Apple Valley News Now’s Post

Our news team at Apple Valley News Now recently received 8 awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Northwest Chapter. While we're not in this business for the awards, it's an honor to be recognized by someone outside our organization taking a look and commenting on our work. I also wanted to name the people who are part of the award as some have moved on to other work or other stations. I also included links to individual pieces if you wanted to take a look at their work. 1st Place: GENERAL EXCELLENCE Apple Valley News Now, News Team (With pieces contributed by Emily Goodell, Alyssa Warner, Rylee Fitzgerald, Madeleine Hagen) 1st Place: BREAKING NEWS "Wildfire shuts down I-82, area under LEVEL III GO NOW Evacuations - July 3, 2023" https://lnkd.in/gahJiZTz (Alyssa Warner, Christopher Whitmer, Morgan Huff, Ana Trejo, Erin Wencl) 1st Place: HEALTH REPORTING "Firefighters sound the alarm on cancer risks during month of January" (Jill Sperling) https://lnkd.in/g3pkuh3x 1st Place: VIDEO SERIES "A Random Act of Violence: The shootings at the Nob Hill Circle K" (Emily Goodell) 2nd Place: VIDEO SERIES "A Community Mourns: The Lucian Act Becomes Law" (Emily Goodell) 2nd Place: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING "A Dirty Rotten Shame: Parents speak out on bullying at West Valley Innovation Center" https://lnkd.in/g_ZzxxdK (Emily Goodell) 2nd Place: FEATURE: SOFT NEWS "From the Gridiron to the Saddle Shop: The story of Pendleton's Rod Retherford" (Jill Sperling) https://lnkd.in/gQgm7JWC 2nd Place: FEATURE: HARD NEWS "Torture & Starvation: Inside the hidden history of the Indian Boarding School at Fort Simcoe" (Emily Goodell) https://lnkd.in/gWZZAziY

Meanwhile ... in a land not so far away in Yakima today, our very own Emily Goodell was supposed to have a research day. This is a day where she can pour over documents, organize ideas and work on long-term projects. When we had some sick calls, Emily stepped up to help out, putting aside a day I know she looks forward to. She never fails to put covering her community first on her list of priorities. So when the City of Yakima began issuing evacuation orders due to a large wildfire that broke out around the same time one did in Pasco this afternoon, she didn't hesitate to get there. Another incredible asset to our team and is one we can always count on. Thank you, Emily, for being a great role model for our journalists and for just being YOU. She is an absolute joy to work with everyday. #news #mmj #nocanthavehereither #youshouldmeethermom #brollbecky #lucky #neveradullday #awardwinner #belikeemily #workforus

Morgan Huff requested a 1:1 meeting with me today. I have a lot to do today so I told her "jump in the car, let's have a car work meeting." About a half hour later, we were on our way back to the station when Morgan says "is that smoke over there?" What started out as a simple work meeting in the car became BREAKING NEWS. Nothing like a 1:1 on performance that turns into a literal 'on the job' performance review. She has grown tremendously since her first day. We're so lucky she is on our team. She makes us stronger and is a great asset for our station. #news #digitalwhat #firstonthescene #thatescalatedquickly #welovethisjob #noyoucanthavehershesours #hervideosarebetter #watchapplevalleynewsnow #belikemorgan #workforus