KPRC-TV Honored with Prestigious duPont-Columbia Award for 'DRAINED' Series

KPRC’s investigative series, "DRAINED," has been awarded the esteemed duPont-Columbia Award, recognizing excellence in journalism. The series has been led by investigative reporter Amy Davis and the KPRC 2 Investigates team, which has delved into the issues of overbilling, faulty water meters, and mismanagement of city contracts.

"It's an incredible honor for our team, and it's all thanks to your trust in us to tell the stories that matter most to our community," said Davis, who received the award in New York City.

The "DRAINED" series brought to light the challenges faced by numerous Houstonians. KPRC’s reporting found they received inaccurate water bills, often amounting to thousands of dollars. The team not only highlighted individual hardships but also spurred significant changes within the city's water billing system. Since 2022, the KPRC 2 Investigates team has helped customers get more than $300,000 in refunds and credits. The reporting exposed contracts dealing with Houston water line repairs that led to the arrest of seven people.

“We are grateful for the recognition, but even more so for the Houstonians who trusted us to share their stories and be their advocate when the system failed them,” said KPRC 2 News Director Ana Lastra.

The duPont-Columbia Award is one of journalism's most prestigious honors, celebrating outstanding broadcast and digital reporting. This recognition underscores KPRC 2 Investigates' commitment to exposing problems and finding solutions that make Houston a better place to live.

For more information about the "DRAINED" series and to view the investigative reports, please visit Click2Houston.com.

###

About Graham Media Group Graham Media Group is comprised of seven local media powerhouses, plus Graham Digital, Omne and Social News Desk – all delivering local news, programming, advertising solutions and digital media tools for television, online, mobile, streaming, podcasts and audio devices. We are dynamic, local brands that extend well beyond traditional broadcast television. Our work helps inform, celebrate, and knit together the communities we serve.

Headquartered in Detroit, GMG operates in four states: KPRC–Houston, WDIV–Detroit and WSLS–Roanoke (NBC); KSAT–San Antonio (ABC); WKMG–Orlando (CBS); WJXT–Jacksonville (fully local), and WCWJ–Jacksonville (CW). Graham Digital is a digital media and technology development group widely recognized as a top industry innovator. Omne is a leader in results-driven marketing solutions. Social News Desk provides its 2500+ worldwide newsroom-customers with a single dashboard to publish, measure, curate and monetize local news content on social platforms. Website: https://www.grahammedia.com

KPRC Producer, Reporter, Honored With 2024 Gracie Awards

KPRC-TV , the Graham Media Group owned NBC affiliate in Houston, Texas, is honored to announce that their producer Erica Young has been honored with a prestigious 2024 Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media.

The Gracie Awards recognize exemplary programming created by women, for women and about women in all facets of media and entertainment. These awards focus on women who are making positive change and who further the discussion of what a fulfilling career in media looks like. As such, they also acknowledge individuals who have made inspirational contributions to the industry.

Young was honored for her story about the woman who answered a calling to teach children with special needs. She established The Journey School in Spring, and Erica told her story beautifully! 

In addition, KPRC Consumer Investigative reporter Amy Davis also earned an Honorable Mention from the Gracies for her On-Air Talent work!

"Amy and Erica are both such tremendous journalists and newsroom leaders,” said Bernice Kearney, News Director of KPRC. “It's an honor to have them on our team, and I am thrilled they are being honored through this national organization that celebrates women and the contributions of women in media.."

KPRC-TV Team Honored with Lone Star Emmy Awards, HABJ Media Powerhouse Award

Two of KPRC-TV’s team members, producer Erica Young and video editor Bill Carruthers, have been honored with prestigious Lone Star Emmy Awards.

On November 11, Erica Young received the esteemed award for Outstanding Achievement as a Live News Producer, a testament to her exceptional contributions to the dynamic field of live news production. Bill Carruthers, a skilled video editor, was bestowed with the Lone Star Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement as a News Editor for his specialty edits for KPRC Investigates and KPRC Originals.

