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For immediate release
4/7/16

TEGNA Recognizes Companywide Award Winners, Unsung Heroes at Annual Employee Awards

McLEAN, VA – TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced the winners of its annual TEGNA Employee Awards. Six Unsung Hero awards were also recognized. Award finalists, winners and Unsung Heroes were honored during a ceremony at TEGNA corporate headquarters in McLean, VA.

“We had a tremendous year with excellent work being done every day across our company,” said Gracia Martore, president and CEO, TEGNA. “It is always an honor to celebrate the creative, innovative and inspiring work that better serves our customers, clients and communities. Today’s award winners set the bar very high and I congratulate them for their outstanding performance and dedication to our company.”

Award winners and finalists were:

Manager of the Year
– Winner: Steve Carter, president and general manager, WCSH, Portland, ME
– Finalists: Patrick Balakas, inside regional sales manager, Cars.com; Raghav Mathur, vice president, strategy and business development, G/O Digital

Innovator of the Year
– Winner: Jeni Pecard, manager, site analytics, Jeff Bloomfield, senior business intelligence analyst, and Ben Cohen, senior data analyst, Cars.com
– Finalist: Jane Helmke, news director, KARE, Minneapolis, MN

Sales Executive of the Year
– Winner: Celina Bautovich, account executive, KHOU, Houston, TX
– Finalists: Susan Forte, account executive, WTSP, Tampa, FL; Marty McDonald, senior director, strategic sales, G/O Digital

Corporate Staffer of the Year
– Winners: Meredith Conte, vice president, marketing, TEGNA Media; Jeff Newman, vice president, total rewards and HR services, TEGNA
– Finalists: Cam McClelland, vice president and controller, TEGNA; Jeff Webb, manager, IT, TEGNA Media

Best Client Solution
– Winner: Cars.com
– Finalists: G/O Digital; KHOU, Houston, TX; WWL, New Orleans, LA

Diversity Award Individual
– Winner: Noah Cooper, executive news director, KREM, Spokane, WA
– Finalists: Richard Longoria, news director, KIII, Corpus Christi, TX; Bobby Springer, director, marketing and promotions, KUSA, Denver, CO; Lynne Valencia, vice president, community relations, KUSA, Denver, CO

Diversity Award Unit
– Winner: KARE, Minneapolis, MN
– Finalists: KSDK, St. Louis, MO; WVEC, Norfolk, VA; WLTX, Columbia, SC; Cars.com

Content Award Winners
– Breaking News – Big Story: KSDK, St. Louis, MO
– Advocacy: WBIR, Knoxville, TN
– Investigative Content: Andy Pierrotti, investigative reporter, KVUE, Austin, TX
– Innovative Storytelling: Mike Castellucci, anchor, WFAA, Dallas, TX

Community Empowerment Award Individual
– Winner: Sarah Curtis, digital account manager, G/O Digital
– Finalists: Margaret Bernstein, director, advocacy and community initiatives, WKYC, Cleveland, OH; Jeannie Blaylock, anchor, WTLV/WJXX, Jacksonville, FL

Community Empowerment Award Unit
– Winner: WZZM, Grand Rapids, MI
– Finalists: Cars.com; KTVB, Boise, ID and KTFT, Twin Falls, ID

Unsung Heroes:
– Nick Carrescia, application specialist, corporate IT, TEGNA
– Michael Dehner, senior application developer, Cars.com
– Shannon Madlock, sales team leader, KAGS, Bryan-College Station, TX
– Rodney Moore, manager, mail services, Corporate Facilities, TEGNA
– Andrea Parker, senior content marketing manager, G/O Digital
– Tony Santaella, new media manager, WLTX, Columbia, SC

About TEGNA

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is comprised of a dynamic portfolio of media and digital businesses that provide content that matters and brands that deliver. TEGNA reaches more than 90 million Americans and delivers highly relevant, useful and smart content, when and how people need it, to make the best decisions possible. TEGNA Media includes 46 television stations and is the largest independent station group of major network affiliates in the top 25 markets, reaching approximately one-third of all television households nationwide. TEGNA Digital is comprised of Cars.com, the leading online destination for automotive consumers, CareerBuilder, a global leader in human capital solutions, and other powerful brands such as G/O Digital and Cofactor. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.

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For media inquiries, contact:
Steve Kidera
Manager, Corporate Communications
703-854-6077
skidera@TEGNA.com