Tyler, Vic Stephens


AWARDS

2006: Texas Associated Press Broadcasters
• First Place – Documentary: James Keith and Rachel Elsberry: He Said/She Said
• Second Place – Series: Crestina Chavez and Chris Hardie: The Cost of DWI

Regional Edward R. Murrow Award • Best Continuing Coverage: Austin After Katrina

Texas Association of School Boards' Media Honor Roll • Veronica Castelo

2005: Radio–Television News Directors Foundation
• N.S. Bienstock Fellowship Award: Hermelinda Vargas, government reporter

Goodwill Community Partnership Awards - Media Partner of the Year

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters
• First Place – TV Magazine/Special: Rachel Elsberry & Lalo Garcia: ACL Fest Preview
• Second Place – TV Magazine/Special: News Staff: Longhorn Game Day

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • First Place – Documentary: Crestina Chavez, Chris Hardie & Lalo Garcia: On the Streets with APD.

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • First Place: Web site: news8austin.com

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Second Place – Sports Story: Jeff Power:Heart of a Champion

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Second Place – General Assignment, Crestina Chavez: The Filling Station

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Honorable Mention – Feature/Light: Allie Rasmus: Tamale Tradition

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Honorable Mention – Series, Allie Rasmus & Eddie Garcia, Tale of Two Campaigns

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Honorable Mention – Continuing Coverage, James Keith, Baby Asia

2004: National Edward R. Murrow Award • Documentary – Erica Riggins – Child Abuse

Regional Edward R. Murrow Award • News Documentary – Erica Riggins – Child Abuse

Regional Edward R. Murrow Award • Web Site – news8austin.com

Lone Star Emmy Award • Barry DeCrane and Mike Harvey – AMOA Warhol Exhibit

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • First Place – Spot Story-Individual • Erica Riggins and Kevin Coons – UT War Protest

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • First Place – Specialty/Beat Reporting • Eric Allen – Government

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • First Place – Continuing Coverage • Staff Effort – Killer D's

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • First Place – TV Website

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Second Place – News Anchor/Team - Paul Brown

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Second Place – Documentary • Erica Riggins – Child Abuse

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Honorable Mention – Feature (Light) • Rachel Elsberry – Lessons In Leadership

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Honorable Mention – Series • Erica Riggins – Child Abuse

Barbara Jordan Media Award • TV News Feature • Jitin Hingorani – Open Door Preschool

2003: Regional Edward R. Murrow Award • News Series – Antonio Castelan • News 8 Explores – Mold

Regional Edward R. Murrow Award • Web Site – news8austin.com

Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism
• Honorable Mention – Doug Shupe – Los Trabajadores series

USC Annenberg Walter Cronkite Award for Political Journalism • 2002 Election Coverage – Local Cable News Station

Best Local News Website • Austin Chronicle “Best of Austin” Readers Poll

Lone Star Emmy Award • Outstanding Live Report – Erica Riggins and Kevin Coons

Lone Star Emmy Award • Outstanding Engineering Achievement – Glenn Patterson • September 11, 2002

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • First Place – Spot Story-Individual • Antonio Castelan and Dathan Hull – As bad as it gets

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • First Place – Series • Rachel Elsberry and Brian Elledge – Sept. 11: Reflections

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • First Place – TV Website

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Second Place – General Assignment • Eric Allen – The Motivator

Mental Health Association in Texas Media Award • News Series – Doug Shupe – Mental Illness

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Media Award • News Series – Doug Shupe – Mental Illness

Champions' Media Award from the Austin New Milestones • News Series – Doug Shupe – Mental Illness

2002: National Sigma Delta Chi Award for Distinguished Service in Journalism
• Breaking News Coverage – Sept. 11: Austin, Texas

Best Local News Website - Austin Chronicle “Best of Austin” Readers Poll

Best Traffic Reporter - Jabari Warfield - Austin Chronicle “Best of Austin” Critics’ Choice

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • First Place – Spot News Story • Eric Allen – San Marcos Flooding

Dallas Press Club Katie Awards • Finalist, Spot News Story – Sept. 11: Austin, Texas

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Second Place – Best Sports Story • Jeff Power

Houston Press Club Lone Star Award • Third Place, Spot News Coverage – Sept. 11: Austin, Texas

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Honorable Mention – Best Division II Reporter Candace Byers

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Honorable Mention – Spot News Story Doug Shupe – Shoal Creek Flooding

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Honorable Mention – Continuing Coverage Yogurt Shop Murder Trial

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters • Honorable Mention – Spot News Coverage Round Rock Fire

2001: Houston Press Club Lone Star Award- Best Medium/Small Market Newscast

Dallas Press Club Katie Awards - Finalist – Best Medium/Small Market Newscast

Dallas Press Club Katie Awards - Finalist – Web Site News Content • Yogurt Shop Murder Trial

Austin Chapter of Public Relations Society of America - Best Media Organization

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters - Honorable Mention – Best Division II Newscast

Best Fashion News on Television - Cheryl Bishop - Austin Chronicle “Best of Austin” Critics’ Choice

2000:
National Sigma Delta Chi Award for Distinguished Service in Journalism
• Continuous Reporting of a Breaking Event - Texas A & M Bonfire Collapse

Regional Edward R. Murrow Award - Television Spot News Coverage • Texas A & M Bonfire Collapse

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters - First Place – Continuing Coverage • Texas A & M Bonfire Collapse

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters - Second Place – Sports Story • Kelli Johnson – Deaf Football Player

Austin Chapter of Public Relations Society of America - Texas PR Choice Award

News 8 Austin has also been cited for outstanding coverage and cooperation with the Associated Press, both in Texas and nationally.


EXTERNAL LINKS