The Lone Star Emmy Award, recognized as the pinnacle of achievement in the television industry, symbolizes the celebration of excellence and professional accomplishments. The award is conferred through a rigorous and confidential peer review of broadcast work and related media, highlighting the exceptional talent and dedication of individuals within the industry.

In addition to the Lone Star Emmy Awards, Raybin Dockery, Morning Streaming Manager at KPRC+, was honored with the Media Powerhouse award at the 2023 Sneaker Ball Scholarship Gala, presented by the Houston Association of Black Journalists (HABJ) on December 2. This annual gala diverges from tradition, encouraging participants to highlight their most unique sneakers and other footwear while celebrating community and media pioneers in Houston, TX.

"We are immensely proud of Erica Young, Bill Carruthers and Raybin Dockery for their well-deserved recognition with Lone Star Emmy Awards and the HABJ," said Bernice Kearney, News Director at KPRC-TV. "Their commitment to excellence and innovation has significantly contributed to the success of our programming, and we congratulate them on this outstanding achievement."

KPRC-TV wins 2 Lone Star Sports Emmy Awards

KPRC-TV sports reporter Ari Alexander was awarded 2 Lone Star Sports Emmy awards from the Lone Star Chapter of the National Association of Television Arts & Sciences.

Alexander has been a reporter for KPRC since 2019, and is a 2013 graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism.

The Emmy Award is regarded as the most prestigious peer-judged award recognizing excellence in professional achievement with annual awards of merit in the television industry through extensive, confidential peer review of broadcast work and related media.

KPRC Wins 4 Lone Star Emmy Awards

KPRC-TV in Houston has been honored to receive 4 Lone Star Emmy Awards recognizing excellence in television news coverage in the Texas region.

KPRC 2 was awarded Best Evening Newscast for the breaking news coverage of the Ulvade school shooting. Executive producer Steve Ljuljdjuraj and producer Chanel Preston were presented with the Emmy.

In the category of Investigative Report, KPRC’s team of reporter Amy Davis, producer Andrea Slaydon, editor 
Bill Carruthers and photojournalist 
Adrian Montes received an Emmy for the feature “License To Fraud: Crime Rings Litter Roadways With Paper License Plates.”

In the Crime News category, KPRC won for “What Happened To Jason Landry?” with reporter Joel Eisenbaum, producer Debbie Strauss, editor 
Bill Carruthers and photographer 
Adrian Monte taking home the awards.

And KPRC Producer/Director/Editor Glorianne Quintero along with photographer 
Robert Grant were awarded Best Program Promotion for the campaign “Anthony’s Back!”

KPRC 2 Names Keith Garvin Anchor of 5, 6 and 10 p.m. Newscasts

Native Texan Keith Garvin has been named anchor of KPRC 2 News at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. Garvin will co-anchor with Lauren Freeman at 5 p.m. and Daniella Guzman at 6 & 10 p.m. effective June 20, 2022. 

Keith Garvin is an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist who joined KPRC 2 as an anchor/reporter in August of 2012. He has reported on both shooting tragedies at Fort Hood, the American Sniper Murder Trial, along with coverage from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and local contestants on NBC’s The Voice. Garvin won a regional Emmy as anchor of the Best Newscast in 2013 and an Edward R. Murrow award in 2021 for “George Floyd Continuing Coverage". 

“Keith is the perfect co-anchor for KPRC 2’s evening newscasts,” says KPRC 2 VP/General Manager Jerry Martin. “Over the last 10 years he has proven himself as a top-notch journalist with the local roots and knowledge of our community to bring the news into Houston homes.”

Garvin grew up in Bryan-College Station and is a proud graduate of Bryan High School. He attended the University of Nevada at Reno on a football scholarship, where he earned a broadcast journalism degree from the university’s Don Reynolds School of Journalism.

