Tuesday, September 16, 2003

By Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV Editor

Couric to interview Lynch

Katie Couric will get the first live network interview with Jessica Lynch, the wounded soldier from West Virginia.

Couric's chat with Lynch will air over several days, beginning on NBC's "Today" show Nov. 12, smack dab in the middle of the all-important November sweeps ratings period.

Lynch was injured and captured while traveling with her Army unit in Iraq earlier this year. NBC was unable to secure Lynch's rights to her story and is instead basing its November TV movie on the recollections of an Iraqi who led American soldiers to her in an Iraqi hospital.

Regional Emmy winners

After garnering 16 nominations, WTAE was shut out at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmys on Saturday night. As usual, Philadelphia stations took the bulk of the awards.

Locally, WQED had the most wins, taking home six trophies. KDKA and WPXI employees took home one award apiece. Fox Sports Net also received one award.

Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards comprise entries from Pennsylvania; New Jersey; Delaware; Steubenville, Ohio; and Wheeling, W.Va.

The local winners were:

General News/Single Report: "Clark -- One Week Later," KDKA-TV, L. David Colabine, photojournalist.

Program Feature/Informational: "On Q/The Donora Smog," WQED, David Solomon, producer; Andy Masich, producer/reporter; Paul Ruggieri, photographer/editor.

Program Feature/Entertainment: "On Q/Landmines Concert," WQED, Carol Lee Espy, producer/reporter; Solomon; Ruggieri.

Youth Programming: "Brain Food," WQED, Gina Catanzarite, producer; Jocelyn Hough, executive producer; Laura Seliy, project director; Karen Farmer-White, vice president of education; Frank Caloiero, editor.

Cultural Program: "Happy Holidays in Pittsburgh," WQED, Rick Sebak, producer/narrator; Kevin Conrad, editor.

Live Sports Coverage/Series: "Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball," Fox SportsNet Pittsburgh, Paul Kosuth, executive producer; Dennis Galloway, director.

Sports Feature/Programming: "On Q/Clemente Collector," WQED, Alicia Maloney, producer; Ruggieri.

Individual Achievement -- Weathercaster: Julie Bologna, WPXI-TV.

Individual Achievement -- Writer/Programming: David Solomon, WQED.

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