WJXT-TV Recognized for Excellence in Journalism by the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists

WJXT-TV News 6 at 2024 FABJ Awards

The Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists (FABJ) held its annual Florida News Awards ceremony on Saturday, April 20, at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, FL.  Graham Media Group station WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, FL was honored as recipient.

This prestigious event brought together journalism students, professionals, and educators from across the state to celebrate excellence in broadcast and digital journalism. Throughout the evening, WJXT-TV received numerous awards and accolades, recognizing the station's exceptional work in a variety of categories, including:

• Community Service Station of the Year: Positively Jax

• Breaking News Station: Parking Garage Collapse

• General Assignment (Long): "A Safer Return" by Marilyn Parker and Ciara Earrey

• Investigative Series Finalist: "I-TEAM, Outrageous Water Bills" by Tarik Minor, Anne Maxwell, and Tommy Garcia

• Series Franchise (Hard): "Solutionaries" by Vic Micolucci, Chris O'Rourke, and Jodi Mohrmann

• Feature: Cultural/Historical: "The Ripple Effect" by Amanda DeVoe and Foad Zabaneh

• Continuing Coverage: "A Tragic Encounter and a Journey for Justice" by Marilyn Parker and Frank Powers

• Education Reporting: "Solutionaries: Music Therapy" by Vic Micolucci, Josh Morgan, and Jodi Mohrmann

• Digital Reporting: "Going Ringside" by Scott Johnson

• Best Website: News4JAX.com

Additionally, former WJXT-TV anchor and I-TEAM reporter Vic Micolucci was honored for his 16-year career at Channel 4. Vic serves as the Vice-President of FABJ, and his contributions to the field of journalism were celebrated throughout the evening.

Amid the celebration, the FABJ took a moment to honor the late Jason Mealey, a beloved assignment editor, producer, and member of the WJXT-TV team, who passed away on April 10 due to a heart attack. He was 48 years old and spent 13 years working at WJXT-TV. The entire room observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to Jason and his contributions to the broadcast journalism community.

The FABJ is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization operated by a volunteer board of broadcast journalism professionals based throughout Florida. The organization's annual awards ceremony continues to be a significant event, recognizing the dedication and talent of journalists who strive to inform and engage their communities.

WJXT & WKMG Honored with Emmy Awards by Suncoast Chapter of National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

The Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards celebrate excellence in television broadcasting, and Graham Media Group’s Florida stations, WJXT-TV in Jacksonville and WKMG-TV in Orlando, were honored as recipients of the distinguished awards.

WJXT earned a total of seven Emmy Awards, including honors in the Health/Medical News category, where contributors Jodi Mohrmann, Kenna Rodgers Bear, Melanie Lawson, Ashley Harding, Ciara Earrey, and John McCormick earned Emmys for their impactful report titled "Ending Overdose." Additionally in this category, Jodi Mohrmann and Joy Purdy were honored for "Ready for Rescue," while Anne Maxwell and Leeann Walker claimed victory for "Surgery Scandal."

In the Diversity/Equity/Inclusion-News category, Tarik Minor's work on "Gang Unit Sgt. Under Investigation" earned him an Emmy. The collaborative efforts of Amanda DeVoe, Foad Zabaneh, Hunter Vaughn, and Alfonso Campbell were recognized with Emmys for their compelling story, "The Ripple Effect."

The Historical/Cultural-News category saw Scott Johnson, Kathryn Bonfield, and Michael Jones obtaining Emmys for their impactful report on "Emmett Till: Back to Mississippi."

WJXT contributors Kaitlyn Shemenski, Sasha Garcia, Kent Justice, Tarik Minor, Isaac Levitan, and Renee Beninate further added to the station's success by acquiring Emmys in the Evening Newscast – Medium Markets category for their coverage of "Hurricane Nicole: The 10 O’clock News."

WKMG was honored with two Emmy Awards. Erik Sandoval-Rinderle, James Cavanaugh, and Jeremy Allen earned an Emmy in the Societal Concerns-News category for their Solutionaries story, "Book Bans: Are They the Solution?" Erik Sandoval-Rinderle, James Cavanaugh, and Paul Giorgio were recognized in the Health/Medical – News category for their impactful work on the Solutionaries feature "Battling Brain – Eating Amoeba."

The 47th Annual Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards ceremony was held on Dec. 2, 2023.

WJXT, WKMG Honored With Emmy Awards By NATAS Suncoast Chapter

The 46th Annual Suncoast Regional Emmy Award winners were announced on Dec. 10, 2022, and Graham Media Group stations WJXT-TV in Jacksonville and WKMG-TV in Orlando were honored as recipients.

WJXT took home 6 Emmy Awards. In the category of News Feature-Serious Feature, WJXT anchor Joy Purdy and managing editor of special projects Jodi Mohrmann won Emmys for the report “High Anxiety.”

In the category of Diversity/Equity/Inclusion-News, reporter Marilyn Parker and photojournalist Ciara Earrey won for their report “A Second Shot.”

In the Health/Medical category, anchor Bruce Hamilton won for his report “Scoping Out Cancer: My Personal Story,” and in the same category, anchor Mary Baer and Mohrmann won for their story “Child Unsafe.”

In the Promotion: News Promotion (Campaign) category, Sherry Carpenter, Chrissy Sellers and Dylan Smith, all of News4JAX’s Creative Services Department, won Emmys for the campaign “News4JAX: They Are Who They’ve Always Been.”

In the Hard News Report category, WJXT anchor Vic Micolucci and Mohrmann won for the report “Manhunters.”

