Emmy Award Winner – Morning Newscast
Nashville/Midsouth Emmy Awards | 2026
Winning Category: Morning Newscast – After Helene: Helping Our Hometowns (Mitchell County)
Station: Queen City News
Role: Producer – Sam Berger
In 2026, I was part of the Queen City News team honored at the Nashville/Midsouth Emmy Awards, where the station received 10 awards, including overall News Excellence.
I served as Producer for the Emmy-winning Morning Newscast, After Helene: Helping Our Hometowns – Mitchell County, a broadcast focused on impactful, community-centered storytelling following Hurricane Helene. The newscast highlighted resilience, recovery, and the real human stories behind the headlines — the kind of journalism that prioritizes service over spectacle.
As Producer, I was responsible for shaping the overall structure and pacing of the show, coordinating with reporters, photographers, editors, meteorologists, and directors, and ensuring the broadcast delivered both urgency and heart. The work required strategic editorial decision-making, tight deadline management, and collaborative execution across multiple departments.
This award represents more than a single broadcast — it reflects long nights, meticulous attention to detail, and a shared commitment to telling stories that matter to the communities we serve.
I’m proud to have contributed to a newsroom recognized for both excellence and impact, and grateful to be part of a team that believes meaningful storytelling makes a difference.
Black History Month 2025 – Generational Wealth Roundtable
For this Queen City News special, I led a roundtable of Black leaders in Charlotte discussing legacy and generational wealth. I developed the concept, booked and coordinated panelists, produced the discussion, and shaped the final story. The result is a thoughtful, community-driven conversation that highlights influential voices and the impact they’re making today for tomorrow.
Veterans Voices 2025 – Honoring Those Who Serve
A special presentation spotlighting the personal stories of veterans across the Carolinas, this Queen City News feature centers on service, sacrifice, and life beyond the uniform. Through intimate interviews and thoughtful storytelling, the piece highlights the diverse experiences of veterans who continue to shape their communities. Samuel Berger led the project from concept to execution — writing the stories, planning and producing the special, coordinating logistics, and capturing footage in the field — overseeing nearly every aspect of the production process. The result is a respectful, narrative-driven tribute that elevates veteran voices while honoring their lasting impact.
Awkward Holiday Photos – JCPenney Hometown Feature
A playful look at a growing holiday trend where families intentionally embrace awkwardness in their seasonal photos. This Queen City News hometown feature takes viewers inside a JCPenney portrait studio, capturing the humor, nostalgia, and joy behind deliberately uncomfortable poses and retro styling. Blending lighthearted storytelling with observational visuals and candid interviews, the segment highlights how this trend has become a creative and connective holiday experience. Produced and coordinated by Samuel Berger alongside reporter Taylor Young, the piece also features Berger on camera as one of the “models,” offering an authentic, behind-the-scenes perspective on the process and the fun driving the story.
Lake Hickory Haunts – Halloween Hometown Feature
An immersive journey into one of North Carolina’s most thrilling haunted attractions. This feature brings viewers deep inside Lake Hickory Haunts—where fear meets artistry—to showcase the passion, precision, and community behind every scream. Blending cinematic visuals, eerie sound design, and captivating interviews, the piece highlights the creativity driving this Halloween destination and the local spirit that keeps it alive. Shot and co-executive produced by Samuel Berger alongside reporter Taylor Young, the segment captures both the chills and the craftsmanship that make Lake Hickory Haunts a hometown Halloween tradition.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy in Charlotte – Article for Queen City News
As a journalist and storyteller, I had the privilege of writing an article for Queen City News that delves into the profound connection between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the city of Charlotte. My work on this piece included:
Research & Investigation: Conducted in-depth research to uncover historical connections and personal accounts of MLK’s influence in the Queen City, ensuring accuracy and depth.
Interviewing & Community Engagement: Connected with local historians and community members to highlight the ways Charlotte has embraced and honored Dr. King’s legacy.
Storytelling & Writing: Crafted a compelling narrative that educates readers about the significance of MLK’s presence in Charlotte and inspires reflection on his ongoing impact.
Collaboration with Queen City News: Worked closely with the team to ensure the article aligns with their editorial vision while offering fresh insights to their audience.
This project reflects my ability to uncover meaningful stories, engage with communities, and share narratives that educate and inspire.
Beat the Bomb - Queen City News Now Segment
As the Senior Producer for Queen City News, I led the production of an engaging segment on Beat the Bomb, a thrilling new entertainment experience in Charlotte. My responsibilities included:
Concept Development: Shaping the creative vision for the segment to capture the venue's unique and interactive appeal.
Scriptwriting: Crafting a compelling narrative that informed and excited the audience.
Shooting & Editing: Overseeing dynamic footage capture and editing to deliver a polished, visually engaging story.
Production Management: Coordinating logistics and ensuring a seamless production process.
Booking Coordination: Collaborating with Beat the Bomb's team to arrange interviews and ensure authentic representation of their brand.
This project exemplifies my expertise in storytelling, team leadership, and producing high-quality multimedia content that connects with audiences.
Breaking News Coverage: SouthPark Fire – Queen City News
I was honored to be Emmy-nominated for my role in producing the breaking news coverage of the devastating SouthPark fire in Charlotte during my time with Queen City News.