"I absolutely love Houston & consider it the highest of honors to be named as the evening anchor alongside Daniella & Lauren for KPRC 2,” says Keith Garvin. “It is a privilege to be allowed into the homes of our viewers and followers on a daily and nightly basis to deliver information that makes a difference in their lives."

Prior to KPRC 2, Garvin was an anchor/reporter at KTVT in Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as a correspondent for ABC serving as a member of the White House Press Corps, reporting from Iraq & covering Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Keith has also worked at WRC-TV in Washington D.C., WTVD in Raleigh, N.C. and KFSN in Fresno, California.

Keith says the favorite part of his job is being able to meet people and tell their stories and he is proudest of telling the stories of United States military members directly from Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Rwanda. He has interviewed former Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, Rev. Billy Graham, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and other notable figures.

When Keith isn't working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four daughters. They are members of Houston's Second Baptist Church. Keith also enjoys traveling, running, reading, and dining at Mexican and Thai restaurants. His memberships include the Houston Association of Black Journalists & Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

KPRC 2 celebrates Women's History Month in March

Throughout the month of March, KPRC 2 will celebrate the historic accomplishments of groundbreaking women and the current generation changing the face of our communities and country.

Women’s history will be a part of KPRC 2’s ongoing “Voices of Houston” initiative, spotlighting people in and around the Greater Houston area, making a difference in the community.

As part of KPRC 2’s decades-long mission of diversity and inclusion – and its ongoing commitment to spotlighting the triumphs, struggles and opinions of our city’s diverse communities – the station will celebrate women’s history through weekly on-air news packages, along with "Houston Life" stories featuring local women-owned businesses. Profiles will include some of Houston’s first female broadcasters who worked at KPRC 2.

“Every day, KPRC 2 celebrates Houston’s diverse communities through our storytelling,” said KPRC 2 Vice President/General Manager Jerry Martin. “We will continue our efforts by recognizing the wealth of history-making women who have come before us, and many currently walking amongst us.”

All women’s history content will also be available on KPRC 2 digital platforms, including www.click2houston.com/voices, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

KPRC 2, Texas Southern University celebrate Houston's Black history

KPRC 2 is partnering with Texas Southern University throughout the month of February 2021, when TSU students will curate the station’s Instagram and other social media accounts with a celebration of Houston Black history.

As part of KPRC 2’s decades-long mission of diversity and inclusion – and its ongoing commitment to spotlighting the triumphs, struggles and opinions of our city’s diverse communities -- students from TSU’s School of Communications and members of @KTSU_2 “The Voice” online team will provide 28 days of content for the @kprc2 Instagram account, and other station digital platforms, focusing on their personal visions of Houston Black history.

“I’m excited to be a part of a project that celebrates Houston’s Black history,” said Texas Southern University School of Communications Interim Assistant Dean Serbino Sandifer-Walker. “It’s a groundbreaking initiative that will shine a light on ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things. A unique thing about this project is Texas Southern University students are telling the stories. I applaud KPRC 2 for taking an innovative approach to telling stories that matter in our community.”

Texas Southern students will research and produce exclusive, original content including photography and writing, supervised by their School of Communications professors and the KPRC 2 digital team. Additional media including TSU student information along with social posts will be found at click2houston.com/blackhistory.

In addition, KPRC 2 will continue to celebrate and spotlight people in and around the Greater Houston area from all different backgrounds who are making a difference in our community through its ongoing “Voices of Houston” initiative.

“We welcome this partnership with TSU’s Assistant Dean Sandifer-Walker and the School of Communications students and look forward to sharing their visions of what Houston Black history means to them,” said KPRC 2 Vice President and General Manager Jerry Martin. “KPRC 2 will continue to strive to give voice to people from all walks of life and the unsung heroes who make us proud to call this city home.”

