KOMU-TV 8 Named ‘Station of the Year’ by the Missouri Broadcasters Association
In honoring KOMU-TV 8 with its top prize, the Missouri Broadcasters Association cited the station for its Target 8 investigations, such as its story on Columbia-area sex offenders living too close to public schools in violation of Missouri statutes. Target 8 Chief Investigator Jamie Greber (top left) and alumna Stephanie Sierra, BJ ’16, worked together at KOMU to produce the story; Sierra now works for ABC-affiliate KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as a weekday reporter and weekend anchor.
Local Media Outlet, Training Lab for Missouri Students, Bested 35 Competitors Statewide
Columbia, Mo. (June 20, 2017) — KOMU-TV 8 has been named the 2017 Missouri Broadcasters Association “Station of the Year” for broadcasting excellence. KOMU received this prestigious award in head-to-head competition with 35 other television stations operating in the major Missouri markets of St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Cape Girardeau, Joplin and more. The MBA prize is awarded annually for quality of journalism, overall programming, community involvement and industry leadership.
“It is very gratifying to have our work recognized on a statewide level, above larger stations in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield. This award means so much to us because KOMU does not receive the benefit of a large broadcast group or guidance from corporate staff. This award is a testament to the fine work that everyone inside our building contributes every day to our news, community service and academic missions,” said General Manager Marty Siddall.
Some hallmarks of KOMU’s commitment to quality journalism, community service and industry leadership include:
- The Target 8 investigative team, which serves as a watchdog for public agencies and helps solve problems for people in our community.
- Storm Mode severe weather coverage, which keeps viewers informed and safe on multiple communication platforms, including mobile.
- Live primetime broadcast of the 2016 GOP gubernatorial debate.
- Town Square public affairs programming on issues such as marijuana legalization, minimum wage and gun control, allowing viewers to ask questions of news sources.
- The KOMU Fan Club, which in 2016 distributed more than 400 fans to mid-Missourians whose homes do not have air conditioning.
- Extensive support of community organizations through event partnerships and donations.
- Outreach to multiple mid-Missouri communities through Friday Night Fever football programming and holiday concerts at more than 60 schools.
Recent investments in cutting-edge broadcast technology – a news-gathering drone, an augmented reality 3-D weather set, real-time traffic reports, updates to the KOMU.com website, news and weather apps for smart phones – allowed KOMU to better share stories and keep its community informed.
Serving as a working laboratory for broadcast journalism students at the School, KOMU is the only major-network affiliate in the United States that serves both an academic and commercial mission.
In addition to the Station of the Year honor, Target 8 Chief Investigator Jamie Greber and former KOMU News reporter Stephanie Sierra, BJ ’16, won an honorable mention for investigative reporting for reporting on sex offenders living near schools. Sierra now works for ABC-affiliate KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as a weekday reporter and weekend anchor.
KOMU-TV 8 is an auxiliary enterprise of the University of Missouri and generates all revenue from station operations; its investments in broadcast technology were funded entirely via advertising and retransmission revenues. KOMU receives no funding from the university or state.
Updated: October 23, 2020