Nov. 16, 2009

KAZU news director Krista Almanzan was honored Nov. 7 by the Radio-Television News Directors Association of Northern California at the organization's annual awards dinner in San Francisco.

She was recognized in the category of best feature reporting on a serious subject for "A Second Chance in Salinas." The story examined a program called Take the Lead, which pairs at-risk youngsters with dogs surrendered to the local SPCA. The kids learn to train the dogs – making the pets more adoptable – while making a better connection with their school and doing better in the classroom. Read the story here.

[](https://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kazu/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1511786/news/A.Second.Chance.in.Salinas)

The Nor-Cal RTNDA represents electronic journalists in radio, television and online from the Oregon border to the California Central Coast and Reno. The entry period covered July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. More than 180 entries were received from 29 stations and were judged by news managers from around the country. Almanzan started her journalism career in Iowa where she covered the 2000 and 2004 presidential races and Iowa caucuses for local television stations. In 2005, she won the Stanley Foundation Award for Outstanding Broadcast Coverage of Iowa's global connections. Later that year, she returned to her home state of California, where she continued to work in television and simultaneously got her start in public radio as a freelance reporter with Capital Public Radio in Sacramento. In 2007, she joined the staff at KAZU where she serves as host of All Things Considered as well as news director. KAZU, 90.3 FM, is a National Public Radio news and information affiliate licensed to California State University, Monterey Bay.