CAPE NATIVE WINS EMMY FOR THIRD TIME

MIAMI, Fla. - For the third year in a row, Cape Girardeau native Jeannie Hirsch Blaylock earned an Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

This year, she received an Emmy for medical reporting at a Saturday night ceremony in Miami, Fla.

The recognition came for a story she did on self breast exams called "Buddy Check 12."

She is the daughter of Jim and Beverly Hirsch of Cape Girardeau.

The story has special significance because the system used to remember monthly exams was devised by Blaylock and her mother. "Mom and I started the entire project, which is why it's so important to me," she said.

Although she has won the past two years, Blaylock said she was still surprised to hear her name called.

"You never really know. The judging is incredibly tough, there were more than 1,000 entries. Journalists all over the country judge these, and the competition is pretty fierce. That's why I'm proud of this," she said.

The biggest goal of this story is to tell women about the importance of self exams, she said. If detected early, 75 to 90 percent of these cancers can be stopped.

But three out of four women don't do self exams. "Many say, I'll just have a mammogram and forget the self exam. That's when I hold up a walnut at my talks. I tell them about a lady I know who had a lump the size of a walnut that the mammogram missed. That's why it's critical for women do self exams."

In her acceptance speech, she also gave thanks to the Lord for "giving us the ability to reach people." Blaylock explained that television is very powerful medium that reaches many people. While it receives a lot of criticism about its negative influences, television can have a positive influence as well, and this is one of them, she said.

"I know of at least four women who were saved by this story from losing a breast or dying from breast cancer," she said.

"My family has also tried to help people through the broadcast industry," she said. Her grandfather, the late Oscar Hirsch, founded KFVS-TV.

As a previous presenter, Blaylock also presented a series of awards to other people.

The story has earned other recognition as well, including an award from the Gannett chain that owns the station.