KPRC 2 joins Alex's Army, Alex Bregman to raise $2 million to feed Houston

KPRC 2 is joining Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and his Alex’s Army effort to raise $2 million to help feed Houston-area residents experiencing food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis.

Proceeds raised through Bregman’s FEEDHOU campaign will directly benefit the Houston Food Bank, a nonprofit committed to feeding the hungry in the Houston area.

“By working together with KPRC 2 to benefit a great organization like the Houston Food Bank, we can all do our part to ensure Houston’s underserved children and families continue to get the support they need during these difficult times,” Bregman said.

Bregman’s FEEDHOU campaign recently reached his initial fundraising goal of $1 million in donations. At KPRC 2, the station had been working with its audience to "Help Feed Houston," raising more than $50,000. By working with Alex’s Army, KPRC can help make a greater impact for neighbors in need.

“The need throughout our community due to the COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented,” said KPRC 2 Vice President and General Manager Jerry Martin. “Teaming with Alex Bregman and Alex’s Army, we hope to raise even more to feed Houston’s hungry.”

The FEEDHOU campaign, encouraging donations and volunteering, will begin airing this week across KPRC 2 and MeTV Houston airwaves and all digital platforms.

There are two ways people can help:

• Give. Every $1 donated can help provide three meals. Donations can be made by typing “FEEDHOU” in a text message to the number 41444 or by visiting click2houston.com.
• Volunteer. If you are healthy and want to make an impact, the Houston Food Bank needs you! Register at houstonfoodbank.org to see available volunteer shifts for individuals or small groups. Volunteer safety is a priority and appropriate safety measures will be taken, including social distancing.

Familiar Houstonians, including local entrepreneur Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, rapper Paul Wall and Bregman’s fiancé Reagan Howard, have also lent their support to the FEEDHOU campaign.

Kris Gutierrez joins KPRC 2 as evening news anchor

KPRC 2 welcomes back a familiar face. Kris Gutierrez will join Dominique Sachse, Chief Meteorologist Frank Billingsley and Sports Director Randy McIlvoy to anchor the station’s 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts beginning March 30.

Gutierrez will also anchor KPRC 2 News at 5 p.m. with Lauren Freeman.

Texas-born Gutierrez is a multiple Emmy- and Regional Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering news on the national, regional and local stages.

No stranger to Houston or Channel 2 News, Gutierrez served as a reporter and fill-in anchor at KPRC 2 from 2003 to 2007, where he was named Best Television Reporter in Texas by the Texas Association of Broadcasters, Top Television Journalist by the Houston Press Club, and awarded the Best Live Report from the Dallas Press Club.

In 2007, Kris left KPRC 2 for a position as national correspondent at Fox News Channel, based in the Dallas bureau, where he was sole reporter for all editorial content in a four-state region including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Gutierrez has since worked as a morning news anchor at WBBM-TV in Chicago, before joining Dallas’ KXAS-TV in March 2015, where he currently anchors the NBC 5 News at 5. He has previously worked at KVUE-TV in Austin, WKBN-TV in Youngstown, Ohio, and KXII-TV in Sherman, Texas.

“Kris is the quintessential Texan with a passion for storytelling and extensive experience in both national and local media. His positive energy and work ethic make Mr. Gutierrez a perfect fit for the KPRC 2 team especially during such an unprecedented time,” said Jerry Martin, KPRC 2 Vice President/General Manager.

Kris is dedicated to journalism, but his greatest love is his family. When Kris is not reporting on big stories or at the anchor desk, you can find him cheering on his two kids at sporting events with his wife, Krystle Gutierrez.

A graduate of Lewisville High School, Kris earned a BS in Broadcast Journalism at Texas Christian University. He remains active in the Horned Frog community, sitting on the Board of Volunteers at the Bob Schieffer College of Communications.

Graham Media Group is comprised of seven local media hubs, Graham Digital and Social News Desk, delivering local news, programming, advertising solutions and digital media tools for television, online, mobile, OTT, podcasts and audio devices. We are dynamic, local brands that extend well beyond the traditional TV set. Our work helps inform, celebrate and knit together the communities we serve.