WKMG was given an Emmy for Business and Consumer News as reporter Mike Holfeld and Robert Breuer received the award for “Gas Pump Thieves.”

Volunteers rake in the trash: News4Jax teams up with Beaches Go Green to host clean-up events

Hundreds of volunteers did more than “talk” some trash to help News4Jax and Beaches Go Green give three spots around the Jacksonville area a clean slate.

Volunteers picked up litter at three sites throughout the community.

“We think it is so great," volunteer Blakely Rowe said. "We think it is important to give back, especially when everybody around here is pretty local, and following the wintertime, it is always such a mess, so we think it is pretty awesome.”

Nease High student Allie Leonard said it was surprising they found as much trash as they did, since it’s the offseason and the beaches aren’t filled with tourists.

“We found quite a bit,” she added.

Here’s a breakdown at what was found at the sites:

Atlantic Beach: 319 volunteers; 11,247 cigarette butts; 19 bags of trash; six bags of recycling.

Jacksonville: 459 volunteers; 9,562 cigarette butts; 16 bags of trash; four bags of recycling with two garden snakes (released).

Ponte Vedra Beach: 300 volunteers; 1,350 cigarette butts; 25 bags of trash; four tires; car parts; construction debris.

By county, Duval County had 778 volunteers -- and 20,809 cigarette butts, 35 bags of trash and 10 bags of recycling were collected and cleaned up.

In St. Johns County, there were 300 volunteers, and 1,350 cigarette butts and 25 bags of trash were collected.

Some of what the volunteers found was surprising, too. The group at the Mickler Beach Access Point in Ponte Vedra Beach hauled in a car bumper. Check it out here.

And another interesting find among the hundreds of pounds of litter, plastic and cigarette butts? A set of false teeth.

Groups met at the Atlantic Boulevard Beach Access in Atlantic Beach and at Oceanfront Park in Jacksonville Beach. Despite the chilly morning, volunteers rolled up their sleeves (so to speak) and pitched in. Some even earned prizes for various milestones (like the most cigarette butts collected).

“We’re making a difference together and having fun, and it’s simple,” said volunteer Samantha Ryan with Sisters of the Sea.

While the cleanup was fun for those involved, Beaches Go Green founder Anne Marie Moquin pointed out that the need to keep things clean is very serious.

“A lot of the litter in this area ends up washing and blowing into sensitive marine environments like the ocean and waterways, so it is super important to keep our town center, parking lots and sidewalks clean as much as it is the beach,” Moquin said.

Like the recent food drive, this cleanup is part of News4Jax's Positively Jax campaign, an ongoing effort to make Jacksonville a better place to live through random acts of kindness and other good deeds.

Sign up and join the Positively Jax movement on PositivelyJax.com.

There you can share your good deeds, learn more about what News4JAX and others are doing to help the community and also receive updates about upcoming opportunities to make a difference.

WJXT, WCWJ present special programming in tribute to Black History Month

WJXT and WCWJ will once again be honoring the history, events and people during 2021 Black History Month.

On WJXT, "River City Live" host Eden Kendall sits down with News4JAX anchors and reporters who have made the decision to wear their hair in a natural state. The series is called "Passing the Crown," and airs at 5 p.m. Feb. 8, at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 9, and at 11 a.m. Feb. 10. These eye-opening stories explain how The Crown Act or Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair work to make it illegal to discriminate against someone over the way he or she wears the hair.

CW17 presents programs and special stories that will air in February. The programs praise the achievements of Black Americans today as well as those who fought for our country.

The events kick off at 4 p.m. Feb. 7 on CW17, with "What About Me," featuring the voices and perspectives of African-American men beyond the limiting image of only being entertainers, athletes and criminals.

Then at 5 p.m. is "Mentoring Kings." This special celebrates the national mentoring programs of celebrities, business entrepreneurs, educators and community leaders.

Jacksonville has a rich history in African-American culture. Each day in February, WCWJ will air a short vignette, profiling a moment or person from Jacksonville that played a significant role in African-American history.

"Willie" at 4 p.m. Feb. 14, tells the story of Willie O’Ree, who changed the game of hockey forever in 1958 by becoming the first Black player to skate in a National Hockey League. It is a testament to the resilience and determination of a man empowered by his family’s legacy, and the people he inspired along the way.

Continuing on Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. is "Believe: The Barack Obama Story." This special reveals the extraordinary life story of President Barack Obama, beginning with his parents and culturally diverse childhood in Hawaii, and continuing with his years as a community organizer in Chicago and milestone achievements during his political career. It chronicles his historic campaign to become the 44th president of the United States.

The month caps off at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21 and Feb. 28 on CW17 with the documentary, "For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots." This two-part special salutes the contributions of African-American men and women throughout our nation’s history. Hosted by Halle Barry, the documentary features the voices of Morgan Freeman, Lou Gossett Jr. and more.

'Positively Jax Day' event collects more than 21,000 pounds of food

To say the first-ever Positively Jax Day, in Jacksonville, was a success, would be a massive understatement.

WJXT and WCWJ viewers and readers truly outdid themselves. When it came to the Positively Jax food drive, people came out in droves to donate canned fruits and vegetables, cereal and other non-perishable goods to help feed families in need all across the area.

The results were staggering: The station collected more than 21,000 pounds of food. That’s more than 10 tons, or the weight of an average-sized elephant. Plus, the community donated more than $5,300 to Feeding Northeast Florida.

Combined, those donations work out to roughly 50,000 meals for families who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

Here is a massive THANK YOU to everyone who chipped in, whether the contribution meant dropping off food, donating money to this worthy cause, or volunteering time and energy.