As the lead producer, I was in the control booth for several hours, overseeing live coverage and ensuring our broadcast remained timely, accurate, and impactful. My responsibilities included:
Strategic Decision-Making: Determined which stories to prioritize on-air, adapting to breaking developments in real time.
Live Coordination: Managed seamless transitions between live shots, directing where our coverage would go next and ensuring audience connection with the unfolding events.
Team Communication: Worked closely with on-air talent, directors, and technical staff, ensuring clear and efficient communication throughout the coverage.
On-Air Presence: Maintained a steady presence on-air for at least four continuous hours, delivering updates and guiding the narrative to provide viewers with critical and accurate information.
This experience demonstrates my ability to lead under pressure, coordinate dynamic live coverage, and craft storytelling in high-stakes situations while maintaining focus and clarity for a wide audience.
Super Bowl Pregame Show - KCTV5 (Kansas City Chiefs, 2020)
As a Sports Producer at KCTV5, I spearheaded the opening and first block of the 2020 Super Bowl Pregame Show for the Kansas City Chiefs, delivering a dynamic broadcast to hundreds of thousands of viewers. Key highlights include:
Show Creation: Designed and built the show entirely from scratch, shaping a compelling narrative to captivate the audience.
Content Development: Wrote the script, selected impactful stories, and curated video content to highlight the Chiefs' journey to the Super Bowl.
Editing: Ensured seamless integration of visuals and audio, producing a polished, professional broadcast.
Live Production Leadership: Directed the live show from the control room, managing a live crew and a team of 12+ professionals to execute flawlessly.
Audience Engagement: Delivered a high-energy pregame experience that set the tone for the historic event, resonating with the Chiefs' passionate fan base.
This project demonstrated my ability to manage complex productions, lead teams under pressure, and create impactful sports programming for a large and engaged audience.
Explainer Segment: What Constitutes a Riot – KCTV5
As a Lead News Producer at KCTV5, I created an in-depth explainer segment following the January 6th attack on Capitol Hill, providing clarity on what legally defines a riot. My contributions included:
Concept Development: Identified the need for an explainer segment to address audience confusion and foster understanding of the legal distinctions surrounding riots.
Research: Conducted comprehensive research into legal definitions, historical context, and expert perspectives to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Scriptwriting: Crafted a clear, concise, and engaging script that broke down complex information for viewers.
Production Oversight: Produced the segment with attention to detail, ensuring all elements—from visuals to pacing—enhanced audience comprehension.
Execution: Collaborated with the news team to bring the segment to air seamlessly, maintaining journalistic integrity and impact.
This segment exemplifies my ability to tackle complex topics, transform them into accessible narratives, and deliver insightful content that informs and empowers viewers.
Breaking News Coverage: Linwood Tornado Aftermath – KCTV5
As a News Producer at KCTV5, I led breaking news coverage of the aftermath of a devastating tornado in Linwood, ensuring comprehensive and compassionate reporting during a time of tragedy. My role included:
Live Production Leadership: Coordinated live crews on the ground, directing real-time updates and ensuring seamless integration of field reports.
Scriptwriting and Segment Production: Crafted impactful scripts and structured the coverage to balance breaking updates with human-interest stories that resonated with the audience.
Team Collaboration: Worked closely with reporters, camera operators, and editors to manage the flow of information and maintain accuracy under pressure.
Community Focus: Highlighted the resilience and recovery efforts of the Linwood community, emphasizing both the impact of the disaster and the strength of those affected.
This coverage demonstrated my ability to navigate high-pressure situations, deliver timely and accurate information, and lead a team in producing meaningful and empathetic breaking news segments.
Valentine’s Day Special: Catfishing & Modern Dating – KCTV5
For Valentine's Day, I developed and produced a lighthearted, informative segment exploring the complexities of modern dating, with a focus on the phenomenon of catfishing. My role in this creative, engaging piece included:
Concept Development: Identified a timely, relatable angle on dating trends for Valentine's Day, focusing on catfishing to connect with viewers' curiosity and experiences.
Scriptwriting: Wrote a clear, fun, and informative script that balanced storytelling with valuable insights into modern dating pitfalls.
Coordination: Managed all aspects of production logistics, from booking interviews to ensuring timely access to relevant data and research.
Production & Execution: Produced and directed the segment from start to finish, overseeing visuals, editing, and ensuring it aired seamlessly for the audience.
This Valentine's Day feature highlighted my ability to blend creativity, storytelling, and audience engagement into a light, impactful segment that resonated with viewers.
Red Friday Show Open – Kansas City Chiefs Hype Video
At KCTV5, I wrote, produced, and assisted with editing a dynamic Red Friday show open—essentially a high-energy Chiefs hype video designed to rally fans and set the tone for the broadcast. My role involved:
Script Writing: Crafted a compelling, fast-paced script to capture the excitement and spirit of Chiefs fans on game day.
Video Production: Selected powerful visuals and incorporated dynamic footage to create an adrenaline-pumping opening sequence.
Editing Oversight: Collaborated with the editing team to ensure the pacing, graphics, and transitions elevated the energy and captured the essence of the team's fanbase.
Audience Connection: Designed to resonate with the passion of the Chiefs Kingdom, this show open successfully connected viewers with the anticipation and excitement of game day.
This project highlights my storytelling expertise, creative production skills, and ability to engage audiences with visually compelling and emotionally resonant content.