FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact:
BA Snyder
Veritas Group for NAHJ
512.630.6337
KSAT12’s Bernice Kearney to be honored with Presidential Award at the NAHJ 2018 International Training Conference and Career Fair
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 22, 2018 – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) will honor Bernice Kearney, News Director at KSAT12 News, with the NAHJ Presidential Award at the Hall of Fame Gala on Saturday, July 21 at the InterContinental, in Miami, FL.
Bernice Kearney has worked in television news for more than 29 years. She will celebrate her 25th anniversary at the ABC Affiliate in San Antonio, Texas later this year. She brings a wealth of knowledge and common sense to running a newsroom. “Bernice has been a great mentor to me,” said Brandon Benavides, NAHJ President. “She hired me three years ago as Executive Producer for Good Morning San Antonio. Ever since I walked in that door at KSAT, Bernice has been my mentor, friend and boss. She is truly teaching, shaping and molding me into the next generation of managers.”
Kearney is an impressive journalist, not just for all the amazing work she has accomplished, but her understanding of journalism and its role within our community. She is a longtime resident of San Antonio. She understands the newsroom must reflect the community it covers in terms of behind the scenes staff and on-air talent. She helped start and develop the careers of many journalists. Through KSAT12’s parent company, Graham Media Group, it offers trainee positions to recent graduates. Many of those trainees are now fulltime workers at KSAT12 and other Graham Media Stations.
In 1993, Kearney joined the KSAT12 News team as the 10pm producer. She became the station’s Executive Producer in 2000. In 2013, Kearney became the News Director. Her focus is on the entire news operation, including on-air broadcasts, digital properties and social media efforts. “Bernice is the consummate News Director -equal parts tenacious journalist, mentor, and incredible leader in the trenches,” commented Emily Barr, President & CEO of Graham Media Group. “Her newsroom would follow her anywhere and as a result, they are the leading news organization in San Antonio. “
Phil Lane, VP & General Manager of KSAT, bragged about her embracing of the growing digital world saying, “Bernice is an innovator, leader and risk taker. These qualities and her willingness to embrace the digital opportunities that exist in today’s fast-paced world have helped her lead the KSAT newsroom to a position of strength.”
In addition to celebrating the dedication and work of Kearney, NAHJ will be inducting four industry leaders into the the association’s Hall of Fame.
Registration is currently open for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists 2018 International Training Conference and Career Fair in Miami, Florida. To register, click here. Sponsorship opportunities for NAHJ special events are also available. Please email bsnyder@nahj.org for more information.
###
About NAHJ The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States and dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. The mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latinos in the newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in news media. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. NAHJ has approximately 2,200 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals and journalism educators. For more information please visit NAHJ.org or follow on Twitter @NAHJ.