Trey Yingst and David Gamliel of the Jerusalem Bureau.
FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and President & Executive Editor Jay Wallace announced the recipients of the 2024 FOX News Media Spotlight Awards during an end-of-year employee town hall last Wednesday.
The FOX News Media Spotlight Awards are an annual tradition for the company, and management has received hundreds of nominations from employees who are passionate about highlighting colleagues who deserved special recognition.
Fox News Channel’s Shannon Bream explained the nomination process and Bret Baier, Harold Ford Jr., Bill Hemmer, Martha MacCallum and Dana Perino joined Scott and Wallace to share their praise for each recipient. FOX News Media executives received 342 nominations and 185 different employees and departments were recognized across the FOX News Media platforms.
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Unsung hero award
The Unsung Hero Award goes to employees who consistently go above and beyond with work that is essential to FOX News Media, but often goes unnoticed. Three winners were selected and Hemmer joked that he would continue his tradition of calling winners “Unsung” when he sees them in the office.
“Three of our absolutely critical and beloved members of this community,” MacCallum said.
Director of Technical Operations Latoya Lewis
Director of Technical Operations Latoya Lewis.
Lewis is known for ‘owning’ the control room and is clear, communicative and takes charge when there is important news. Her attention to detail helps the entire department, and she is also involved with the FOX News Media Career Launch Program.
Director of Technical Operations Alex Mitchner
Director of Technical Operations Alex Mitchner.
Mitchner “believes in people believing in themselves,” colleagues said. She is known for offering colleagues opportunities that they might not have found themselves and often mentors less experienced employees. Mitchner has also played a key role in helping the team adapt to new technology.
Broadcast technical supervisor Jason Oster
Broadcast technical supervisor Jason Oster.
Oster received a “ridiculous number of nominations” because he often solves problems before anyone else realizes there was even a problem. The tireless professional plays a key role in keeping the FOX News Media networks running. He is the longest-serving winner, having started at Fox News in 1999.
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Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award goes to employees who have demonstrated exemplary work ethic and growth early in their careers. Four winners were selected and Baier promptly joked that they would eventually run the company.
“Congratulations to our rising stars,” Baier said.
Broadcast production engineer Frank Andriola
Andriola has been nominated eleven times, indicating that he is highly respected by his peers while helping to maintain the FOX News Media infrastructure. He makes it his mission to learn everything about new technologies and then teach them to others.
“America’s Newsroom” booker Giuliana Fogliano
Giuliana Fogliano, booker of “America’s Newsroom.” (Photography by Alfonso)
Fogliano started at the assignment desk in Washington, DC as a freelance guest greeter and quickly made a name for herself pitching segments and booking guests. Within a few months she was on the road doing political reporting and is now a booker at “America’s Newsroom.”
Associate producer Meghan Tome
Associate producer Meghan Tome.
Tome has learned to manage multiple reporters through multiple live shots and has picked up the job so quickly that managers must continue to find new challenges for the rising star. She often shows up early, stays late, and volunteers to help the Capitol Hill team on her days off.
Human Resources Coordinator Jordan Wells
Human Resources Coordinator Jordan Wells.
Wells is proactive and creative in finding ways to support her colleagues. She continually volunteers for projects and has built a reputation as someone who is always willing to help.
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Volunteer Award
This award goes to an employee who has given time and energy to his or her local community and who is most active in the company’s volunteer activities. Three winners have been chosen this year.
“Thank you for your service to your community,” Perino said.
Senior Technical Manager Richard Hernandez
Hernandez has collected and delivered new clothes and toys to children living in orphanages in several Mexican cities. He has organized an annual toy drive at the LA Bureau, where his colleagues are inspired by his generosity. Thanks to Hernandez, children aged three to seventeen receive presents every Christmas.
“Varney and Co.” senior producer Robert McNally
Senior Producer Robert McNally.
McNally has been a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary since 2012. He is also a member of the Honor Guard and Color Guard, conducts ceremonies at events, participates in parades and supports veterans’ funerals.
“Jesse Watters Primetime” producer and supervising writer Scott Sanders
“Jesse Watters Primetime” producer and supervising writer Scott Sanders.
Sanders has raised thousands of money to help cancer patients by running marathons. He is a cancer survivor himself and regularly recruits colleagues to raise money for a variety of charities.
Culture and Connectedness Ambassador of the Year Award
Nicolle Campa, senior vice president of Human Resources
Nicolle Campa, senior vice president of Human Resources. (FOX News Media)
This award goes to someone who helps create an environment where the contributions of others are highly valued.
“The frontrunner was very clear… it’s Nicolle Campa,” Ford Jr. said.
“She’s always there and shows that she cares,” he added. “Always leading with kindness and compassion.”
In the words of a colleague: Nicolle really means it when she asks, “How can I help you?”
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Innovator of the year
Fox Weather senior producer and meteorologist Jordan Overton
Senior weather producer and meteorologist Jordan Overton.
This award goes to an employee or team whose dedication and creativity have helped FOX News Media reach new heights.
“Jordan is recognized for his achievements in dramatically improving FOX Weather’s workflow through technology,” said Wallace.
Overton has coded a new system to manage all the editorial, graphics, guest bookings and other data that FOX Weather relies on at all times of the day. He has streamlined operations and has been given the “Terminator”-inspired nickname “Skynet”.
The Impact Prize
The Impact Award goes to an individual or department that has had a significant and positive impact on FOX News Media over the past year. Two winners were selected.
Scott said both groups have had an “incredible impact” on FOX News Media in 2024.
Office of Jerusalem
Senior field producer Yonat Friling.
The Jerusalem Bureau has told the story of a nation at war.
Members of the FOX News Media Jerusalem Bureau.
The Jerusalem Bureau consists of senior field producer Yonat Friling, photographer David Gamliel, coordinator and producer Yael Rotem-Kuriel, broadcast and sound engineer Yoav Shamir, photographer Yanic Turgeman and chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst.
“For more than a year, these six incredible people have been at the heart of a team telling the story of a nation at war. They have kept us constantly informed about the hostages, taking us deep into the tunnels under Gaza and reporting on the ongoing humanitarian crisis,” Scott said.
“And they did it all while living in a war zone, with their homes, their lives and their loved ones all under constant threat,” Scott added. “This is their daily life, journalism in wartime. We are so grateful for their work.”
Field and production activities
FOX News Media Field and Production Operations Staff.
“These incredibly talented staffers can transform any location into an immersive set ready for primetime. And they do it better and faster than anyone in the industry,” said Scott.
“They are the ones who made us look so good this year at debates, town halls, the RNC and DNC, and most recently at last week’s amazing Patriot Awards,” she added. “While half the team deals with that, the other half focuses on the breaking news needs of all our platforms. These tasks are not easy. Their level of coordination and creativity is off the charts and they are a huge part of our success. “
Lauren Barrese, Samantha Cosme, Rebecca Cuozzo, Stephen Hernandez, Grigory Khananayev, John “Hollywood” Kisala, Pete Regina, Janette Shaw, Tiger Stanley, Samantha Thomas, Morgan Valente and Adreanna Walsh make up the critical section.
“They make it look so easy, and they’re always so positive and happy. We’re really lucky to have you,” Scott said.
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Fox News Digital’s Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.