The work isn’t done just yet.

While the food drive was a strong start, the next goal is to share 1,000 good deeds (or Random "Jax" of Kindness), happening around town.

The next Positively Jax event is set for Feb. 20.

The station will host a Positively Jax Community Cleanup with Beaches Go Green, and is welcoming volunteers to pick up litter at three sites throughout the community.

WJXT studio manager celebrates 50 years with the station

Fifty years is a long time to do anything.

The year Freddie Rhodes started at WJXT-TV, a gallon of gas cost 40 cents, the microprocessor was first invented and Disney World opened in Orlando.

Five decades later, this beloved gentle giant is still keeping the team in line in Jacksonville -- and blessing the community.

A deacon at Cathedral of Faith Church of God in Christ, Rhodes is constantly doing things for others. He’s been a devoted husband for 40 years, raised five sons and now has nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A 53-year broadcast radio veteran, Rhodes -- who is legendary for his baritone voice and size 17 shoes -- clearly has no problems committing.

His wife, Sara, describes him as mild, meek, humble, loving and caring.

News4Jax celebrated with Freddie five years ago for his 45th anniversary, so the station knew it had to come back even bigger this year.

Channel 4 got even more folks in on our celebration.

From one News4Jax legend to another, “Fifty years. Congratulations, Freddie,” said retired WJXT Chief Meteorologist George Winterling. “God bless you in all that you do. It’s your old friend, George.”

Mayor Lenny Curry even recognized Rhodes' long term of exceptional service with News4Jax, and declared Jan. 15, 2021, as Freddie Rhodes Day in Jacksonville.

The mayor said he encourages “all citizens to strive each day to display the compassion for others and the unparalleled work ethic that Freddie has shown each day for the last 50 years.”

Along with his work at WJXT, Rhodes is the program director for Gospel station WCGL Victory AM 1360 in Jacksonville. He’s an award-winning announcer who’s been in radio longer than in TV, and he’s well-known in the industry.

“I want to take this time to congratulate my man, Freddie Rhodes. You know you’re one of my favorites. God bless you and may you have many, many more years,” said gospel musician Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson.

Freddie is motivated by his family and his faith.

Congrats on 50 wonderful years!

Read more.

Jacksonville chooses News4JAX in July 2020

News4JAX is again Jacksonville’s top choice for local news, winning all local news time periods from early morning through late night.

News4JAX had the most Adult 25-54 viewers for the recently concluded July ratings period, according to independent ratings data released by the Nielsen Company. News4JAX also grew over July 2019 for Adults 25-54 in morning news 7-10 a.m., early news 5-7 p.m. and late news 10-11:30 p.m.

Morning News is No. 1 in all major demos, and leads the way with News4JAX at 4:30 a.m. earning 5,300 Adult 25-54 viewers and a 9 share.

News4JAX at 5 a.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 7,000 Adult 25-54 viewers.

At 5:30 a.m., News4JAX wins with 9,000 Adult 25-54 viewers, tripling the nearest competitor. News4JAX at 6 a.m. is No. 1 with adults in the 6-7 a.m. time period, bringing in more than 11,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and an impressive 14 share. That is double the closest competitor.

"The Morning Show" (7-9 a.m.), anchored by Jennifer Waugh, Bruce Hamilton and Richard Nunn, is No. 1 in the time period with 12,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and a 14 share to beat out local and national competitors. "The Morning Show" also has growth in all major demos over last July while its competitors have declines.

At 9 a.m., "The Morning Show 2" beats "Today Show" third hour by 116% with 9,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and shows year-over-year increases while WTLV has declines.

“At a time when accurate, important information is literally developing every hour, we are again very proud to be the place the people of Jacksonville trust above all others for local news,” said Bob Ellis, WJXT and WCWJ Vice President and General Manager. “I’m very proud of how we continue to cover the stories that matter to our community and help people make informed decisions on how to keep themselves and their friends and family safe.”

News4JAX at 4 p.m. has 9,000 Adult 25-54 viewers, beating "Action News Jax at 4 p.m.," "Dr. Phil," "Judge Judy" and "Ellen."

In Evening News, News4JAX is No. 1 from 5-6:30 p.m. and shows growth year over year in every major demo. News4JAX at 5 p.m. takes the time period with 12,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and beats the WTLV/WJXX and WJAX/WFOX duopolies even when these stations add their newscasts together. News4JAX at 5:30 p.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 13,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and beats the WTLV/WJXX and WJAX/WFOX combos. News4JAX at 6 p.m., anchored by Tom Wills, Mary Baer and John Gaughan is No. 1 with 15,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and a 10 share.

“The growth of our news ratings during the pandemic is a testament to the hard work by our staff to deliver quality, trusted content and (reporting) facts and not (creating) fear,” Ellis said. “With more anchors and reporters people know and trust, there really is a difference between the local news outlets in Jacksonville. We watch the other stations in town follow our lead every day. It’s clear our community recognizes that and knows we are Jacksonville’s one true local television station.”

Viewers made that clear again in late news with wins in all major demos and year-over-year growth with male viewers. WJXT is No. 1 at 10 p.m. with 16,000 Adult 25-54 viewers and again at 10:30 p.m. with 13,000.

News4JAX is No. 1 at 11 p.m. with 11,000 Adult 25-54 viewers, beating the WJAX and WFOX Action News newscasts even when they report the ratings for both stations added together for all major demos. Late news shows year-over-year increases from 10-11:30 p.m. for Adults 25-54.