KPRC 2 reveals unprecedented Tokyo coverage

A general view of the Olympic rings as they are illuminated for the first time in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

We’re officially six months out from the 2020 Olympic Games. KPRC 2 is your Olympic team, and it’s flexing its media muscles in a big way to bring users and viewers outstanding coverage in Tokyo, Japan, from July 24 through Aug. 9, 2020.

For the first time, KPRC 2 is sending an entire team of multimedia journalists and crew to provide a truly unique experience of the Games across all platforms, from must-click digital stories to must-see TV.

Anchors Keith Garvin and Christine Noël will lead the KPRC 2 Olympic team, which also includes reporter Rose-Ann Aragon, three photojournalists with more than 30 years of experience and, for the first time, its director of digital, David Arkin, to provide unparalleled digital coverage.

Viewers and users can expect more this year than ever before, with live elements from Tokyo updated throughout the day, Facebook Lives and a Texas Olympians page spotlighting Lone Star talent, including phenoms Simone Biles and Simone Manuel.

In addition to local athlete profiles and continuous updates, users can look forward to a daily notebook with up-to-the-minute details on Texans in Tokyo, a daily talent-hosted social media show featuring results and what’s on tap for the day, along with Olympic fashion, trivia, history, get-to-know-the-country features and so much more.

“Our coverage of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo will be a sight to behold,” said KPRC 2 Vice President and General Manager Jerry Martin. “With the addition of our director of digital live from Tokyo, we’ll be pulling out all the stops to provide our viewers with a level of in-depth coverage -- on-air, behind the scenes and on digital -- never before seen in an Olympiad.”

KPRC 2's Olympic team will take you from the Olympic Stadium to the Olympic Village and beyond to give Houston-area fans the best experience ever -- like they’re at the games themselves.

Spectators will rejoice with the return of the Olympic Zone, a magazine show that provides in-depth Olympic stories, including little-known facts about athletes and training, as well as their life outside of sport, plus a showcase of up-to-the-minute Olympics content that sets the stage for the most important action every night of the games.

You will be able to access coverage of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad for Tokyo, Japan, on all KPRC 2 platforms, including KPRC 2 on-air storytelling, Click2Houston.com, Facebook.com/kprc2, instagram.com/kprc2 and on Twitter @kprc2.

KPRC 2 kicks off the new year with new home build

On the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 7, KPRC 2 employees powered up before the sun came up in the station parking lot to begin work on the 2020 Habitat for Humanity home.

Since 2014, KPRC 2 has been honored to work alongside Habitat for Humanity to make the dreams of becoming homeowners come true for deserving Houstonians through the building of new homes. This year’s home will be the seventh that KPRC 2 and its partners have built in the Houston area.

Launched in 1987, Houston Habitat has been making an impact in the community for more than 40 years, with each and every home built with the help of eager volunteers. Houston Habitat staff act as coaches to teach volunteers home building techniques.

“We have a great responsibility for the community,” said KPRC 2 Vice President and General Manager Jerry Martin. “We’re big cheerleaders for Houston. One of our primary functions is to give back to the community that we love.”

A Habitat Home may be a blessing, but it’s not a handout. The men and women who apply to become Habitat homeowners must meet specific criteria and put in 300 volunteer hours -- so-called “sweat equity” -- with Habitat for Humanity. And even when they get the keys, they still must pay for it.

Viewers interested in taking that first step toward becoming a Habitat Homeowner can visit the Habitat for Humanity section on Click2Houston.com/community. There they will find a link to the requirements as well as dates for upcoming information sessions. Those interested in volunteering can head there, too -- more help is always needed on build sites.

