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Callanan receives Municipal League’s Civic Award for government reporting

We’re thrilled to announce Seattle Channel’s public affairs host Brian Callanan is the recipient of the Municipal League’s 2016 Government News Reporting of the Year award. Callanan will receive the award at the Muni League’s 57th Annual Civic Awards, Thursday, April 28.

The Civic Awards recognizes the accomplishments of elected officials, public employees, citizen groups, the news media, and individuals who make outstanding contributions to the community and to better government.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Municipal League. I’m proud to continue the effort they started in Seattle more than a century ago to increase civic awareness and government accountability,” said Callanan.

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Callanan hosts and co-produces Seattle Channel’s award-winning public-affairs programs, including City Inside/Out, weekly in-depth reports on local issues; Seattle Speaks, live town-hall discussions debating pivotal topics; City Inside/Out: Council Edition, a monthly conversation with the city’s lawmakers; and Our City, Our Schools, a look at city investments in public education.

“Brian is committed to building a well-informed public dialogue,” said John Giamberso, Seattle Channel’s general manager. ”He covers the issues that matter with fair, in-depth and independent coverage of city policies and local headlines and the people and organizations behind them.”

Callanan’s career in broadcast journalism spans more than two decades. Prior to joining Seattle Channel in September 2011, he worked for nearly 11 years at Q13 Fox News, where he was a reporter and fill-in anchor. He is the recipient of three Northwest Emmy Awards, including an Emmy for hosting and moderating, and several other accolades from the Society for Professional Journalists and the National Press Photographer’s Association. He lives with his wife and two daughters in West Seattle, and enjoys playing music, singing, running and adventuring all over the Northwest.

This year, the Municipal League will also present awards to the late Dick Spady, co-founder of Seattle’s legendary hamburger company Dick’s Drive In, for Citizen of the Year; Diane Sugimura, the recently retired longtime director of the city of Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development, for Public Employee of the Year; Chief Seattle Club, a human services agency dedicated to supporting American Indian and Alaska Native people, for Organization of the Year; and Constance Rice, senior executive fellow for Casey Family Programs, focused on foster care and child welfare, for the Warren G. Magnuson Award.