2012 Texas AP Award Entry
February 2012
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KHOU.com is the top Houston TV website with unique visitors and local reach (ComScore). Included in this entry are five examples of our best
coverage from 2011: Our homepage, the NCAA Final Four tournament, the Texas wildfires, the Houston Texans’ record-breaking season and the
rehabilitation of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
KHOU.com home page – Rated by ComScore as the No. 1 television website in Houston with unique visitors and local reach. Each day, we publish
over 150 local and national stories, along with video and slideshows, and distribute our content to mobile and social platforms. http://www.khou.com
Final Four in Houston – The NCAA Final Four tournament
Texas wildfires – On September 3, 2011, KHOU 11 News
came to Houston in April 2011. No ticket? No problem.
KHOU.com helped fans join in the fun by showcasing free local
events. Coverage included a visitor guide, free team practices,
traffic and parking information, Bracket Town fan event,
Discovery Green concert series, fan gathering places, watch
parties and more. A dedicated NCAA Final Four page was
developed and coverage was pushed out on mobile apps, Web
and social platforms. See grabs attached here.
began extensive coverage of the Texas wildfires. Digital
coverage was instrumental in reaching viewers and fire victims
who did not have access to TV. Most importantly, the KHOU
11 Facebook page served as a public discussion board, where
we posted information from KHOU.com, and readers helped
answer each other’s questions. The Texas wildfires were
declared a major disaster on September 9, 2011. See grabs
attached here.
Houston Texans page – 2011 was the biggest season in
Houston Texans history as they made the NFL Playoffs.
KHOU.com was the only Houston TV station website that took
sideline photos at every home game. In 2011, we redesigned
the Houston Texans page to add more robust content,
dynamically updated headlines and Twitter feed. As a result,
our traffic to this page more than tripled this year!
http://www.khou.com/sports/football
Road to recovery: Gabby Giffords arrives in Houston
On Friday, January 21, 2011, the nation’s eyes turned to
Houston for the arrival of U.S. Rep Gabrielle Giffords to begin
her road to recovery. KHOU.com streamed live coverage of the
arrival and hospital news conference. We posted daily updates
and slideshows on Giffords’ Houston recovery. We maximized
our social platforms so users could send well wishes. See grabs
attached here.
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Home Page
http://www.khou.com
The KHOU.com home
page is the entry point for
an average of 2-million+
unique users each month
in search of news, weather
and sports information.
Each day, over 150 stories,
slideshows and videos are
published from the
continuous news desk.
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NCAA Final Four Event
in partnership with CBS affiliate KHOU
Houston, Texas
April 2011
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NCAA Final Four
On January 18, 2011, KHOU.com provided readers with exclusive details about the free
Final Four events -- including Discovery Green concerts and Bracket Town. KHOU.com
also sent a breaking news email, SMS text alert and posted on Facebook and Twitter.
khou.com Web Page
KHOU.com created a
Final Four page on
khou.com
• Story Coverage
• Photo Slideshows
• Video Reports
• Countdown Clock
• Around Town
• Final Four Links
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email Newsletter sent
from khou.com to over
100K subscribers
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KHOU 11 News produced a lot of video to cover the Final Four
event which was used on khou.com and mobile apps.
Sneak peak of Bracket Town
Final Four court arrives
UConn Huskies arrive in Houston
Butler Bulldogs arrive in Houston
Reporter tests obstacle course at Bracket Town
Crews install Final Four court
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NCAA Final Four on KHOU.com and Mobile Apps
News – Insider’s Guide - Fan Events - Venue Info - Slideshows
Available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows 7
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KHOU.com feeds all Final Four news coverage including a
solicitation for volunteers to mobile apps
Available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows 7
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KHOU.com shared community events, transportation
and fan gathering restaurants on the web and mobile
Available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows 7
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KHOU.com shared community initiatives, fan gathering
restaurants and the Big Dance concert series with readers
Available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows 7
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FINAL FOUR - Weather, traffic and parking were top
coverage items throughout Final Four weekend.
