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Radio and Television Traffic Reporters Honored by Industry

20 September 2000

Radio and Television Traffic Reporters Honored by Transportation Industry

    UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.--Sept. 19, 2000--Eight Southland traffic reporters were honored for their efforts in helping commuters get to work faster and with less stress at the fourth annual Golden Pylon Awards held today at Universal CityWalk.
    Award winners were selected by their fellow reporters for "demonstrating leadership among their peers and for their commitment to helping ease the commute and promote alternatives to driving alone," according to Cheryl Collier, manager for Southern California Rideshare.

    Golden Pylon Award winners were:


--  Paul Johnson, Metro Networks--KNBC-TV Morning Drive

--  Robin Banks, Metro Networks--KZLA-FM, KCRW, LITE-92.7 Afternoon
    Drive

--  Rhonda Kraemer, Shadow Broadcasting--KFWB-AM Morning Drive

--  Tori Signal, Shadow Broadcasting--KLSX-FM, K-MIX, KRLA-AM Morning
    Drive

--  Bill Preciado, California Highway Patrol--KMEX Channel 34

--  Mike Taylor, AirWatch America--KOOL-FM, KIK-AM, KLOS-FM, KIIS-FM

--  Commander Chuck Street--KIIS-FM

--  Jennifer York--KTLA Channel 5 News


    "Traffic reporters here serve as superheroes for the commute...flying above drivers and giving them the information they need to get to work faster," said Jim Sims, director of Southern California Rideshare, a department of the Southern California Association of Governments and one of the event's sponsors. "In the greater Los Angeles area where commute distances are so long, traffic reporters have reached celebrity status."
    More than 80 traffic reporters gathered at Universal CityWalk for their own version of the "Emmys." Awards were presented to on-air broadcasters from four traffic reporting services: AirWatch America, California Highway Patrol, Metro Networks and Shadow Broadcast Services.
    The Golden Pylon Awards serves as the kick-off program for the fifteenth annual Rideshare Week public awareness campaign set for Oct. 2-6. The campaign urges commuters to leave their cars at home and instead carpool, vanpool, take the train, bus, a bicycle or walk to work at least one day during the week. Commuters who pledge to rideshare qualify to win prizes, including vacation getaways.
    Commuters who rely on Metro trains and buses are strongly urged to contact Southern California Rideshare during the work stoppage of transit service in Los Angeles County. Commuters can call 1-800-COMMUTE or 1-800-286-RIDE and select the "rideshare" option, or go online at www.socalcommute.org.