Channel 4 The Local Station the most-watched TV station in Jacksonville for the 2019-20 broadcast season

Channel 4 The Local Station is the most-watched television station in Jacksonville for the 2019-20 broadcast season, according to numbers released by independent measurement from Nielsen Media Research.

WJXT is No. 1 total day in the most-coveted demographic for advertisers, adults ages 25-54. In all three of the marquee local news day parts, News4JAX finished No. 1 in the same key adult 25-54 demos for the 2019-20 broadcast season in the Jacksonville TV market. The strength of News4JAX broadcasts are driven by the station’s original reporting, breaking news and weather coverage, news anchors viewers know and trust, and the station’s deep connection to the local community.

WJXT continues to be a prominent choice for prime-time viewing as well in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. The lineup of "Last Man Standing," "Blackish" and "The Big Bang Theory" beat ABC prime for adults 25-54, men 25-54 and men 18-49 for the 2019-20 season overall.

"The Big Bang Theory" on WJXT is the top-syndicated entertainment show in Jacksonville. Also, "Entertainment Tonight" finished the broadcast season as the top entertainment news show, and "Inside Edition" finished the broadcast season as the top-syndicated news magazine show.

“When you consider the options today for viewing with cable and streaming, to outperform all of these choices validates the point broadcast television is still as important as ever,” said Bob Ellis, vice president and general manager of WJXT and WCWJ. “People today are led to believe broadcast TV is dying. That’s just simply not true. In Jacksonville, over the long haul, it is clear broadcast television is still the most popular place to watch news, entertainment and special events. This also means it is still far and away the absolute best place for advertisers to get their messages seen and heard.”

Morning News on Channel 4 continues to win every major demo from 4:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and in most time periods, beats all news competitors in the market combined. News4JAX at 4:30 a.m. is No. 1 by 100% for adult 25-54 impressions.

News4JAX at 5 a.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 11,000 adult 25-54 viewers and nearly beats "First Coast News" on WTLV and "Action News Jax" on WJAX and WFOX combined.

At 5:30 a.m., News4JAX wins by 136% with 14,000 adult 25-54 viewers, nearly tying all other news competitors combined.

News4JAX at 6 a.m. is No. 1 with 16,000 adult 25-54 viewers in the 6 to 7 a.m. time period.

"The Morning Show" (7 to 9 a.m.), anchored by Jennifer Waugh, Bruce Hamilton, Melanie Lawson and Richard Nunn is No. 1 in the time period with 15,000 adult 25-54 viewers, beating out all other newscasts, including the national broadcasts of NBC’s "Today" on WTLV, CBS "This Morning" on WJAX and ABC’s "Good Morning America" on WJXX.

It also has nearly double the viewers of "Action News Jax" on WFOX. May 2020 marks The Morning Show’s 107th consecutive month winning the time period in household ratings, as well. At 9 a.m., The Morning Show 2 beats the Today Show 3 in all major demos.

“I’m fortunate to see first-hand the commitment of the News4JAX team to this community,” Ellis said. “The work they put in to be there when it matters most and to produce important, engaging local content every day is what we do. To see that same commitment by the viewers of Jacksonville back to us reflects the special relationship Channel 4 continues to have with our community. It’s been that way for decades. We are honored and do not take it for granted.”

In evening news, News4JAX at 5 p.m. is the most-watched in the time period with an average of 13,000 adults ages 25-54 watching every day for the broadcast season.

News4JAX at 5:30 p.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 14,000 adults 25-54.

News4JAX at 6 p.m., anchored by Tom Wills, Mary Baer, chief meteorologist John Gaughan and sports analyst Mark Brunell, is No. 1 with 17,000 adults 25-54, beating the closest competitor, "Action News Jax" on WJAX, by 44%.

The story continues in late news where WJXT is No. 1 with "The Ten O’Clock News" with 17,000 adult 25-54 viewers and outperforms "Action News Jax" on WFOX by 132%.

Again at 10:30 p.m., News4JAX is No. 1 with 14,000 adult 25-54 viewers, beating WFOX by 138%.

News4JAX is No. 1 at 11 p.m. for adults 25-54 with 12,000 tuning in.

Source: Nielsen September 23, 2019 - May 15, 2020 average. PAVs for News programming. Prime is based on time-period averages, WJXT and WFOX M-F 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., WTLV, WJXX, WJAX, WCWJ 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Total day is M-F 3 a.m. to 3 a.m.

WJXT proves to be most trusted source for local news in Northeast Florida, South Georgia during COVID-19 pandemic

Jacksonville has spoken: The majority of people choose one local news organization above all others when it mattered most.

News4JAX is, once again, Jacksonville’s top choice for local news, winning all local news time periods from early morning through late night, as it was announced this week by WJXT Vice President and General Manager Bob Ellis.

News4JAX had the most adults ages 25 to 54 as viewers for the recently concluded May ratings period, according to independent ratings data released by the Nielsen Company, the demographic coveted most by advertisers. News4JAX.com was also the most viewed website, according to independent data released by comScore.

Morning News is No. 1 for all major demos, and leads the way with News4JAX at 4:30 a.m. earning 5,000 A25-54 viewers and a 7-share.

News4JAX at 5 a.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 7,000 A25-54 viewers. At 5:30 a.m., News4JAX won with 10,000 A25-54 viewers, more than doubling the nearest competitor.

News4JAX at 6 a.m. is No. 1 with adults in the 6 to 7 a.m. time period, bringing in more than 13,000 A25-54 viewers and a 16-share, nearly three times the closest competitor.

