Hall of Fame Welcomes Six New Members

The Omaha Press Club Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame welcomed six new members on May 31, 2025. Since 2008, the Omaha Press club has been honoring the most notable area journalists from both the past and present.

The newest inductees include:

• Clint Bellows, KCRO/KOTK Salem Radio Network
  
• Dirk Chatelain, Omaha World-Herald
• John Knicely, WOWT-TV
• Jeremy Maskel, APR, KETV, Ralston Public Schools, Omaha Public Schools
• Andrew Ozaki, KETV
• Michael Scott, KETV, KMTV, Entertainment Tonight, KCBS, KXAS

Clint Bellows, KCRO/KOTK Salem Radio Network
Clint Bellows is an Omaha native and a 1971 honor graduate of Central High School. He received his bachelor of arts degree from UNO in speech communication and an MBA from Indiana University. He earned a juris doctor degree from California Western School of Law.

Bellows’ significant contribution to Omaha broadcast journalism occurred while serving Omaha radio stations KOIL, KFAB, and KCRO/KOTK-Salem Broadcasting Communications (SBC). His radio talk program included diverse speakers from a variety of walks of life, with 1:1 interviews of over 1,000 people, including presidential candidates, local, state, and federal office holders, British parliament members, movie actors, and a multitude of actors. His program on SBC was identifiable: “Bellows Unplugged: At the Intersection of Faith and Reason.” While working at KCRO/KOTK in 2018, he was selected as a permanent substitute host for the “Dennis Prager Show,” with an SBC national program audience. He was dubbed “The King of the Hour-Long Interview” by a fellow broadcaster, a nod to his superior forte as a broadcast host by a peer. 

Bellows’ background as UNO Student Body President and Nebraska Board Regent, national advisor for his fraternity — Pi Kappa Alpha— as well as political consultant in Washington, D.C., advisor on the floor of the N.Y. Stock Exchange, regular guest on Orange County California Public Television for several years, and international business work on five continents provided a rich depth of topics, guests, and insights for the talk radio programs. Throughout his life, he has been a mentor for others.

Bellows has a son and daughter-in-law, Donny and Jessica Bellows, two grandchildren, and a daughter, Alycia. 

Dirk Chatelain, Omaha World-Herald

Chatelain’s in-depth reporting and narrative storytelling made him a critical piece of the Omaha World-Herald for 20 years. 

A five-time Nebraska sportswriter of the year, Chatelain wrote incisive columns covering major sporting events like Big Ten championship games and the World Series. But he preferred more obscure venues like six-man football fields and combine demolition derbies, where he could highlight new characters and fresh scenes.

The Associated Press Sports Editors recognized Chatelain 28 times for notable stories, including a 10-part series about Nebraska football’s in-state recruiting decline — America’s top-rated sportswriting project of 2018.

Chatelain, who joined sports media at the dawn of the Internet era, developed a versatile platform, launching a prominent blog, “Mad Chatter,” and podcast series, “Where I Come From.” But his most enduring work was in print media.

His career highlight is “24th & Glory,” a 2019 book that detailed North Omaha’s world-class African-American athletes who came of age during the Civil Rights Movement.

Chatelain, a lifelong Nebraskan, grew up in Rising City (population 392) and earned his degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He resides in Gretna with his wife, Andrea, and three children: Luke, Natalie, and Calvin.

John Knicely, WOWT-TV

Born in Sidney, Neb., John Knicely is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Broadcast Journalism.

Knicely and his wife, Sue, raised five children and have 13 grandchildren.

Knicely served as a sportscaster for WOWT from 1974 to 1981, at which time he moved to St. Louis in the same capacity for KTVI, the ABC affiliate. He returned to Omaha and KETV in May 1984, and made the move back to WOWT in May 1992, this time as anchor of the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.

Knicely became a favorite in the community through his “I Challenge John,” “John at Work,” and “Knicely Done” news features.

Over the years, he has given viewers a unique behind-the-scenes perspective through his reporter-involved segments that have included: sky diving, working construction on the First National Tower and West Dodge Expressway, joining TV tower repairmen at 1200 feet, riding an Olympic bobsled, a flight with the Blue Angels, a daredevil stunt plane ride, performing on stage at the Omaha Playhouse, and serving as a middle school principal.

Knicely has received numerous awards, including the Journalism Alumni Award of Excellence from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is actively involved in the community, and emcees various charity events throughout the year.
 

Jeremy Maskel, APR, KETV, Ralston Public Schools, Omaha Public Schools

Jeremy Maskel, APR, has invested his career in strengthening the Omaha community. After an impactful chapter reporting and anchoring at KETV NewsWatch 7, Maskel moved into public relations for Ralston Public Schools. In 2019, he joined Omaha Public Schools as chief communications officer to build awareness, trust and pride in Nebraska’s largest school district. There, the work of the communications team has won top state and national honors. Maskel earned his Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in 2021. He is a past president of the Omaha Press Club, Public Relations Society of America – Nebraska Chapter and Nebraska School Public Relations Association Board of Directors.

Andrew Ozaki, KETV

Ozaki graduated from Lincoln High School in 1997 and from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor of science degree with a dual major in journalism and political science. He was a reporter/photographer with KOLN/KGIN in Lincoln from September 1982 to February 1985. He joined KETV Omaha in February 1985 where he has served as Capital Bureau Chief since 1998.

Ozaki is the recipient of several AP Broadcast awards, the 2013 national Edward R. Murrow Award, and a regional Emmy. The Nebraska State Education Association recently honored Ozaki with the 2025 Outstanding Media Award.

Ozaki has been married to Margaret Reist for 39 years and they have three sons — Marshall, Grant, and Will — and four grandchildren.

Michael Scott, KETV, KMTV, Entertainment Tonight, KCBS, KXAS

Born and raised in New York City, Scott is the son of Jamaican immigrants. After graduating high school, he traveled with the international group, Up With People. While on the road, they took classes through the University of Arizona.

Scott took his first TV job at KVOA in Tucson, Arizona. He started as a general assignment reporter and had worn many hats as police reporter, weekend sports anchor, acting sports director, and he even ran the assignment desk.

Hired in 1979 as a general assignment editor at KMGH/Denver, he also substituted as news anchor. In 1982, KETV Channel 7 hired Scott as a nightside reporter. He became an anchor, produced the weekend news, and became main anchor in 1986. Scott also started an award-winning weekly feature, “Heartland Heroes.”

Scott left Omaha in 1993 for a correspondent/substitute host job with Entertainment Tonight. He joined KCBS Los Angeles in 1994 as a weekend anchor and reporter, starting just three days after the Nicole Brown Simpson/Ron Goldman murders. He covered the murder, the slow speed chase involving OJ Simpson, and the trial.

Scott returned to Omaha, working for KMTV Channel 3 as a main anchor. He is currently semi-retired but is a commentator and host for several North Omaha radio shows. He is creator and host of the weekly live streaming how, “Michael Scott UNLEASHED.”