Best of Media

Ruling The Airwaves

Bob Dumas of G105 was voted Best Radio Talk Show Host. He co-hosts Bob & the Showgram, voted Best Morning Radio Show, with Mike Morse and Erica DeLong.

Dumas has been working the Showgram for 19 years, keeping the radio waves stirred up. Is the show irreverent?

“Uhh! No! Who said that?” he joked.

The show’s material comes from the real lives of its crew, he says.

“We just live our lives, then talk about it. Really not that complicated.”

The Showgram’s numerous Maggy Awards wins mean a lot to Dumas. So how does he view his role in the lives of the listeners who vote for him?

“Cousins!” he declares. But seriously, the best part of his job is “definitely the people who listen to our show. Honestly, we’re all one big funny, dysfunctional family!”

And what can loyal listeners expect in the new year? According to Dumas, “Lots of midget nudity … oh, and more male tickle fights.”

TV Too

WRAL-TV swept the awards in the television category again this year, and picked up a new Maggy Awards category too: Best Local News Site.

Our readers’ favorite go-to for quick and accurate info, WRAL.com offers email alerts on breaking news, live streaming of TV newscasts, a community calendar and more.

Award-winning — and tuba-playing — Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel of WRAL maintained his reign as Best TV Meteorologist this year, proving he has the trust of our readers.

“Accurate weather forecasts are important 365 days a year, but it’s those days where lives are on the line that my job takes on a special meaning,” Fishel said. “The bottom line is that you want to give your viewers the best chance of getting through a tornado, hurricane, etc. with their lives intact.”

Fishel has seen big changes in technology during his career, in both meteorology and broadcasting. Gathering data is his favorite part of the job.

“I have to be honest — I’m a geek, and I am still fascinated with data, and the interpretation of it,” he said. His recent foray into writing scripts that allow the team to display new types of data is particularly exciting. 

“Running a close second, though, is the opportunity to meet an awful lot of nice people,” he said. “When folks tell me they feel like I’m part of their family … I see it for what it is — genuinely nice people who genuinely care about others.”

Known for blending off-the-cuff humor into his reports, Fishel often finds topics for his “poor quality” puns from stories leading up to the weather segment.

“Ask anybody that knew me in high school, and they will tell you I was the guy with the sick jokes!” he said.

It’s all part of the rapport he enjoys with viewers.   

“All I can say to everyone is thanks a million for watching, and being so nice to me over the years. I will continue to do my best to earn your trust going forward.”

Written by Nancy Pardue

Best Afternoon Drive Show
105.1 WDCG, Randi West
HM: 91.5 NPR WUNC, All Things Considered
94.7 WQDR, Lisa McKay

Best Morning Radio Show
105.1 WDCG, Bob & The Showgram
HM: 101.5 Mix WRAL, Bill & Lynda in the Morning
94.7 WQDR, The Q Morning Crew

Best Radio  Station 105.1 G105 WDCG
HM: 94.7 Today's Best Country WQDR
91.5 NPR WUNC

Best Radio Talk Show Host
Bob Dumas, G105.1 WDCG
HM: Bill Jordan, 101.5 Mix WRAL
Dick Gordon, 91.5 NPR WUNC

Best TV Meteorologist
Greg Fishel, WRAL 5
HM: Elizabeth Gardner, WRAL 5
Chris Hohmann, ABC 11

Best TV News Anchor
David Crabtree, WRAL 5
HM: Bill Leslie, WRAL 5
Debra Morgan, WRAL 5

Best TV Sportscaster
Tom Suiter, WRAL 5
HM: Jeff Gravely, WRAL 5
Mark Armstrong, ABC 11
Best TV Station
WRAL 5
HM: ABC 11
Fox 50

Best Local News Site
WRAL.com
HM: Newsobserver.com
News14.com