The Morning Show (7 to 9 a.m.), anchored by Jennifer Waugh, Bruce Hamilton and Richard Nunn, is No. 1 in the time period with 16,000 A25-54 viewers and a 16-share. That is growth of three share points compared to a year ago, and beat all other newscasts, including the national broadcasts of NBC’s "Today" on WTLV, CBS "This Morning" on WJAX, ABC’s "Good Morning America" on WJXX and other local newscast in the time period on WFOX.

At 9 a.m., The Morning Show 2 beats "Today" by 54% with 12,000 A25-54 viewers.

“There has never been a time when news has been more important than during the COVID-19 pandemic," Ellis said. "To again be the top choice for our community from morning through night, day-in and day-out, for this critical information confirms the people of Jacksonville want news from a trusted source. As Jacksonville’s only truly local television, we are very proud to lead the market again, and it confirms our goal to serve our community continues to resonate.”

In early evening news, in addition to winning the A25-54 demo, News4JAX also had the most year-to-year ratings growth.

News4JAX at 4 p.m. had 8,000 A25-54 viewers, beating Action News Jax at 4 p.m., "Dr. Phil," "Judge Judy" and "Ellen."

News4JAX at 5 p.m. is most-watched in the time period with 13,000 A25-54 viewers. News4JAX at 5:30 p.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 15,000 A25-54 viewers. News4JAX at 6 p.m., anchored by Mary Baer, Tom Wills and John Gaughan, is No. 1 with 17,000 A25-54 viewers and a 12-share.

“The growth of our news ratings during the pandemic is a testament to the hard work by our staff to deliver quality, trusted content and reports facts and not create fear,” Ellis said. “With more anchors and reporters people know and trust, there really is a difference between the local news outlets in Jacksonville. It’s clear our community appreciates and recognizes that fact.”

News4JAX also won all major demos in late news. WJXT is No. 1 at 10 p.m. with 17,000 A25-54 viewers and again at 10:30 p.m. with 14,000.

News4JAX was No. 1 at 11 p.m. with 12,000 A25-54 viewers, beating both First Coast News and the WJAX and WFOX Action News newscasts, even when added together.

Late news has seen year-over-year growth particularly at 10 p.m., where there is a 26% increase over last May.

WJXT also recently received recognition for its work from two major award organizations.

WJXT earned a prestigious Edward R. Murrow Overall Excellence award from the Radio and Television News Directors Association. The RTNDA also awarded the station Murrow Awards for Breaking News Coverage for its work during the Miami Airplane crash at NAS JAX and News4JAX.com was named best website.

News4JAX also earned 11 awards from The Florida Association of Broadcasters, including Best Newscast, Best Website, Best Investigative Story and the organization's top award as Station of the Year.

WJXT Channel 4 launches effort to help local restaurants, frontline workers on News4JAX.com

Frontline workers across the country are putting their lives at risk in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak, working nonstop -- sometimes without even thinking about a meal.

WJXT Channel 4, the Local Station, has launched Food4Frontline, a community-wide effort to help both frontline workers and local restaurants, on News4JAX.com.

“We have been telling the stories of doctors, nurses, EMT workers and other first responders who are so busy caring for others they don't have time to think about eating,” said Bob Ellis, WJXT/WCWJ vice president and general manager. “This is our opportunity to coordinate a meaningful effort to take care of them. To do this and also help local restaurants in the process is our way of living out our mission as Jacksonville's only truly local television station in these unprecedented times.”

The Food4Frontline effort will accomplish three things:

Solicit: WJXT has heard from so many in the community who are eager to contribute in some way. This is a chance to give back to those who are working so hard to save people's lives. These heroes without capes are putting their lives at risk while they work long shifts. WJXT -- with the community's help -- wants to feed them.

Serve: WJXT will then partner with local restaurants to order meals that will be distributed to those on the frontline. The hope is that this partnership will assist Jacksonville-area restaurants and their staff. Partners will uphold high standards in food preparation always and now, during this COVID-19 pandemic. Meals for the frontline workers will be individually packaged.

Support: These collective efforts will show those on the front line – hospital and health care workers, emergency responders or staff keeping stores’ shelves stocked -- that people are thinking of them and appreciate all that they are doing.

To donate meals to Jacksonville-area hospitals through Food4Frontline, you can start the process here.

Jacksonville chooses THE Local Station again to start the new year

The new year kicked off at THE Local Station with more than 13 million pageviews on News4JAX.com and the No. 1 spot for all local news.

Morning News leads the way with News4JAX at 4:30 am with 13,132 households (HH) watching for a 10 share.

News4JAX at 5 a.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 20,221 HH watching. At 5:30 a.m., News4JAX won with 26,168 HHs and a 17 share. News4JAX at 6 a.m. is No. 1 in the 6 to 7 a.m. time period bringing in 33,488 viewing HHs and a 19 share. The Morning Show (7 to 9 a.m.), anchored by Jennifer Waugh, Bruce Hamilton and Richard Nunn, is No. 1 in the time period with 34,892 HHs and a 18 share, beating out all other newscasts including the national broadcasts of NBC’s Today Show on WTLV, CBS This Morning on WJAX and ABC’s Good Morning America on WJXX.

At 9 a.m., The Morning Show 2 beats Today Show by 64% with 25,058 HHs.

Wendy Williams on WCWJ has improved the time period at 10 a.m. over last January and has improved the performance of the show compared to its run on WJXX in January 2019. River City Live was No. 2 in the time period with 10,974 HHs. News4JAX at 4 p.m. beat Ellen, Dr. Phil and Judge Judy for the No. 1 spot with 22,846 HHs watching.