One goal of KHOU.com was to provide as much
team coverage as possible for the fans who
traveled to Houston and alumni who live here.
The KHOU.com Final Four page included features
geared toward out-of-town fans including
information on restaurants, shopping, tourist
attractions and hidden treasures in Houston.
e.g. Video Links
Watch party locations
Great places to grab a drink
Beat the traffic with our Mobile APP
Downtown street closures
Final FOURCAST
KHOU 11 Web and Mobile – Getting around downtown
KHOU.com helped people
get around town during
game weekend.
Street closures,
wristbands, tickets
appeared on khou.com
and pushed out to
mobile apps too!
Available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows 7
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‘NCAA Final Four’ Slideshows
KHOU.com published dozens of slideshows as the Final Four rolled into town in April 2011 as CBS television partner
Final Four Fan Fever!
Final Four watch party
NCAA Celebrity HORSE
Bracket Town Saturday
Final Four Team Practice
NCAA Semi-finals
Bracket Town Friday
Game Day Outside Reliant
Cheerleaders of March Madness
Big Dance Kings of Leon
Big Dance Kenny Chesney
NCAA Watch Party Locations
Bracket Town Sunday
Friday’s NCAA Big Dance
33 Things to do in Houston
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Texas Wildfire Coverage
In early September 2011, dozens of wildfires were burning in a three-county area north of Houston as a tropical
storm threatened from the south.
KHOU.com immediately went into breaking news mode with wildfire coverage dominating the web home page.
Emails, text alerts and social media updates kept our readers informed as the flames spread. By September 9,
a disaster declaration had been issued and hundreds of people had lost everything.
MASSIVE BREAKING NEWS EVENT
Major disaster declared on September 9, 2011
Texas Wildfire Coverage
Began September 3, 2011
Wildfires could not be contained
and spread rapidly. KHOU.com
continuous coverage dominated the
home page with videos, photos and
social media.
e.g. Wildfire Stories
Foxfire residents evacuate homes as wildfire threatens
Ranch Crest residents await word on fire damage in Montgomery County
Authorities using air support to help fight massive wildfires
Donate to help Houston-area wildfire victims, firefighters
Texas wildfire list of helpful resources
Waller County residents return to devastated Remington Forest neighborhood
Area residents step up in a big way to help firefighters, wildfire victims
Texas Forest Service: Riley Road Fire 100-percent contained
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Wildfire images of devastation and the crews fighting them in a three-county area
north of Houston were published across all khou.com digital platforms.
> PHOTOS: Fire destroys Waller Co homes
> PHOTOS: Fire crews in Waller County
> VIEWER PICS: Riley Road tri-county fire
> PHOTOS: Riley Road wildfire photos
> PHOTOS: Massive Wildfire in Bastrop
> PHOTOS: Firefighters gain ground
> PHOTOS: North Texas wildfires
> PHOTOS: Smoke drifts into Houston
MASSIVE BREAKING NEWS EVENT
Major disaster declared on September 9, 2011
Coverage dominated the
home page and was
covered hyper-locally
Over 2-million page views
for the coverage on
September 3
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MASSIVE BREAKING NEWS EVENT
Major disaster declared on September 9, 2011
All mobile app story coverage originated from khou.com.
Reached those who could not get to a desktop
Available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows 7
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MASSIVE BREAKING NEWS EVENT
Major disaster declared on September 9, 2011
All mobile app story coverage originated from khou.com.
Reached those who could not get to a desktop
Available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows 7
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WILDFIRE VIDEO - The entire KHOU 11 News Dept. was challenged by the constantly
changing information, the widespread area affected by the wildfires and the lack of official
information from the small counties that were impacted.
< click here
< click here
< click here
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Community Outreach - KHOU.com compiled a list of the places
where people could donate supplies for Houston area wildfire
victims and firefighters.
