2026 DOWNSTATE Silver Dome Awards Finalists
*Finalists are listed in random order.
BEST SINGLE STATION PROMOTION
WEEK - "Local News Isn't Easy"
WIFR - "First Alert: Beleaf It"
WEEK - "Prep Rally 2025"
BEST USE OF GRAPHIC DESIGN
WEEK - "How To Stream 25News"
WGEM - "Mike Provine Reel"
WEEK - "Free Stream"
BEST LIGHT FEATURE
WAND - "Ethan's Home Team"
WAND - "Climbing Higher"
WGEM - "Handprints in Concrete"
BEST LOCALLY PRODUCED TV PROGRAM, SERIES, OR DOCUMENTARY
WSIU - "Illinois Backroads"
WEEK - "Chuck Collins 50 Years Show"
WEEK - "Greater Peoria Honor Flight - Spouses"
BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
WEEK - "Pulled Over"
KFVS - "Tracking A Serial Killer"
KFVS - "In Harm's Way"
BEST NEWS HARD STORY
WGEM - "Pikeland Community School Petition"
WEEK - "SAFE-T Act: Fact and Fiction"
WCIA - "Sean Grayson Verdict Reaction"
BEST LOCAL NEWS STORY
WEEK - "Green Balloons"
WAND - "Ethan's Home Team"
WGEM - "Handprints in Concrete"
BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITY
WEEK - "Greater Peoria Honor Flight"
WGEM - "The WGEM Experience at Quincy Children's Museum"
WEEK - "St. Jude Telethon"
BEST USE OF INTERACTIVE MEDIA
WICS - "Sean Grayson Murder Trial"
WEEK - "Jim Mattson's Prep Rally"
WGEM - "Death of a Brewer"
BEST CONTINUING COVERAGE
WCIA - "Mattoon Algae Bloom"
WEEK - "Sean Grayson Trial"
WICS - "Tragedy in Chatham"
WSIU - "Tedrick Welcome Center"
BEST SHORT FORM DIGITAL
WQAD - "National Weather Service / Rock River Ice Jam"
WEEK - "Wheels O' Time Mural"
WEEK - "Free Little Library"
BEST VIDEO EDITING
WAND - "Ethan's Home Team"
WEEK - "The Man. The Myth. The Meteorologist."
WAND - "The Cadillac Connection"
BEST TV REPORTER
WAND - Caryn Eisert
WCIA - Katie Moore
WSIU - Britni Bateman
BEST WEATHERCASTER
WCIA - Kevin Lighty
WTVO/WQRF - Candice King
WQAD - James Zahara
WEEK - Balint Szalavari
BEST VIDEOGRAPHER
WSIU - Prescott Doll
WEEK - Kyle Vincent
WGEM - Joe McFarland
TV STATION OF THE YEAR
WGEM
WAND
WEEK
BEST LOCALLY PRODUCED SINGLE COMMERCIAL
WSPY - "Rosati's"
WSPY - "State Farm"
Woodward Community Media - "Xochimilco - What's for Dinner?"
BEST LOCAL MORNING SHOW
WPBG - "The Morning Drive with John & Nancy"
WFMB - "New Country Mornings with John & Leah"
WYMG - "Lynch and Company in the Morning"
BEST USE OF NON-BROADCAST MEDIA
Woodward Community Media - "Robertson Lawn Care 14th Annual Free Pie Day"
Channel1450.com - "Glenwood vs. Rochester Overtime Radio Call"
WFMB - "Eating Around the 217 with Josh Roberts"
BEST STATION IMAGING
WDBR
WUEZ
WCIL
BEST RADIO PLAY-BY-PLAY BROADCAST
WSPY - "Marmion Academy Basketball vs. Streator/Sandwich"
WJBC - "ISU Men's Basketball vs. Utah State"
WJPF - "Carterville Basketball vs. Massac County"
WMAY - "Rochester Football vs. Breese Central"
BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY
WCIL - April Ruebke
WEFT - Don Tanner
WFMB - Josh Roberts
STATION OF THE YEAR
WOOZ
WCIL
WEFT
BEST LOCALLY PRODUCED SINGLE COMMERCIAL
WCSJ/WJDK - "KFC"
WALS/WYYS/WSTQ/WBZG - "LaSalle Speedway"
WDAN/WDNL/WRHK - "Dave's Double Barrel BBQ
BEST STATION PROMOTION
WJVO - "Santa Parade"
WMIX - "Buck$ for Bucks"
WMIX - "Letters of Thanksgiving"
BEST FEATURE
WRMJ - "10th Anniversary of Rockridge March Madness Miracle"
WCSJ/WJDK - "Morris Police Officer and Civilian Save Man's Life in Illinois River"
WCSJ/WJDK - "Wilmington Football Team Donates To Opponents Mascot"
WTIM - "How Strong They've Become"
BEST LOCAL MORNING SHOW
WGEM - "WGEM SportsCenter"
WVLI - "Mike Tomano in the Morning with Rob West"
WJBC - "The Scott Miller Show"
BEST USE OF NON-BROADCAST MEDIA
WRAM - "The Farm Frequency"
WAJK/WLWF - "Friday First Bites - Oreo Popcorn Bliss"
WCSJ/WJDK - "Wilmington State Title Video"
BEST CONTINUING COVERAGE
WDAN/WDNL/WRHK - "United Way Radio Takeover"
WRMJ - "Mercer County School District Superintendent Arrest"
WLPO - "Streator Tornado"
WDAN/WDNL/WRHK - "Operation Honor Guard"
BEST STATION IMAGING
WMIX - "RJ on Vacation"
WQRL - "Q106: Southern Illinois' Classic Hits"
WJVO - "Loud and Proud Country"
BEST HUMOROUS NEWS STORY
WJVO - "Grease Spill"
WCSJ/WJDK - "Young Adults Playing Wiffleball For Charity"
WTIM - "Jack Flash In Pana And The Bathrooming Beaver"
BEST RADIO PLAY-BY-PLAY BROADCAST
WMCI - "Volleyball: Windsor/Stew-Stras vs. Heyworth"
WMCI - "Softball: Windsor/Stew-Stras at Casey-Westfield"
WRMJ - "Football: Rockridge vs Tri-Valley"
BEST LOCALLY ORGINATED COMMUNITY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
WDAN/WDNL/WRHK - "United Way Radiothon"
WDAN/WDNL/WRHK - "Memorial Day Campaign"
WJVO - "Wreaths Across America"
WMOI - "Turn Up The Pink"
BEST NEWS REPORTER
WCSJ/WJDK - Justin Ritz
WRMJ - Ty Taylor
WTIM - Reid Kamhi
BEST RADIO SPORTSCASTER
WRMJ - Ty Taylor
WGLC/WALS - Connor Hopkins
WGEM - Ryan Mumma
BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY
WLPO - Rod Thorson
WGIL - Chris Postin
WMIX - Roger Price
STATION OF THE YEAR
WRAM/WMOI
WJBC
WMIX
*Tickets for the Chicago Silver Dome Awards will go on sale at a later date.
