WMAQ & WSNS Receive Multiple Honors for Extensive Pope Leo XIV Coverage from the Vatican
Chicago, IL (November 3, 2025) – NBCUniversal Local Chicago — NBC 5 Chicago (WMAQ) & Telemundo Chicago (WSNS) – earned nine Emmy® Awards from the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) for the 2024-25 television season. The 67th annual ceremonies were held this past Saturday (Nov. 1) at the Swissotel in downtown Chicago.
Please note NBCU Local Chicago’s Emmy® Award winners for the 2024-25 television season below:
Category #201: Outstanding Achievement for Evening Newscast: Larger Markets
- 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 #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
Category #506: Outstanding Achievement for News Promotion – Single Spot/Campaign
- Experts: Stephanie Jimenez, Producer; Matt Buckman, Hannah Lindvall, Scott Peters, Joseph Schiltz, Producers. 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
ABOUT NBCUNIVERSAL LOCAL CHICAGO
NBCUniversal Local Chicago, a part of NBCUniversal Local, is the home of NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) and Telemundo Chicago (WSNS-TV). Together, the duopoly serves diverse English- and Spanish-speaking audiences in the third largest U.S. television market. The NBC and Telemundo-owned stations deliver the latest local news, consumer, and investigative reports across multiple platforms, including linear TV, streaming, and digital. Their coverage includes Chicago’s most accurate forecast, extensive local sports coverage, original documentaries and series, and lifestyle and entertainment programming through “Chicago Today.” All original content is available on-air, digitally via NBCChicago.com and TelemundoChicago.com ,and via the stations’ mobile apps. Viewers can also access the NBC 5 Chicago News 24/7 live streaming channel on Peacock, Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV, and other supported platforms.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Jeff Nuich
jeff.nuich@nbcuni.com
