HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF. (January 10, 2007) – Orange County’s local PBS station, KOCE-TV, has again been acknowledged by the Radio and Television News Association, which presented KOCE with three Golden Mike Awards – Best Documentary, Best “Spot” News and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Radio and Television News Association hosts the annual Golden Mike Awards to honor the “best of the best” in Southern California’s television and radio news.

The evening’s focal point was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award, given to KOCE-TV’s Ed Arnold, co-host of Orange County’s only nightly news program, Real Orange. The award is given to those whose commitment to quality journalism, adherence to the highest principles of integrity, service to the community and/or promotion of the First Amendment rights of the free press have been extraordinary over the course of an entire career.

“On behalf of the KOCE staff, I congratulate Ed on his incredible achievement and overall excellence in broadcasting,” said Mel Rogers, president and general manager of KOCE-TV. “The leadership that he and the rest of the Real Orange staff portrays has proven to be an awarding talent, and we are pleased to be recognized for such prestigious honors.”

Maria Hall-Brown of KOCE-TV’s Bookmark with Maria Hall-Brown, Orange County’s weekly up-close and personal interview program, was also honored with Best Documentary for her production of Pacific Symphony: Notes from Europe. This traveling documentary took viewers on a tour throughout Germany, Switzerland and Austria, following more than 150 musicians, chorus and staff members from the Orange County Pacific Symphony. Through Hall-Brown’s documentary, viewers were able to experience the European countryside, while getting a behind-the-scenes look at the group’s first international tour.

A Golden Mike for Best “Spot” News Reporting also went to KOCE-TV reporter David Nazar for his compelling live coverage of a record-breaking marijuana bust in Orange County. Nazar provided viewers with on-the-scene reporting as the Orange County Sheriff Department uncovered more than $12.5 million of marijuana growing in Mission Viejo.

About the Radio & Television News Association
The Radio & Television News Association of Southern California (RTNA) is a non-profit organization of professional broadcast journalists dedicated to facilitating effective and unobtrusive media coverage of important news events, promoting excellence in local broadcast journalism through Golden Mike Awards and providing a collegial forum for discussion of relevant issues facing the broadcast news industry.

About KOCE-TV
KOCE-TV, one of the most watched PBS stations in America, has an estimated 4.5 million viewers* each month, and offers a mix of both local and national programs. In addition, KOCE Classroom serves more than half-a-million K-14 students. The winner of hundreds of awards including Emmys and Community Service Awards, KOCE continues to be a leading resource for education, culture and local issues in Southern California. For more information, please visit www.koce.org.

* This figure was calculated by KOCE's program consultant and is based upon information obtained via PubTV Online.