This year Mindstorm was chosen as the Business Leader of the Year. Jennifer Kendall, CEO/President of Mindstorm, has been actively involved with My Sister's House for the last 3 years. Once a member of the Board of Directors, Jennifer is now the committee chair for the shelter's Marketing Committee and helps produce a monthly e-newsletter. Jennifer has enjoyed her experience as a volunteer and has seen the remarkable difference My Sister's House has had on women and children impacted by domestic violence.

"It is truly an honor to be selected as the Business Leader of the Year!"

This unique awards luncheon was created by the Sacramento chapter of the American Women in Radio and Television, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and advancement of students and professionals in the media industry.

Pacific Gas and Electric generously contributed $25,000 for this event, as winning stations from throughout Northern California received a trophy and $5,000 to donate to the non-profit organization of their choice. The student scholarship winner was awarded a trophy and a $2,500 scholarship to help pay for college education expenses.

6th Annual Good News Awards Winners:

Student Scholarship
Nichole Hadler-Marsden, "Not Your Average Joe"

Radio, General Market:
KFBK "From Bullets to Bikes"
Rob McAllister & Judy Farah

Television, Non-English
KUVS "Moral Values Program"
Martha Minjarez & Mariana Castorena

Television, General Market
KPIX "Students Rising Above: Dalvin Butler"
Wendy Tokuda & Greg Marasso

"On behalf of the Sacramento Chapter of AWRT, I would like to thank PG&E for its generosity in making our Good News Awards possible, as well as those who took the time and effort to share their Good News stories with us," stated SAWRT President, Jennifer Goto. "With the current dismal economic landscape, it is with great excitement that SAWRT presents this unique format to assist the students and the non-profit organizations that will benefit from this year's Good News Awards Program," Goto said.

The event will feature the winning video and audio entries as well as special guest speaker Kayte Christensen, NBA TV Analyst, Sacramento Kings Entertainment Reporter and former WNBA player. Ms. Christensen will share her journey and the challenges she faced in the WNBA as well as her transition into the highly competitive industry of sports broadcasting.

The Good News Awards was created by the Sacramento chapter of the American Women in Radio and Television, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and advancement of students and professionals in the media industry. Pacific Gas and Electric has generously contributed $25,000 for this event. Winning stations will receive $5,000 to donate to the non-profit organization of their choice and student scholarship winners will receive $2,500.

"On behalf of the Sacramento Chapter of AWRT, I would like to thank PG&E for its generosity in making our Good News Awards possible, as well as those who took the time and effort to share their Good News stories with us. With the current dismal economic landscape, it is with great excitement that SAWRT presents this unique format to assist the students and the non-profit organizations that will benefit from this years Good News Awards Program."

6th Annual Good News Awards Luncheon

When: Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 11:30am-1:30pm

Where: Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa 1220 Arden Hills Country Club Lane

(off Fair Oaks Blvd. between Eastern and Mission), Sacramento

Free Parking!

Cost: $35/members, $45/non-members, $50/walk up (if available) $280/table of eight discount

6th Annual Good News Awards Nominations:

Student Scholarship
Feruz Abdul Shukur, Monterey Trail High School
Nichole Hadler-Marsden, Sierra College

General Market Television

"Flight Therapy," KHSL CBS 12, Chico
"Toni Dukes," KPIX CBS 5, San Francisco
"Cactus Ray," News10, Sacramento
"Woodlake Cleaners," News10, Sacramento
"Karen Henrich," KPIX CBS 5, San Francisco
"Will Work For Job," KHSL CBS 12, Chico
"Miya's Story," KGO ABC 7, San Francisco
"Annabelle Marie," KPIX CBS 5, San Francisco
"Cash for a K-9," KHSL CBS 12, Chico
"Car Wash for Schools," KGO ABC 7, San Francisco
"Students Rising Above: Dalvin Butler," KPIX CBS 5, San Francisco
"Skydiving Great-Grandma," KOVR CBS 13, Sacramento
"It's TAP Dancing NOT Lap Dancing," KOVR CBS 13, Sacramento
"Jack Hulley," KHSL CBS 12, Chico

General Market Radio:

"A Bellringer's Story," Capital Public Radio, Sacramento
"From Bullets To Bikes," KFBK News/Talk 1530, Sacramento
"Loving Crista," Capital Public Radio, Sacramento
"Community Gardens," Capital Public Radio, Sacramento

Non-English Video:

"Residential Recycling," KTSF 26 Face of the Bay, San Francisco
"Joy of New House 1 & 2," KTSF 26 Face of the Bay, San Francisco
"Year of Ox 2009," KTSF 26 Face of the Bay, San Francisco
"Moral Values," KUVS 19 Univision, Sacramento

Stella Guzman - KCSO 33 Telemundo

Danna Bubalo - Sacramento River Cats & Raley Field

Marcey Brightwell - R&K Grayling Communications

Carleen Dark - Clear Channel Radio

Isabel Gonzalez - KUVS Univision/KTFK TeleFutura

Carolina Rojas-Gore - KUVS Univision/KTFK TeleFutura

Dina Shahin - KUVS Univision/KTFk TeleFutura

Mira Thakor - Media Solutions
Lea Benavidez - Media Solutions
Jennifer Kendall - Mind Storm Creative
Christine Luke - Clear Channel Radio
Elissa Ernst - KMAX TV
Allison Talamantez - Clear Channel Radio
Jill Jeffery - Clear Channel Radio

Two $2,500 scholarships will also be awarded to local high school seniors and college students from broadcast/journalism/communications curriculums. Two students will be awarded a scholarship in the Video Production and Audio Production categories. The Sacramento AWRT created the Good News Awards with a clear vision that broadcast news has the power to make a positive difference in the world, encouraging these emerging professionals to tell stories of hope and promise.

