ABC7 Eyewitness News takes home 4 Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards

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Sunday, July 26, 2026 11:41PM
ABC7 takes home 4 Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards
In addition to awards for our SoCal wildfire coverage, live parade coverage and more -- Anchor David Ono received the most prestigious honor of the night: the Governor's Award.
Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Content Services

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- It was a very exciting weekend for the ABC7 Eyewitness News family as the team took home 4 Emmys at the Television Academy's 78th Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards.

Eyewitness News entertainment guru George Pennacchio served as emcee for Saturday night's event.

ABC7 was honored with wins for our coverage of the Southern California wildfires and the 40th Annual Kingdom Day Parade.

The team from ABC7 accepts the Live Special Events - News Emmy for ABC7 Presents the 40th Annual Kingdom Day Parade at the 2026 LA Area Emmy Awards on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
The team from ABC7 accepts the Live Special Events - News Emmy for ABC7 Presents the 40th Annual Kingdom Day Parade at the 2026 LA Area Emmy Awards on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Photo by Phil McCarten/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Content Services

The morning team also took home the Emmy for best morning newscast.

The team from ABC7 accepts the Live Coverage of an Unscheduled News Event Emmy for Breaking News: SoCal Firestorms at the 2026 LA Area Emmy Awards on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
The team from ABC7 accepts the Live Coverage of an Unscheduled News Event Emmy for Breaking News: SoCal Firestorms at the 2026 LA Area Emmy Awards on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Photo by Phil McCarten/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Content Services

Eyewitness News Anchor David Ono received the most prestigious honor of the night: the Governor's Award.

He delivered an emotional speech about the power of good storytelling.

ABC7 Los Angeles anchor David Ono accepts the Los Angeles Area Emmy Governors Award at the 2026 LA Area Emmy Awards on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at the Skirball Cultural Center.
ABC7 Los Angeles anchor David Ono accepts the Los Angeles Area Emmy Governors Award at the 2026 LA Area Emmy Awards on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at the Skirball Cultural Center.
Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Content Services

"To tell a great story, you have to feel somebody's pain. If you feel their pain, you can tell their story. If you tell their story, then you connect that person with people who don't know them from anybody. And suddenly, this very human thing becomes much bigger," David said.

David has been with ABC7 since 1996.

The very first award of the night went to ABC7's Josh Haskell for his investigative reporting on the cause of the Palisades Fire. The piece aired as part of our six-month anniversary coverage when the cause still had not been determined.

It's been six months since the Palisades Fire ravaged the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles and the cause remains unknown.

Josh said it was a huge honor to win the award for his fire coverage, especially because he grew up in the Pacific Palisades.

"Earning this award is a testament to our dedication to that community," he said.

Shortly after this story aired, we got clarity on the cause from investigators, correct?

ABC7 Eyewitness News won 2026 Emmys in the following categories:

  • Investigative News Story - SoCal Firestorms 6 Months Later: Palisades Fire Investigation (Eyewitness News at 5 p.m.)
  • Live Special Events - News - ABC7 Presents The 40th Annual Kingdom Day Parade
  • Live Coverage of an Unscheduled News Event - Breaking News: SoCal Firestorms
  • Regularly Scheduled Daily Morning Newscast: 4:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. - Eyewitness News at 6 a.m.

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