WDIV's investigative reporter Kevin Dietz, who has won numerous awards for his news reports, including the police beating of motorist Floyd Dent, is the first recipient of the the station's new "Roger Weber Award," for outstanding journalism.
The in-house award is named after reporter Roger Weber, who retired last year in June after nearly 37 years at the station.
"Of all the awards I have ever one this may mean the most to me," Dietz said. "I hold Roger Weber in the highest esteem and it is a real honor to be the first recipient of the Stations Roger Weber Award."
Newsroom members nominated people at WDIV for the award and a committee that included Weber made the final selection.
WDIV News Director Kim Voet-Potter writes in a staff memo::
I’m happy to announce this year’s winner is a dedicated journalist who has had one of his best years in the business: Kevin Dietz.
Roger WeberHe has had an outstanding year in his Defender reporting keeping a man from going to jail (Floyd Dent), fighting to get a man out of jail who has served far too long (“White Boy” Rick), and finding justice for the family of a man who died in jail (David Stojcevski). In each of these, and countless more, Kevin has led the way in the breaking of these stories. This year he was rewarded with an Edward R. Murrow Award, The Wade McCree Jr. Justice Award, a couple of MAB Awards and two Emmy Awards. That’s a lot of hardware.
Kevin is so much more than an excellent investigative reporter. He chips in regularly on a daily basis, yesterday was a prime example with the Berrien Courthouse Shooting. Kevin is arguably the most well-sourced reporter in our market. If you are stumped, asked Kevin and he either knows or can find someone who does. I hear time and time again how Kevin helps out fellow reporters in the field, or the assignment desk with information on a developing story. He’s a wealth of appreciated knowledge.
He’s also a tremendous mentor to many of our new employees. You might not know but he regularly takes new reporters and “shows them the ropes” around town. He also works with them on sources and how to cultivate them. Kevin’s contributions to Local 4 go way beyond his Defender reporting. All of us benefit from Kevin at one time or another.