In Evening News, News4JAX at 5 p.m. is the most-watched local news in the time period with 36,7119 HHs. News4JAX at 5:30 p.m. is No. 1 in the time period with 38,313 HHs. News4JAX at 6 p.m. anchored by Mary Baer, Tom Wills and John Gaughan is No. 1 with 46,340 HHs and a 14 share.

The story continues in Late News, as The 10:00 O’Clock News at 10 p.m. is the most-watched late newscast in the market.

WJXT is No. 1 at 10 p.m. and had 32,455 HHs watching and at 10:30 p.m. 25,760 HHs tuned in. News4JAX at 11 p.m. kept Jacksonville informed again for the No. 1 spot at 11 p.m. with 23,617 HHs on WJXT. News4JAX at 11 p.m. brings in an additional 2,940 viewing HHs from WCWJ.

“With another month of important local stories, including the significant developments with JEA and the death of former Mayor Jake Godbold, we are again very proud to be the top choice in Jacksonville for news and information,” said Bob Ellis, vice president and general manager of WJXT/WCWJ. “When you watch Channel 4 or go to News4JAX.com, I think it’s clear the difference between our newscasts and others continues to be people you know and trust who have been here long enough to know what stories mean to our community. That’s what being Jacksonville’s one true local station is all about.”

News4JAX celebrates students passionate about reading

THE Local Station, in partnership with Douglas Law Firm, is proud to present News4JAX National Reading Awareness Month.

Beginning in March, News4JAX will spotlight children grades 1-5 who are passionate about reading, and plans to celebrate four local classrooms who embrace the joy of literature.

“Studies have shown reading to children just 20 minutes a day can have an enormous impact on the cognitive development of children. In our ongoing effort to serve our local community, News4JAX wants to remind everyone of this important fact and get out into our local schools to spread this important message,” said Bob Ellis, vice president and general manager of WJXT/WCWJ.

To participate, parents and teachers should send a video of their child or classroom telling us why they are passionate about reading, and why they would like additional books in their classroom.

Video submissions can be sent through www.News4JAX.com/reading or by visiting the News4JAX.com contest page. Nominations are open through Feb. 17. Four winning classrooms will be announced on Feb. 28.

During each week of March, a member of The Morning Show team will bring a few of their favorite books into a winning classroom and read to the kids. The winning classroom will receive a pizza party and $100 Scholastic gift card to re-stock its library.

Contest requirements:

• The video must be 2 minutes or less, filmed with a horizontal frame.
• Child or classroom must be in grades 1-5 to participate.
• Video must be submitted on News4JAX.com/reading or the News4JAX contest page by Feb. 17.
• All counties in the Jacksonville DMA are eligible to participate.

WJXT produces documentary about Bahamas

WJXT Channel 4 was expected to air a special presentation Tuesday called "96 Hours of Anguish."

The news documentary is a raw, real and graphic look at the destruction in the Bahamas caused by Hurricane Dorian, which struck the islands starting Sept. 1.

WJXT reporter Vic Micolucci and photojournalist Jesse Hanson spent four days, or 96 hours, on the ground and in the air covering the disaster from the hardest-hit areas.

The team documented the devastation, search and rescue operations and the relief effort.

The eye-opening film features Bahamians who are struggling to survive and Florida-based volunteer operations that brought life-sustaining supplies into the hard-to-access islands.

“We covered unimaginable destruction and pain,” Micolucci said. “We witnessed heartbreak and smelled death, but we also saw unbelievable generosity and resiliency. Sometimes the worst scenarios can bring out the best in humanity.”

Micolucci and Executive Producer Jodi Mohrmann and senior editor Mike Jones spent more than a week combing through hours of footage to accurately and honestly show the situation in the decimated towns.

The hour-long film features stories of survival and the plans to rebuild the islands.

WJXT presents 'Curtains Up'

WJXT Channel 4 is taking viewers behind the curtain with the High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience at Florida State College at Jacksonville as they prepare and present numbers from Disney’s Newsies.

The hour-long special will incorporate behind-the-scenes and live performances from some of the most talented students in Northeast Florida, starting at 8 p.m. July 18.

The Local Station has teamed with FSCJ to produce a documentary-style special showcasing how the cast and crew are preparing for their performances July 19-21 and July 26-28.

"Curtains Up" includes exclusive footage of auditions, callbacks, rehearsals, set development and a special look at the training behind one of the choreographed fight scenes. The program will also have live performances of popular Newsies songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Watch What Happens,” “The World Will Know,” “That’s Rich” and “The King of New York.”

“The partnership this year between Florida State College at Jacksonville and WJXT Channel 4 is the epitome of the word ‘community.’ It is a great opportunity to further highlight the more than 70 student performers from Northeast Florida who have worked so hard throughout the summer to put on this fantastic production," said Beth Harvey, director of the Wilson Center for the Arts.

More than 70 seventh- through 12th-grade students are cast in this production as dancers, performers and technicians to recreate Disney’s 2012 Broadway hit.

“As the only truly local television station in town, we want to highlight all students from every part of Jacksonville, and we’re very proud to be the first and only station taking the time to celebrate the artistic talent seen in our community,” said WJXT Vice President and General Manager Bob Ellis. “Young people involved in theater, music and dance don’t get enough recognition. We’re thrilled to show off their talents and see first-hand their hard work pay off on prime time TV.”

WJXT-TV4 wins the 2018-19 TV season

The 2018-19 traditional Nielsen television season has come to a close and WJXT Channel 4 | THE Local Station is No. 1 in all local news areas and beat several major broadcast networks in entertainment programming in prime time, once again.

