MADISON, WI (WSAU) — Wausau’s Rock 94.7 was named the medium-market music station of the year for the state of Wisconsin last week during the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Awards Gala.
“It means a lot to win station of the year especially with how tough 2020 was on a lot of people,” said Rock 94.7 Brand Manager Ryan Fantozzi. “My goal each day was to provide our listeners with a positive and entertaining distraction to everything that was going on. I’m extremely proud that my staff provided that outlet for our listeners each day.”
Fantozzi also won numerous honors for interviews and features he recorded and produced with artists such as Written by Wolves, The Violent, and Diamante. All of those honors factored into the point total that led to the station of the year honor.
News/Talk station WSAU also won numerous honors during the ceremony including a second consecutive best news/talk website and best web story honor.
Best web story went to WSAU News reporter Liz Holbrook for her feature on the arrest of a suspect in connection with the murder of Eleanore Roberts in Wood County.
It’s also the second straight year that Holbrook has been honored for best web story, as her 2019 feature on the groundbreaking for accessible playground JoJo’s Jungle in Wausau was named best web story at the 2020 Awards Gala.
Additionally, WSAU News Director Mike Leischner took home 3rd place honors in the best web story category for his August 2020 feature on the city of Stevens Point’s decision to not allow football at Goerke Park. He also won 3rd place honors for best newscast and a second-place honor for best interview, a pre-election day chat with Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg.
Leischner was also honored with a 3rd place finish in the best web story category in 2020 as well, giving the WSAU news staff two of the top three web stories in the state in consecutive years.
“I am beyond honored to see my staff and I held in such high regard statewide for two consecutive years,” said Leischner. “Every day Liz and I strive to provide trusted, in-depth news to the people of Wausau, Stevens Point, and the surrounding areas. To see those efforts recognized through peer review is humbling.”
Last but not least Top-40 station WIFC was honored for best news and sports updates from Tom King. Evening personality Mike Mathers earned a second-place finish for best radio show for his All-Night Party and a third-place honor for best original feature (Mikey Likes It er No).
WIFC’s Be The Match bone marrow donor drive and Dave Kallaway’s interview with Actress Beverly D’Angelo also won 3rd place honors in their respective categories.
For the complete list of this year’s winners in TV and radio, click here.
All of the awards came in the medium-market division, which puts radio stations in Wausau up against other similar-sized markets like Green Bay, Manitowoc, and La Crosse.
Judging for this year’s awards was conducted by broadcasters in the state of Missouri. In exchange, Wisconsin broadcasters also judged award entries for their ceremony later this year.
