NBCUniversal Local Chicago – NBC 5 Chicago (WMAQ) & Telemundo Chicago (WSNS) – garnered 36 Emmy Award nominations from the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the 2024-25 television season. The 2025 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards Ceremony will be held at the Swissotel Hotel in downtown Chicago on Saturday, November 1.
“We are honored to receive these nominations from our peers in the industry, which includes an overall station recognition in the News Excellence category,” said Kevin Cross, President/General Manager, NBCUniversal Local Chicago. “I couldn’t be prouder of our team’s 24/7 efforts, and these nominations are a reflection of the great work performed by our entire staff.”
Please note NBCU Local Chicago’s Emmy nominations for the 2024-25 television season below:
Category #101: Outstanding Achievement for News Excellence
- NBC 5 Chicago / WMAQ-TV:Sally Ramirez, SVP News. WMAQ
Category #201: Outstanding Achievement for Evening Newscast: Larger Markets (1-49)
- 6:00 DNC in Chicago Newscast: Jennifer Lay-Riske, Executive Producer; Mary Ann Ahern, Bennett Haeberle, Courtney Sisk, Reporters; Bridget Minogue, Janna Smithson, Lauren Stauffer, Natalie Templeton, Producers; Steve Long, Gregg Schatz, Directors; Matthew Byrne, Nathan Halder, Photographers; Stefan Holt, Allison Rosati, Anchors. WMAQ
- Pope Leo XIV Announcement: Jennifer Lay-Riske, Executive Producer; David Parrish, Producer; Stefan Holt, Allison Rosati, Anchors; Mary Ann Ahern, Chuck Goudie, Randy Gyllenhaal, Natalie Martinez, JC Navarrete, Reporters; Carrie Walker, Assignment Desk Editor. WMAQ
Category #205: Outstanding Achievement for News Special
- Papa León XIV: De Chicago al Vaticano: Santiago Gallego, Anchor; Mario Bernal, Photojournalist; Raúl Quiñones, Editor; José Carlos Pérez, Javier Sierra, Producers. WSNS
- South Side to the Sistine: Mary Ann Ahern, Reporter; Leigh Lesniak, Rose Schmidt, Lauren Stauffer, Producers; Steve Dolinsky, Lexi Sutter, Reporters; Jeff Lauksmen, Todd Roberts, Greg Sanchez, Ronald Zachara, Editors; Steven Curelo, Michael McGovern, Photojournalists. WMAQ
Category #206: Outstanding Achievement for Breaking/Spot News
- High-Speed Car Chase 1/8/25: Janna Smithson, Producer; Marco Stendardo, Carrie Walker, Assignment Desk Editors; Marion Brooks, Stefan Holt, Alex Maragos, Allison Rosati, Anchors; Tracey Lafferty, Lisa Posso, Gregg Schatz, Directors; Max Wilson, Photographer; Michele Batkins, Jim Langton, Jennifer Lay-Riske, Producers; Randy Gyllenhaal, Mike Lorber, Reporters. WMAQ
Category #207: Outstanding Achievement for Investigative Single Report
- Discovered Dead: Bennett Haeberle, Producer; Nathan Halder, Donte Williams, Photojournalists; Lisa Capitanini, Katy Smyser, Producers. WMAQ
Category #208: Outstanding Achievement for Investigative Multiple Reports
- Lessons in Betrayal: Bennett Haeberle, Reporter; Lisa Capitanini, Katy Smyser, Lauren Stauffer, Producers; Nathan Halder, Photojournalist. WMAQ
Category #209: Outstanding Achievement for Daily News Report (Single Shift)
- Pilots Complained about Helicopters Years before DC crash: Bennett Haeberle, Reporter; Nathan Halder, Photojournalist; Lisa Capitanini, Katy Smyser, Lauren Stauffer, Producers. WMAQ
Category #210: Outstanding Achievement for News Gathering – Business/Consumer/Technology
- Feeling Safe? Weapons Detectors Under Scrutiny: Bennett Haeberle, Reporter; Nathan Halder, Photojournalist; Lisa Capitanini, Katy Smyser, Lauren Stauffer, Producers; Richard Moy, Editor. WMAQ
- Taken for a Ride: Chicago Taxi Scam Exposed: PJ Randhawa, Reporter; Leigh Lesniak, Producer; Ronald Zachara, Photojournalist. WMAQ
Category #211: Outstanding Achievement for News Gathering – Crime/Justice
- Who Killed Momo?: Chuck Goudie, Reporter; Nathan Halder, Michael McGovern, Photojournalists; Richard Moy, Editor; Lisa Capitanini, Katy Smyser, Producers; Lauren Stauffer, Executive Producer. WMAQ
- Sonya Massey’s Killing: Bennett Haeberle, Reporter; Nathan Halder, Photojournalist; Lisa Capitanini, Katy Smyser, Lauren Stauffer, Producers; Ron Zachara, Editor. WMAQ
Category #212: Outstanding Achievement for News Gathering – Politics/Government
- México Decide – Mexico Decides: Alfonso Gutiérrez, Reporter; Mario Bernal, Casey Mitchell, Photographers; José Carlos Pérez, Executive Producer. WSNS