About Graham Media Group. GMG is comprised of 7 local media hubs, Graham Digital and Social News Desk delivering local news, programming, advertising solutions and digital media tools for television, online, mobile, OTT, podcasts and audio devices. We are dynamic, local brands that extend well beyond the traditional TV set. Our work helps inform, celebrate and knit together the communities we serve.

GMG operates in 6 states: KPRC–Houston, WDIV–Detroit and WSLS–Roanoke (NBC); KSAT–San Antonio (ABC); WKMG–Orlando (CBS); WJXT–Jacksonville (fully local), and WCWJ–Jacksonville (CW). Based in Detroit, Graham Digital is a digital media and technology development group widely recognized as a leading industry innovator. Social News Desk, headquartered in Atlanta, provides its 2500+ worldwide newsroom-customers with a single dashboard to publish, measure, curate and monetize local news content on social platforms.

KPRC-2 welcomes Graham coworkers as Houston hosts IRE 2019 conference

Some of the best journalists in the country gathered in Houston for this year’s Investigative Reporters and Editors conference.

The event was held last week. KPRC-2, our Graham Media Group station in Houston, hosted a meetup for corporate employees along with a social event called Treat Yo’ Self at Grotto downtown.

The mission of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) is to foster excellence in investigative journalism.

The team at KPRC welcomed the folks from Graham with some good old Southern hospitality and some truly excellent Texas BBQ.

The group had the chance to share its passion for investigative journalism with some of the other top reporters in the country. It was an opportunity to mix, mingle and more.

IRE was formed in 1975 to create a forum in which journalists throughout the world could help each other by sharing story ideas, newsgathering techniques and news sources.

IRE provides members access to thousands of reporting tip sheets and other materials through its resource center and hosts conferences and specialized training throughout the country.

KPRC salutes service members, families during Military Appreciation Month

Throughout the month of May, KPRC 2 salutes the service and sacrifice of our service members and their families during Military Appreciation Month.

KPRC 2’s 2019 Military Appreciation on-air and digital campaigns will feature our reporters and anchors who have served, are serving, or have family members who are in the military or are veterans.

KPRC 2 News Today meteorologist Britta Merwin, traffic reporter and anchor Jennifer Reyna, reporter Vincent Crivelli, reporter Brittany Jeffers, and anchors Bill Balleza and Khambrel Marshall salute the service of their family members and each other in on-air promos.

KPRC 2’s multiplatform campaign is also spotlighting a partnership with the Houston Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America service organization. We encourage viewers to “join our mission” by sending care packages consisting of new and unused personal hygiene items, unworn socks, snacks, reading materials and any other items that will lift the spirits of our brave men and women serving in combat zones and overseas. KPRC 2 will host an internal station drive for supplies, joining forces with the Blue Star Mothers to assemble, wrap and ship the care packages to our local service members.

Another digital component will be the return of “Tell It 2 Us,” our man-on-the-street forum, where Houston-area veterans are given the opportunity to speak about topics like their reasons for enlisting, life lessons learned and veteran-based issues they would like to address.

Viewers will also be encouraged to make their voices heard by recording their own thoughts on these issues on camera and then emailing them to tellit2us@kprc.com or Militarymay@kprc.com. Submissions should be 30 seconds or less, and files no larger than 30MB. Videos will be shared to KPRC 2’s Facebook page and on click2houston.com/military.

“We are proud of the service and sacrifice of our extended KPRC 2 family,” KPRC 2 Vice President and General Manager Jerry Martin said. “We salute the mission of the Blue Star Mothers and our service members both on-air and throughout our Houston community.”

Join our mission by following or posting using these hashtags: #KPRC2 #KPRCMILITARYMAY #TELLIT2US and by visiting click2houston.com/military.

Blue Star Mothers of America Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 service organization dedicated to supporting members of the armed forces and their families while promoting patriotism. The Houston Chapter sends more than 1,200 care packages over the course of a year.

