PORTLAND – WMTW-TV has won 12 awards from the Maine Association of Broadcasters. The awards were announced at the MAB convention Sept. 19 in South Portland.

WMTW took six first place awards; Chief Meteorologist Russ Murley for best weathercast, best spot news, best feature report, best continuing coverage reporting, best photojournalism and best public service campaign.

In the last three years, WMTW has won 34 MAB awards. The awards recognize excellence in broadcasting, and are open to all radio and television stations in the state of Maine.

The MAB awards also honored David Kaufmann, former executive vice president and general manager of the WMTW Broadcast group, as the 2004 MAB Broadcaster of The Year. The award was bestowed on Kaufman by a committee of MAB directors and former directors for his outstanding record of achievement in the industry and his support of the Maine Association of Broadcasters.

Born in New York City, Kaufman received his bachelor of science degree from the School of Public Communications at Boston University. Upon graduation in 1973, he began his career at the CBS Network in New York, working first in operations and then in the news department.

He moved to Maine in 1979 to operate four radio stations. In 1988 Kaufman began working at WMTW and advanced from local sales manager to lead the broadcast group. During his tenure, the station moved its transmission facilities from Mount Washington, N.H., to Baldwin Maine. He also oversaw the relocation of the news and sales operations to the “Time and Temperature” building in Portland. Kaufman now serves as a consultant to Hearst /Argyle Television, the parent company of WMTW.

WMTW, is the ABC affiliate for the Portland/Auburn Maine television market and is owned and operated by Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.