Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

4/03/07
Story by Peggy Graham

Phil Witt Receives JCCC’s Headline Award
    
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Phil Witt, anchor FOX 4 News at 6 and 10 p.m., will received the Headline Award from Johnson County Community College’s journalism and media communications department at a luncheon on Thursday, May 3, at the college. The Headline Award recognizes a person who has made significant contributions to journalism.

Since 1979, Witt has been reporting news at FOX 4 and participating in community service in the Kansas City region.  Witt has worked in broadcast journalism since 1973 with many different titles including news anchor, reporter, news photographer, weatherman, sports reporter and promotion manager.  Witt has covered many important news stories ranging from presidential nominating conventions and the 1981 Hyatt Regency Hotel disaster to a little girl's life-saving liver transplant and the Great Flood of 1993.

Witt received a presidential citation for his work in youth employment campaigns and the Youth Advocate Award of the Kansas City Council on Youth Development.  He has received The Spirit Award, Kansas City’s top honor for community service and volunteerism.  He has earned honors in the Kansas City Press Club's Heart of America Awards for Journalism Excellence.  The Learning Disabilities Association of Missouri named Witt “Journalist of the Year.”  He’s been inducted into the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame for his work promoting education and youth excellence.  Sprint Corporation presented Witt with its Community Service Award for his volunteer efforts for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation.  

The Kansas City, Missouri City Council proclaimed November 14, 2000 “Phil Witt Day” in recognition of his professional achievements and volunteer contributions.  The American Cancer Society has presented him with its "Courage" Award. Witt was nominated for an Emmy in the category of “Anchor Person” in 1997 and won for a documentary he hosted on Kansas City’s street war on drugs. The Mental Health Association of the Heartland presented Witt with its annual Media Award for his FOCUS 4 report on teen suicide prevention.  The AIDS Council of Greater Kansas City presented him with its Ribbon of Hope Award for support of programs and services for people with HIV/AIDS.

Over the years, Witt has been a tireless community advocate, volunteering for dozens of charities and civic organizations.  He is on the board of the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired and on the community advisory council of Harvesters.  In the recent past, Witt also served on the boards of Synergy Services, Inc., American Cancer Society, The Children’s Place, Inroads/KC and The Learning Exchange.

He was chairman of the Full Employment Council’s Youth Task Group for a decade, spearheading Kansas City’s annual Summer Jobs for Youth Campaign.  

Witt also is very active professionally.  He is a member and past president of the Kansas City Press Club, a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.  

A native of Nebraska, Witt graduated with honors from the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1974.  In his spare time, Witt enjoys community service work, sports, movies, reading and spending time with his family.