Channel 9 NewsTeam Brings Home Regional and State Honors

CINCINNATI, OH – The Ohio Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has recognized the outstanding work of key members of the Channel 9 I-Team by awarding their stories top honors in several categories for 2007.

Picking up First Place in the Best Government Coverage were: Hagit Limor and Anthony Mirones for Traffic on the Tracks, an investigation on school bus safety and dangerous local rail crossings.  Also receiving first place in this category were Laure Quinlivan and Phil Drechsler for Public Works Mismanagement, an investigation into complaints about the Director of Cincinnati’s Public Works department.

First Place in the Best Documentary division went to Laure Quinlivan and Phil Drechsler for New Visions of Vine Street, an update to the award winning documentary, Visions of Vine Street, which chronicles the troubles and revitalization of one of Cincinnati’s oldest neighborhoods.   Hagit Limor and Tony Mirones took Second Place in the Investigative Reporting category with, Prescription for Waste.

Also recognized by the OSPJ were 9News Reporter Deb Silverman and Photographer Sarah Shelton.  Their story, 24 Hours in Jail won Second Place in the Best Criminal Justice Reporting category. 

At the 2007 Ohio Associated Press Awards, some familiar names made the winner’s list.  Receiving First Place in the Best Documentary division were Laure Quinlivan and Phil Drechsler for New Visions of Vine.  Quinlivan and Drechsler also won in the Best Investigative Reporting category for, Archdiocese Hires Criminal -  an eye opening report on how a convicted criminal was hired to run background checks on employees for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Journey for Justice is the courageous story  of a Cincinnati man who wanted the world to acknowledge the atrocities that took place during the Holocaust in WWII.  This piece by Hagit Limor and Anthony Mirones won First Place for Best Enterprise Reporting.  The subject of this story is Hagit Limor’s father.