CAPE NATIVE GETS BROADCAST'S PEABODY AWARD

Jeannie Hirsch Blaylock of Jacksonville, Fla., formerly of Cape Girardeau, recently received broadcast journalism's prestigious Peabody Award.

The Cape Girardeau native was one of 31 broadcasters to receive a Peabody Award this year out of more than 1,100 entries. The awards were handed out at a ceremony in New York City.

Blaylock is a news anchor at WTLV, the NBC affiliate at Jacksonville.

Blaylock won for "Buddy Check 12," a project that encourages women to do self-exams to catch breast cancer early.

KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau is one of more than 30 stations nationwide that have started "Buddy Check" programs. "Buddy Check" has reached 1 million women nationwide.

In WTLV's television market, "Buddy Check 12" has saved the lives of at least 30 women.

Blaylock is the daughter of Jim and Beverly Hirsch of Cape Girardeau and the granddaughter of broadcast pioneer Oscar Hirsch.

Blaylock started doing a breast self-exam with her mother and then took the idea to television.

Blaylock and her husband, Mark, have twin, 7-month-old babies, Katie and Carson.