WRAL Local Tech Wire’s Rick Smith (right) accepts the NCTA Media Award. |
The North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) recently honored one of CBC’s burgeoning news outlets. WRAL TV Local Tech Wire received the Media Award in the 2006 NCTA 21 Awards at an evening event on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006.
“The 2006 NCTA 21 Awards have been our most competitive with an outstanding list of finalists and a group of award recipients who distinguished themselves through remarkable achievement and superior performance,” said Joan Myers, president and chief executive officer of NCTA. “The NCTA 21 awards have a 12-year history of honoring our state’s best and brightest.”
520 technology executives and thought leaders from across NC gathered at the gala.
NCTA 21 Awards recognize outstanding contributions that information technology companies and individuals in NC have made over the past year to the industry, community and state. Awards are presented in five categories.
“There was stiff competition as the other nominees included the Charlotte Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and TechJournal South,” said CBC NMG VP & General Manager Jimmy Goodmon. “This award is wonderful recognition of the hard work that goes into producing our state’s most comprehensive technology news destination. It is also worth noting that WRAL Local Tech Wire was the only nominee without a print counterpart.”
WRAL-TV Local Tech Wire Editor & General Manager Rick Smith accepted the NCTA 21 Media Award. He writes most of the content for the site. He joined the CBC New Media Group team in last month of 2005. Besides his work with WRAL Local Tech Wire, he is also responsible for the Business-Technology section of WRAL.com. Smith previously spent two years at CBC during the mid ‘90s launching Interpath and CBC Information Services.
“It is simply a thrill to have the opportunity to work for Capitol again and with the WRAL.com and WRAL TV news teams,” said Smith. “I can’t express in words how grateful I am for the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful, professional organization.”
Smith is one of the founders of Local Tech Wire, which launched in January of 2002. Their idea? To create a web site devoted to covering high tech and life science in the Carolinas and Georgia. Smith assembled the site and recruited writers, putting the plan into action. CBC NMG purchased Local Tech Wire in December 2005.
“WRAL Local Tech Wire would not have won the award without the support and direction of Jimmy Goodmon,” said Smith. “I also am deeply grateful to John Conway and the WRAL.com team who have been so patient and understanding in helping me become part of the New Media Group. This was truly a team effort.”
Thanks to NCTA for this capcom photo.