> Click here
> Click here
MASSIVE BREAKING NEWS EVENT
Major disaster declared on September 9, 2011
Social media never
played a bigger
role for khou.com
than it did for our
Texas Wildfire
coverage.
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MASSIVE BREAKING NEWS EVENT
Major disaster declared on September 9, 2011
http://www.facebook.com/KHOU11
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Houston Texans Page
http://www.khou.com/sports/football
The Houston Texans page on
khou.com is easily one of our
most popular pages for local
sports fan.
In 2011, traffic to this page more
than tripled with the redesign
and as a result of the team
making it to the Playoffs for the
first time in franchise history.
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Houston Texans Slideshows
In 2011, KHOU.com staff members covered every home football with dozens of slideshows of fans, tailgaters, cheerleaders and game photos.
Playoffs in Baltimore
Clay Walker at Playoffs
True Blue Texans Fans
User Fan Photos
Texans Tailgating
Texans Fans Get into the Game
Texans Beat Bengals
Texans Season Highlights
Ready for a Win
Texans Cheerleaders
Texans fall to Ravens
Texans salute Military
Texans Fans Raise Roof
Texans Watch Party
Texans take down Browns
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Texas Football App
In 2011, KHOU.com launched the Texas Football app which included coverage
from KHOU 11 Sports as well as other content for all college and NFL teams.
Available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows 7
US Rep Gabrielle Giffords journey to Houston
and her Road to Recovery
Friday, January 21, 2011
e.g. KHOU.com Photo Slideshows
Tucson Shooting
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The faces of Jared Loughner
Moment of silence for victims
Shooting aftermath / Memorials
Road to Recovery: US Rep Gabrielle
Giffords journey to Houston
Giffords arrives in Houston
Friday, January 21, 2011
e.g. KHOU.com Video Coverage
Giffords through the years
Houstonians pay tribute to Giffords at vigil
Mark Kelly talks about choosing Houston’s TIRR
Giffords leaves Tucson
Giffords plane lands in Houston
Giffords chopper lands at Houston hospital
Doctors say transfer went well
Houstonians show support with candlelight vigil
Mark Kelly talks about Gabby’s recovery
e.g. Digital coverage the week of her Arrival
Giffords able to stand as she prepares to leave for Houston
Doctors: Transfer went flawlessly
Local man waits patiently for Giffords’ arrival
Former HPD officer with similar gunshot wound shares his story
Local man waits patiently for Giffords’ arrival
Updated rehab aims to give Giffords her life back
Brain fluid buildup delays rehab
Send your get well wishes
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9:57 a.m.
Breaking News Alerts
KHOU.com breaking News emails
sent to over 60,000 subscribers
each time throughout the day with
updates on Gabby.
1:13 p.m.
3:24 p.m.
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Pre-Arrival: Giffords heads to Houston
http://www.khou.com/news/slideshows/Photos-Giffords-heads-to-Houston-114370239.html
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The KHOU Facebook
page was an integral
part of our coverage to
keep our viewers
updated and is updated
parallel to khou.com.
All Facebook updates
linked back to khou.com.
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Khou.com LIVE Streaming
Plane landing at Houston Hobby Airport
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Get Well Wishes
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Get Well Wishes
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Get Well Wishes
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LIVE conference
streaming video.
Gabby status after
being checked into
Houston hospital.
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As the country looked at Houston for coverage of Gabby’s arrival here for
rehabilitation, KHOU.com had to be accessible across all platforms.
Available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows 7
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As the country looked at Houston for coverage of Gabby’s arrival here for
rehabilitation, KHOU.com had to be accessible across all platforms.
Available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows 7
Web Video
KHOU 11 in the community
Visits elementary school to sign ‘Get Well’ cards
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Elementary school students sign ‘Get Well’ cards
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Twitter updates on Gabby
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Slideshow coverage of Gabby’s Candlelight Vigil
Held at Miller Outdoor Theatre at 7:30 p.m. with slideshow posted to khou.com
The story continues on KHOU.com…
Stay tuned and get well soon Gabby!