Graham Media Group, a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Co. (NYSE: GHC), owns seven local television stations, each in a top-70 market and all recognized as news leaders: KPRC–Houston, WDIV–Detroit and WSLS–Roanoke (NBC); KSAT–San Antonio (ABC); WKMG–Orlando(CBS); WJXT–Jacksonville (fully local); and WCWJ–Jacksonville (CW), as well as Social News Desk, a leading provider of social media management tools designed to connect newsrooms with their users.

The stations also broadcast digital channels focusing on classic television and lifestyle programming, in addition to operating market-leading websites, mobile sites and mobile apps delivering breaking news, weather and community news, reaching millions of users across each platform. All are deeply involved in local initiatives and public service projects designed to serve, inform and improve their respective communities.

David Arkin to lead Digital at KPRC 2, Click2Houston

KPRC 2/Click2Houston is pleased to announce the appointment of David Arkin as its new Director of Digital and Enterprise Content. In this newly revamped role previously known as our Digital Executive Producer, Arkin will lead the digital team in the newsroom and be responsible for all other digital efforts and strategies including Houston Life, station promotions and sales.

“We are pleased to have landed David Arkin in this new role," said Jerry Martin, vice president and general manager of KPRC. "He is a proven leader in audience development and innovative digital strategies, bringing more than 20 years of experience leading newsrooms and developing high-quality digital journalism."

“Arkin has held senior leadership positions for a variety of news organizations and helped companies grow their audiences, integrate creative storytelling, and develop digital newsroom cultures,” said David Strickland, news director of KPRC.

Most recently, Arkin led the launch of Rover, a news start-up in Nashville. The product focused on providing content readers could use to navigate the growing metropolitan area by delivering both a daily online dose of local news while providing a deeper dive in a monthly print edition. Prior to that, Arkin developed a content consulting business for the Local Media Association and created content partnerships with the Texas Tribune and NextDoor as Chief Content Officer at Community Impact Newspaper.

Arkin spent nearly 10 years at GateHouse Media. As Senior Vice President for Content, he launched the company's design and product center in Austin, Texas, which employed more than 200 people and provided print and digital services for internal and external clients across the country.

In 2016, Arkin was named the Digital News Innovator of the Year by the Local Media Association before joining their organization. He has led newsrooms to national journalism awards and has served on boards for local media associations including the Associated Press Media Editors and Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas.

“I can’t wait to work with the incredibly talented team at KPRC," Arkin said. "Their journalism is top notch, and I’m thrilled to lend my experience to advance the work they’re doing for their growing digital audience. The opportunity to help take a respected brand’s digital product to the next level in a market like Houston is really an exciting opportunity."

Arkin will start in his role at KPRC later this month.

KPRC 2 celebrates diversity during Black History Month

During the month of February, KPRC 2 is honoring Black History Month by celebrating the multi-cultural diversity of Houston, the city the station calls home.

KPRC 2’s Black History Month on-air and social media campaigns will center around various renditions of, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” commonly referred to as the Negro National Anthem, including a spoken-word version featuring KPRC 2 on-air talent, a vocal version sung by the Imani School’s “Young Voices of Praise” choir, and an original solo piano performance by our very own KPRC 2 employee.

As part of the digital campaign, KPRC 2 will spotlight many of Houston’s high-profile African American power players, including gospel vocalist Yolanda Adams, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and gold medal-winning Olympians Simone Biles and Carl Lewis, interviewed by anchor and Houston Newsmakers host Khambrel Marshall.

KPRC 2 also will solicit viewer nominations to spotlight everyday citizens doing amazing things in the community. Nominations can be made here.

Another digital component will be the just-launched “Tell It 2 Us” platform, featuring man-on-the-street-style interviews with everyday Houstonians speaking out on issues facing the African American community. Viewers will be encouraged to make their voices heard by recording their own thoughts on these issues on camera and then emailing them to tellit2us@kprc.com. Submissions should be 30 seconds or less, and files no larger than 30MB.