The station's newscasts delivered No. 1 result in all dayparts, continuing a run of dominance in the Jacksonville market.

“It’s incredibly humbling to see month after month, year after year how the community continues to make us their first choice for local news,” said Bob Ellis, WJXT vice president and general manager. “We take being Jacksonville's number one source for news very seriously. We know viewers look to us first for important local stories that make a difference in Jacksonville. That's our focus. That’s what being The Local Station is all about.”

Morning News continues to lead the charge, winning every major demo 4:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and in most time periods, beating all news competitors in the market combined.

News4JAX at 4:30 a.m. is No. 1 by 88% for Adult 25-54 ratings. News4JAX at 5 a.m. is No. 1 in the time period with a 2.4 Adult 25-54 rating, tying the combined competition of WTLV, WJXX, WJAX and WFOX.

At 5:30 a.m., News4JAX won by 93% with a 2.9, once again tying all other news competitors combined. News4JAX at 6 a.m. is No. 1 in Adults 25-54 ratings in the 6-7 a.m. time period, garnering a 3.2 Adult 25-54.

"The Morning Show" (7‑9 a.m.), anchored by Jennifer Waugh, Bruce Hamilton and Richard Nunn, is No. 1 in the time period with a 2.5 Adult 25-54 rating, beating out all other newscasts including the national broadcasts of NBC’s "Today" on WTLV, CBS "This Morning" on WJAX and ABC’s "Good Morning America" on WJXX. May 2019 marks "The Morning Show’s" 95th consecutive month winning the time period in HH ratings. At 9 a.m., "The Morning Show 2" beat "Today" with and without Megyn Kelly.

In evening news, News4JAX at 5 p.m. is most watched in the time period with a 1.9 A25‑54 rating. News4JAX at 5:30 p.m. is No. 1 in the time period with a 2.0 Adults 25-54 rating. News4JAX at 6 p.m. anchored by Tom Wills, Mary Baer and John Gaughan is No. 1 with a 2.2 Adult 25-54 rating, beating the closest competition by 22%.

The story continues in late news where WJXT is No. 1 with "The Ten O’Clock News" with a 2.3 rating and again at 10:30 p.m. with a 1.9 rating for Adults 25-54. News4JAX is No. 1 at 11 p.m. for Adults 25-54 with a 1.8.

WJXT continues to be a prominent choice for prime viewing in Jacksonville. The lineup of "Last Man Standing" and "The Big Bang Theory" beat ABC prime in every major demo for the 2018-19 season overall.

Source: Nielsen September 24, 2018-May 24, 2019 average. PAVs for News programming. Prime is based on time period averages WJXT and WFOX M-F 8p-10p, WTLV, WJXX, WJAX, WCWJ 8p-11p.

News4JAX partners with Visit Jacksonville for JaxBest Guide

News4JAX.com has partnered with Visit Jacksonville to create an annual voter-centric guide highlighting the best local attractions and businesses that shape the city.

This resource will live year-round on the News4JAX.com website with new voting categories populated monthly. Winners of each category will be announced at the end of each voting phase, and will reign as the category winner over the next 12 months.

“Visit Jacksonville makes the perfect partner for the JAX BEST promotion because it is our mission to promote the best that Jacksonville has to offer to the world every day, so who better to help us find those top options than our local residents?” said Michael Corrigan, CEO and president of Visit Jacksonville. “We invite Jacksonville to watch WJXT and WCWJ for updates on the JAX BEST campaign, vote and help us choose the best attractions, parks, breweries, museums and experiences available in Jacksonville. We want the people that live here to help us spread the word on their favorite places in Jax!”

The first round of voting began June 17, and will cover the following 10 categories: Best Breweries, Trails, Dog Parks, Public Art, Coffee, Fishing Charters, Surf Spots, Animal Encounters, Golf Courses and Water Sports Rentals.

Winners from the first round will be announced the week of July 8, followed by a new set of categories the week of July 15.

“We’re extremely excited to be working with Visit Jacksonville to create the ultimate guide of all the best things our great city has to offer,” WJXT and WCWJ Vice President and General Manager Bob Ellis said. “The best local spots chosen entirely by local people is what makes this the definitive ‘Best of’ list. We can’t wait to unveil it.”

The inspiration behind JaxBest stemmed from the mutual desire to further educate residents and visitors alike on local businesses, events and attractions as our city continues to flourish. JaxBest will permanently live on News4JAX.com as an informational guide for users seeking new experiences around our city. To vote, please visit News4JAX.com/jaxbest.

Jacksonville chooses THE Local Station again in May 2019

There were several big stories in the month of May in Jacksonville, including a passenger plane skidding off the runway at NAS JAX, and once again, THE Local Station, News4JAX finished the month as the No. 1 source for local news with Jacksonville households.

Morning news leads the way with News4JAX at 4:30 a.m., earning a 2.7 rating and 12 share for households. News4JAX at 5 a.m. is No. 1 in the time period, with a 3.3 household (HH) rating. At 5:30 a.m., News4JAX won with a 4.3, more than doubling the nearest competitor’s HH rating. News4JAX at 6 a.m. is No. 1 in the 6-7 a.m. time period, garnering a 5.8 HH rating and an impressive 20 share.
"The Morning Show" (7-9 a.m.), anchored by Jennifer Waugh, Bruce Hamilton and Richard Nunn, is No. 1 in the time period with a 6.1 HH rating and a 18 share, beating out all other newscasts including the national broadcasts of NBC’s "Today" on WTLV, CBS "This Morning" on WJAX and ABC’s "Good Morning America" on WJXX. At 9 a.m., "The Morning Show 2" beats "Today" by 91% with a 4.4 HH rating.

