"The sweetest victories come when the odds are stacked against you," said 9NEWS Vice President and News Director Patti Dennis. "We've all wondered what the changes in our business would bring. Let today's NPPA Station of the Year win reassure you that the passion and pride that has ALWAYS been at 9News is as strong and healthy as ever."

Since the NPPA awarded the first Station of the Year in 1959, no other station has earned the honor more than four times. Including this year, 9NEWS has now won the title 11 times - in 1977, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2005.

9NEWS Director of Photography, Eric Kehe, himself a former NPPA Ernie Crisp Photographer of the Year said, "This award shows a consistent commitment to quality over the years. With all the changes we've faced over the last year - changes in staffing, changes in duties, changes in equipment and skills, we've shown that people still have an appreciation for quality storytelling, which is what we do and have always done here at 9NEWS."

9NEWS President and General Manager Mark Cornetta echoed the theme of successfully managing the changing media climate, saying "the talented men and women of the 9NEWS staff have all summoned the resolve to deal with adversity and to demonstrate once again why they are the best in the business."

Individual Winners from the 2009 NPPA Video Photography Contest:

Dave Delozier, 1st Place, Solo Video Journalist, "9/11 Remembered"
Corky Scholl, 2nd Place, Spot News, "Old Faithful"
Corky Scholl, 2nd Place, News Feature, "From Barney to Barry"
Anne Herbst, 3rd Place, Sports Feature, "Defined by Seconds"
Dave Delozier, Honorable Mention, In-Depth/Series, "War Widows"
Anne Herbst, Honorable Mention, 48-Hour Feature, "Stock Footage"
Anne Herbst and Dave Delozier, Honorable Mention, Team Entry, "Emma's Class"
Ken Mostek, Honorable Mention, General News, "Bonds Baseball"