The award was handed out for what the judges called "excellently balanced serious, investigative journalism with more feature-oriented reports." She shares the award with Cleveland's Duane Pohlman.

Earlier this year, Quinlivan picked up her second National Public Service Award from SPJ for her investigation of how the Archdiocese of Cincinnati handled the priest abuse scandal.

On the radio

The other big local winner in the same contest was Northern Kentucky's WNKU-FM (89.7). The station won Best In Show in the Public Affairs Program category for Speaking Frankly (9 a.m. Thursdays).

The award went to news director Maryanne Zeleznik and reporter Jay Hanselman, who also picked up one for Best Coverage of Minority Issues.

The judges, in commenting on Speaking Frankly, said: "This weekly radio show appears to do what precious few radio shows do: Treat the listening audience as intelligent citizens." The show has won the award every time the station entered it in the contest.

Film winner

So you were maybe wondering why Michael Maney and Ryan Lewis are headed to Texas in March? The pair took top Cincinnati honors in the 48 Hour Film Project for their video Glorious, a short sci-fi comedy about a very happy cult. The 48 Hour Project, recall, requires that a film be written, shot and edited in one weekend.

Glorious is now eligible to compete against winners from dozens of other cities in Austin's South By Southwest Film Festival.

Lewis, 25, and about to move from Milford to Clifton, and Maney, 26, of Hyde Park, spend most of their time as freelance video producers, though both hope to make feature films someday.

Glorious was shot at a garage in Clifton, a Mariemont restaurant and Crestview Presbyterian Church in West Chester Township.

Local goes national (again)

Actor-director Greg Procaccino, a favorite among theater fans (especially Cincinnati Playhouse's Christmas Carol), pops up on national TV at 9 p.m. Tuesday on the Sundance Channel in the new satirical election mini-series Tanner on Tanner, from filmmaker Robert Altman and Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau.

Procaccino appeared in the original Tanner '88 series and apparently did well enough for Altman to invite him back for the sequel. The four-part series follows Cynthia Nixon as the daughter of politician Michael Murphy during her quest to document the political process on film. Co-stars include Pamela Reed, Mario Cuomo and Steve Buscemi. The four half-hour episodes will run on Tuesday, and Oct. 12, 19 and 26, and again in a four-episode marathon on Oct. 31.

Hall of famers

The Cincinnati Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is getting ready to induct new honorees into its Silver Circle, a hall of fame for broadcast overachievers.

This year's class includes four TV pioneers, all deceased, and one award-winning producer:

• Ruth Lyons: The TV/radio hostess (50-50 Club) is credited with pretty much inventing the talk show. Her 90-minute midday show was broadcast in several regional markets and known for its always-unscripted spontaneity.

• Glenn "Skipper" Ryle: He's best known for his kids' show - The Skipper Ryle Show - but he also worked in news and weather at one time.

• Bob Shreve: His late-night movies were always bad, his jokes were corny and his delivery progressively more goofy as the night wore on, but everyone in town watched him.

• Charlie Vaughan: Without him, there might not be a Channel 48. As general manager he took the station from rocky programming and no money to one of the top in the country.

• Jim Friedman: He's a writer, producer and director with 53 Emmys in his 27-year career. He currently runs Blind Squirrels Production Group and is involved in a project for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Email jknippenberg@enquirer.com