- Cost of a Crisis: Bennett Haeberle, Producer; Nathan Halder, Photojournalist; Lisa Capitanini, Katy Smyser, Lauren Stauffer, Producers; Jeff Lauksmen, Photographer; Richard Moy, Editor. WMAQ
Category #214: Outstanding Achievement for News Gathering – Health/Medical
- Dismissed: When Hospitals Fail Victims: Bennett Haeberle, Producer; Lisa Capitanini, Katy Smyser, Lauren Stauffer, Producers; Nathan Halder, Richard Moy, Editors; Jeff Lauksmen, Photojournalist. WMAQ
Category #215: Outstanding Achievement for News Gathering – Weather/Environment/Science
- Fishy Business: DNA Testing Uncovers Rampant Seafood Fraud in Chicago: PJ Randhawa, Reporter; Ron Zachara, Photographer. WMAQ
Category #218: Outstanding Achievement for News Gathering – Societal Concerns
- Money for Nothing: Bennett Haeberle, Reporter; Lisa Capitanini, Katy Smyser, Producers; Nathan Halder, Photojournalist; Richard Moy, Editor. WMAQ
Category #219: Outstanding Achievement for News Gathering – Human Interest
- The Dish Pit Man: Courtney Sisk, Reporter; Steve Curelo, Photojournalist. WMAQ
Category #220: Outstanding Achievement for News Gathering – Diversity/Equity/Inclusion
- El Templo Bahá’í: Un monumento a la unidad y la inclusión espiritual: Jose Gonzalez, Reporter/Producer; Jaime Perez, Photographer. WSNS
Category #306: Outstanding Achievement for Sports – One-Time Special
- NBC Sports Chicago: Celebrating 20 Years: John Schippman, Executive Producer; Kevin Anderson, Paul Bartkowiak, Michael Forzley, Ryan McGuffey, Glynn Morgan, Nate Poppen, Kristina Quinn, Eric Strobel, Mike Ziembo, Producers; Ezra McCann, Nikki Wasserman, Editors; Reese Johnson, Associate Producer; Pat Boyle, Talent; Chuck Garfien, Host; Matt Ellis, Lou Melgarejo, Adam Rotroff, Maurice Wallace, Directors. NBC Sports Chicago
Category #405: Outstanding Achievement for Interview/Discussion – Short and Long Form Content
- It’s OK to Ask Questions: Ace Dad: Matt Knutson, Executive Producer; Matthew Rodrigues, Host; Lauren Awtry, Matt Buckman, Hannah Lindvall, Producers; WMAQ
- It’s OK to Ask Questions: Rosie O’Donnell: Matt Knutson, Executive Producer; Lauren Awtry, Matt Buckman, Hannah Lindvall, Producers; Matthew Rodrigues, Host. WMAQ
Category #406: Outstanding Achievement for Magazine Program – Single Program/Series
- Poochie & Pang (Eat Chicago): Episode 3: Matt Knutson, Executive Producer; Matt Buckman, Hannah Lindvall, Producers; Kevin Pang, Poochie Rollins, Hosts. WMAQ
Category #419: Outstanding Achievement for Lifestyle – Short and Long Form Content
- The Listing Episode 1: Skyline Views: Cortney Hall, Executive Producer; Matt Knutson, Executive Producer; Matt Buckman, Sierra Campbell, Lucinda Harstrick, Geraldine Teotico, Producers. WMAQ
Category #501: Outstanding Achievement for Branded Content – Long Form Content
- NBC Chicago Today celebrates Universal Studios: Dorothy Dziubasik, Producer; Julie Maddox, Executive Producer; Cortney Hall, Matthew Rodrigues, Hosts; Michael Leber, Producer. WMAQ
Category #506: Outstanding Achievement for News Promotion – Single Spot/Campaign
- Experts: Stephanie Jimenez, Producer; Matt Buckman, Hannah Lindvall, Scott Peters, Joseph Schiltz, Producers. WMAQ
- Local / Network News: Pablo Alfaro, Producer; Scott Peters, Raul Quiñones, Joseph Schiltz, Producers. WSNS
Category #507: Outstanding Achievement for Program/Non-News Promotion – Single Spot/Campaign or Long Form Promotional Spot
- NBC 5 Chicago Salutes SNL 50: Jeff Nuich, Executive Producer; Diego Guirado, Stephanie Jimenez, Fabian Ramirez-Bolivar, Joseph Schiltz, Producers. WMAQ
- Acceso Total Chicago: Fabian Ramirez-Bolivar, Producer; Pablo Alfaro, Producer. WSNS
Category #605: Outstanding Crafts Achievement for Talent: Reporter – Daily News
- Lexi Sutter: Composite. WMAQ
Category #607: Outstanding Crafts Achievement for Talent: Reporter – Investigative
- Bennett Haeberle: Composite. WMAQ
- PJ Randhawa: Composite. WMAQ
Category #610: Outstanding Crafts Achievement for Talent: Program Host/Moderator/Correspondent
- Matthew Rodrigues: Composite. WMAQ
Category #612: Outstanding Crafts Achievement for Graphic Arts/Motion Graphics/Art Direction/Set Design
- Scott Peters: Composite. WMAQ
Category #615: Outstanding Crafts Achievement for Editor – News
- Nathan Halder: Composite. WMAQ