Pacific Gas and Electric has a long history of making charitable grants tailored to the needs of the communities it serves. The companys charitable contributions program provides cash grants, in-kind contributions, and volunteers for community-based non-profit organizations, schools, and other government-related programs throughout northern and central California. All charitable contributions are funded entirely by the companys shareholders, and do not affect customer rates for electricity of gas.

Serving as president, Jennifer Goto, Media Manager of Comcast California, will lead the non-profit organization as it enters its sixth year of incorporation. "After serving for two years as the Communications Chair, I look forward to advancing the goal of SAWRT to be the leading resource for media and communication professionals in the Capitol region through education, mentoring and networking," Goto said. "I look forward to achieving that with the help of a very talented and dedicated Board of Directors," she added.

The following individuals will also serve as Board Members throughout 2008-2010:

Vice President: Justine McComb, Account Manager, KRXQ/KWOD/KDND Entercom

Treasurer: Jennifer Allen, Staff Writer, Capitol Morning Report

Secretary: Margaret Mohr, Vice President of Marketing KXTV ABC News 10

Past President: Micheal Mitchell, Local Sales Manager, KRXQ/KWOD/KDND Entercom

Membership: Kelly Andrews, Local Sales Manager, KCRA NBC 3

Hospitality Chair: Lisa Cooper, Underwriting Specialist, Capital Public Radio

Program/Events Chair: Nancy Conger, Account Manager, KGBY

Communications Chair: Kate David, Account Manager, KOVR CBS 13

Public Relations Chair: Kristie Gong, Research Director, KUVS/KTFK Univision 19

Good News Awards Chair: Beverly Chow, Account Manager, KRXQ/KWOD/KDND

Nominations Chair: Sarah Simpson, General Sales Manager, KFBK

Member At Large: Karen Onstad, KFBK/KSTE

Member At Large: Jann Taber, Rebel Public Relations

SAWRT, founded in March 2002, is a local chapter of American Women in Radio and Television, Inc. (AWRT). AWRT is a national, non-profit organization established in 1951 with local chapters throughout the United States that promote AWRT's mission: "To advance the impact of women in the electronic media and allied fields by educating, advocating and acting as a resource to our member and the industry."

The Awards Presentation was hosted by Dr. Barbara OConnor, Professor of Communications and Director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and Media - California State University, Sacramento.

The mission of the Good News Awards is to encourage and pay tribute to broadcast news coverage that furthers the triumph of the human spirit. The presentation of these awards is intended to be an incentive for the continued pursuit of excellence for those working in the television and radio broadcast news industry.

Because of a generous donation from Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), each winner receives a trophy and the station receives $5,000 which it donates to a charity or charities of its choice. Over the past five years, PG&E has granted almost $200,000 to the Good News Awards program which has then been given to charities across Northern California.

The winners of the 2007 Good News Awards are:

General Market Television: ABC 7 (KGO) San Francisco

General Market Radio: KXJZ Capital Public Radio Sacramento

Television-Magazine Style: KVIE PBS Sacramento

Non-English Television: KUVS Univision 19 Sacramento

Student Scholarship Winner: Lygia Navarro UC Berkeley

DR. BARBARA O'CONNOR Dr. O'Connor is a nationally recognized expert in the fields of political communication and telecommunications policy and applications. She is the author of numerous publications in both of these areas. She is former chair of the California Public Broadcasting Commission by appointment of the Governor and founder of KXPR-FM, Sacramento's Public Radio Station.

Dr. O'Connor has served as an expert consultant to McClatchy Newspapers, the Boston Globe Media Properties, the Tribune Company, The Washington Bureau of the Associated Press, The California Legislature, the Congress of the United States, The Federal Communications Commission, National Public Radio, Time Inc. Cable Systems, Cablevision Systems Inc., Scripps Howard Cable., and Pacific Gas and Electric.

Dr. O'Connor received her Ph.D. in Communications from the University of Southern California in 1974. She was featured in Newsweeks 1995 50 for the Future a feature on the fifty people who will set policy and direction for global communications.

Dr. OConnor has always blended her teaching, research and community service into a consistent commitment to explain the role of media in society and its impact on citizens, institutions and the democratic process.

She continues to teach a full load and direct the programs of the Institute which currently include administering a research grant from Verizon and 10 Telecommunications Graduate Fellowships funded by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Non-English entries include radio and television in both the Spanish and Chinese languages.

The entries have been sent out to four separate markets including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston for judging.

Winners will be announced during the Good News Awards Luncheon on January 16, 2008.

Radio and Broadcast/Cable Television news outlets that demonstrate an exceptional level of attention to reporting "good news" will be recognized at the Good News Awards ceremony on January 16, 2008 in Sacramento.

The winners of the Good News Awards will also receive $5,000 that will be granted to a charity of their choice.

THERE ARE FIVE CATEGORIES: Radio - General Market Television - General Market Television - Magazine Style Radio - Non-English Television - Non-English

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: 5:00p.m., Friday, October 26, 2007

Petra Rice, Media Solutions Senior Buyer and Media Manager along with Jennifer Goto, Comcast Media Manager, discussed the finer points they would like to see in a media rep using the acronym I.D.E.A.L. R.E.P. and gave examples of good proposals versus bad proposals.

The topic was so popular, that the SAWRT Events Chair Justine McComb, is considering repeating the topic in a future luncheon panel discussion.