13 WREX receives 5 Emmy nominations for coverage of Rockford Region

ROCKFORD, Oct. 7 — 13 WREX is honored to receive five Emmy nominations from the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy for Television Arts & Sciences.

The nominations were announced Tuesday night at an event in Chicago. WREX received five nominations in four different categories.

The first nomination was for our coverage of the April 9th tornadoes that ripped through Rochelle and Fairdale. Our comprehensive coverage of the storms that night on 13 News at 10 was one of four evening newscasts nominated.

The next day, 13 News Today continued wall-to-wall coverage of the storm and its aftermath providing live updates from some of the hardest hit areas. That newscast was one of two morning newscasts nominated.

It was also a big night for 13 News Anchors Sean Muserallo and Kristin Crowley as both were nominated in the On-Camera Talent – News Anchor category. Sean and Kristin were two of only four anchors from across the three-state Emmy region to be nominated. Sean and Kristin also received nominations as part of the evening newscast submission.

The final nomination for the 13 WREX team came from Marketing Director Kyle Yonkers, whose series on BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center was one eight stories nominated in the News Specialty – Human Interest category. Kyle’s story was picked from a pool of 34 entries—the most of any category.

“It is a huge honor for our staff to be nominated for five Emmy awards,” said Josh Morgan, News Director at WREX. “The team of journalists here at WREX are so proud to serve the people of Rockford and northern Illinois. These nominations show the commitment and dedication they have for both our station and our community.”

WREX was the only local station in Northern Illinois to receive multiple nominations. Emmy winners will be announced on November 7 at the 57th Annual Chicago Midwest/Emmy Awards Ceremony at the Redmoon Theater in Chicago.

Here is a full list of the nominations received by the 13 WREX team:

Category #1-b Outstanding Achievement for News Programming – Evening Newscast: Smaller Markets (51+) (Award to the Team of Reporters, Meteorologists, Anchors, Producers, Photographers, Editors, Writers, Directors, and Assignment Editors)
            • EF-4 Tornado Rips through Rochelle, Fairdale: Josh Morgan, Mary Sugden, Lindsey Clark, Dan Cohen, Kristin Crowley,
               Elliot Grandia, Rebecca Klopf, Kelsie Passolt, Sean Muserallo, Alex Kirchner, Nolan Baker, Tori Clark. WREX

Category #2-b Outstanding Achievement for News Programming -_Morning Newscast: Smaller Markets (51+) (Award to the Team of Reporters, Meteorologists, Anchors, Producers, Photographers, Editors, Writers, Directors, and Assignment Editors)
            • The Aftermath of an EF-4 Tornado: Josh Morgan, Ivana Hester, Elliot Grandia, Morgan Kolkmeyer, Alex Kirchner, Rebecca Klopf,
              Christie Battista, Lindsey Clark, Gus Polly, Derek Bayne. WREX

Category #6-g Outstanding Achievement for News Specialty Report/Series – Human Interest (Award to the Reporter/Producer)
            • BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center: Kyle Yonkers, Producer. WREX

Category #21-a Outstanding Crafts Achievement for On-Camera Talent – News Anchor
            • Sean Muserallo – Composite. WREX
            • Kristin Crowley – Composite. WREX

Click here for a full list of nominations.

View the press release.