“Our KPRC 2 family is as diverse as the communities that we cover and the city we call home,” KPRC 2 Vice President/General Manager Jerry Martin said. “What better time to celebrate not only the high-profile, but the everyday citizens, neighbors and co-workers who inspire and define us?”

Throughout the month, KPRC 2 will share stories of why African American culture is Houston culture, and how so much of what makes our city great is based in black heritage, honoring these cultural contributions.

KPRC 2 launches 'The Eyes of Texas' podcast

HOUSTON – Almost 50 years after it first launched, KPRC 2 is proud to announce the return of its iconic brand, "The Eyes of Texas" as a digital podcast.

Hosted by KPRC 2 news reporter Brandon Walker, "The Eyes of Texas" will once again be traveling Texas in search of the stories that define state pride and meeting up with a variety of Texans doing big things along the way.

“For many Houstonians, 'The Eyes of Texas' is synonymous with KPRC 2,” said Vice President/General Manager Jerry Martin. “We think this is the perfect vehicle to spotlight as a podcast on our digital platforms.”

Originally hosted by former KPRC-TV news director Ray Miller, and then KPRC anchor Ron Stone, "The Eyes of Texas" aired original episodes on Channel 2 from 1969 to 1999. A series of “best of” episodes aired in 2007, followed by new episodes hosted by KPRC anchors Bill Balleza and Dominique Sachse in 2009.

Subscribe to "The Eyes of Texas" podcast on: Google Play Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. Follow the podcast on Twitter: @eyesoftxpodcast and online here. You can enjoy a new episode every Tuesday.

KPRC hosts "Making Houston Stronger: A Town Hall on Rebuilding Our Region"

KPRC hosted "Making Houston Stronger: A Town Hall on Rebuilding Our Region," a special live televised event on January 29, 2018.

KPRC 2 Anchors Bill Balleza and Dominique Sachse were joined by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett to discuss lessons learned and the progress that's been made in the months since Houston was plagued by several major flood catastrophes, including Hurricane Harvey.

The special was executive produced by Steve Ljuljdjuraj and aired on KPRC Channel 2. It was also streamed live on Click2Houston.com, the KPRC 2 YouTube Channel and the KPRC 2 Facebook Page.

The special can be viewed here:

WATCH: 'Making Houston Stronger: A Town Hall'

KPRC Channel 2 Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief raises more than $4.5 million

KPRC-TV Channel 2 KPRC and Telemundo Houston partnered with the American Red Cross to support the Harvey relief effort.  When KPRC opened the phone lines, viewers delivered, calling in donations of all sizes!  
 
Between August 30 and 31, individuals called in pledges of more than a million dollars ($1,067,358) and donated another $269,530 online at Click2houston.com.  Corporations stepped up to present checks worth nearly $3.2 million ($3,175,000). That's more than $4.5 million ($4,511,888.00) pledged to help our Houston neighbors in need!
 
On top of that, a representative from Walmart dropped in to the KRPC 2 studio to present the Red Cross with $10,000,000 to help the Gulf Coast recover.
 
This relief effort is massive, and viewers can continue to donate by looking for a link on the Click2Houston.com homepage or dropping off change in the special donation boxes at the register of your local Kroger grocery store.  Every bit helps and adds up to a lot of help for victims of Hurricane Harvey.

'Straight Talk from the Candidates' Effort To Inform Voters

In an effort to inform voters and arm them with the tools they need to make their choices at the polls, KPRC2 invited candidates in major political races to address viewers in a special hour-long public service program, “Straight Talk from the Candidates.” The program was presented commercial-free on Friday, October 21st at 7 p.m. and was produced without commentary in order to serve as a forum for candidates to share their visions without interruption.

KPRC2 also partnered with Telemundo Houston to host a bilingual phone bank for voter information on October 24th, as early voting began. These initiatives complemented KPRC2’s election coverage, which included sending reporters to cover every debate, conventions and important stops along the campaign trail.