"River City Live" was No. 2 in the time period with a 2.0 HH rating for May. News4JAX at 4 p.m. did a 2.8 HH rating, beating "Judge Judy" and "Ellen."

In evening news, News4JAX at 5 p.m. is most watched in the time period, with a 5.2 HH rating. News4JAX at 5:30 p.m. is No. 1 in the time period, with a 5.4 HH rating. News4JAX at 6 p.m., anchored by Mary Baer, Tom Wills and John Gaughan, is No. 1 with a 6.1 HH rating and a 12 share.

The story continues in late news, as "The Ten O’Clock News" is the most-watched late newscast in the market. WJXT is No. 1 at 10 p.m. with a 4.8 HH rating and again at 10:30 p.m. with a 3.8 rating.

“We are very proud to again be the go-to place for local news in Jacksonville,” said Bob Ellis, WJXT and WCWJ vice president and general manager. “When reports came in that a passenger plane was in the St. Johns River, we knew it was a big story. Our coverage by the news team that the viewers of Jacksonville know and trust was appropriate and thorough. I’m very proud of how we covered this important breaking news story and helped the people of our community again this month.”

WJXT-TV4 wins every major local news area in April

THE Local Station continues to be Jacksonville’s No. 1 source for local news and swept all major news areas with adult ages 25-54 viewers, the most coveted demographic for television advertisers.

Morning news leads the way with News4JAX at 4:30 a.m. earning a 1.9 rating and 13-share for adults 25-54.

News4JAX at 5 a.m. is No. 1 in the time period with a 2.3 A25-54 rating. At 5:30 a.m., News4JAX won with a 2.8, nearly doubling the nearest competitor's A25-54 rating.

News4JAX at 6 a.m. is No. 1 with adults in the 6 to 7 a.m. time period, garnering a 3.3 A25-54 rating and an impressive 20 share.

"The Morning Show," which runs from 7 to 9 a.m., anchored by Bruce Hamilton, Jennifer Waugh and Richard Nunn, is No. 1 in the time period with a 2.5 A25-54 rating and a 15-share, beating out all other newscasts, including the national broadcasts of NBC’s "Today Show" on WTLV, CBS "This Morning" on WJAX and ABC’s "Good Morning America" on WJXX.

At 9 a.m., "The Morning Show 2" beats "Today" by 50%, with a 1.5 A25-54.

News4JAX at 4 p.m. and "Inside Edition" take the time period with a 1.3 A25-54, beating "Dr. Phil," "Judge Judy" and "Ellen."

In evening news, News4JAX at 5 p.m. is the most-watched in the time period with a 1.9 A25-54 rating. News4JAX at 5:30 p.m. is No. 1 in the time period with a 2.0 A25-54 rating. News4JAX at 6 p.m., anchored by Tom Wills, Mary Baer and John Gaughan, is No. 1 with a 2.3 A25-54 rating and a 9-share.

The story continues in late news, with wins in The Ten O’Clock News at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

WJXT is No. 1 at 10 p.m. with a 2.8 A25-54 rating and again at 10:30 p.m. with a 2.3 rating.

News4JAX was No. 1 at 11 p.m. with a 2.1 A25-54, beating both the WJAX and WFOX Action News newscasts, even when added together.

Late news has seen year-over-year growth, particularly at 10 p.m., where it is seeing a 27% increase over last April.

“In a month with a tremendous amount of important local news and severe weather that threatened the safety of our viewers, we’re proud to be the go-to place for critical information for our community,” said WJXT/WCWJ Vice President and General Manager Bob Ellis. “Serving Jacksonville as The Local Station is what we’re all about.”

Gators Breakdown podcast reaches 1 million listens

When Dave Waters first began recording a University of Florida Gators-themed podcast in 2016, it was just a hobby. He never expected it to explode in popularity -- skyrocketing from 100 listens an episode to 6,000.

Now, nearly three years later, Gators Breakdown has become a top sports podcast on iTunes. This week, Waters reached yet another milestone on his journey by cracking the one-million listens mark.

“It’s still hard to believe that former players I grew up watching, ESPN and SEC Network personalities, reporters … trust what Gators Breakdown is doing and hop on to talk Gators football with me,” Waters said.

Waters, 35, got his start at WJXT in news production in 2006. Soon, he began volunteering to shoot football games. Still, it wasn’t until 10 years later that he parlayed his love of the Gators into a podcast. These days, he's a commercial production manager for WJXT.

Bob Ellis, vice president and general manager of WJXT/WCWJ, said he encourages all employees to pursue their passion, and in Waters' case, that's tracking the latest developments in Gators football.

"There's no substitute for someone who cares about the subject they're covering," Ellis said. "That's been one of the secret ingredients in our station's success over the years. Our team really cares."

As Ellis points out, podcasts like Gators Breakdown are just another way for the station to connect with its community ‑ and a reflection of viewers' and readers' appetite for high-quality sports content.

"Our commitment to local sports content -- high school and college sports especially -- on all of our content platforms is the best it's been in years," Ellis said. "Dave's been a big part of that."

Follow @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in: Megaphone | iTunes | YouTube | Google Play

Graham Media Group’s podcast division partners with our broadcast television stations to create compelling, original audio content, bringing captivating stories to new audiences and giving listeners more stories to love. Headed by Zak Rosen, our podcasts have gained national attention with the popularity of the true-crime series Shattered, and the series Mismatch, featuring interesting stories about the incompatible, unsuitable and out of step. Learn more at grahammedia.com/podcasts.