Bob Dylan once told us, “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” Maybe so, but in the WPTZ viewing area, at least, thousands apparently rely on the weatherman with the bright smile. That’s right: The “News Channel 5 Meteorologist,” Tom Messner, has, er, blown away the competition for the fifth year in a row. We call this category Wisest Weather Watcher ’cause we’re fools for alliteration. In fact, we don’t know if Messner is a wise guy, but he’s sure cheerful.

The other station, though, is the one to beat for the rest of the news: WCAX Ch. 3 is a perennial winner, for Best Local TV Newscast. Maybe it’s the familiar, avuncular face of New Director Marselis Parsons? The man has been at the station for 40 years — now that’s consistency.

On the press side, readers have ceded the title Best Print Journalist to Seven Days political columnist Peter Freyne (ironically, a nemesis of WCAX) for five straight years. His willingness to call it like he sees it makes Peter a love-him-or-hate-him necessity for political junkies... who for the past year have also bookmarked his blog, “Freyne Land.” And speaking of the web:

For this year’s Daysies, Seven Days Online Editor Cathy Resmer persuaded us to offer two categories for blogs — political and non-political. Those of you who haven’t found time to check out the blogosphere will not appreciate the distinction, but aficionados voted for Philip Baruth’s VermontDailyBriefing.com for Best Vermont Blog — Political. The nearly 2-year-old site combines astute analysis with Baruth’s trademark quirky humor — which also sets him apart from his fellow commentators on Vermont Public Radio.

And on the “non” side? Seven Days blogwonks went for Bill Simmon, a.k.a. “Candleboy” — www.candleboy.com/candleblog. The Vermont filmmaker and public-access-television production manager says he started blogging more than three years ago as “a goof,” covering pop-culture and the “nerd life.” But he’s now taking it more seriously, as his posts on the democratization of media and technology suggest.

Do we need to say anything about the “reach” of Steve Cormier and Tom Brennan, that is, Corm & the Coach, who collectively share the chattering-class crown as Best Local Radio DJ? Probably not. But it’s worth noting that, after a two-year absence from the Daysie-winners’ circle, WNCS The Point is back! Though VPR was a close second, Seven Days readers favored the Montpelier-based station with the diverse musical makeup. And, by the way, The Point’s Julia Clarke — the one with the charming Scottish accent — was runner-up in the DJ category.

Don’t know what this has to do with “Media & Politics,” but this year we decided to throw in a salaciously silly category: Vermonter You’d Most Like to See Naked . . . and earned some tut-tuts from a few disapproving readers. Though the answers varied wildly, it’s no surprise that Rusty DeWees, a.k.a. “The Logger,” came out on top. And since the Elmore-based actor-comedian aims to please, he responded to the news with a spontaneous photo shoot. Somewhat disturbingly, our U.S. senator with the Brooklyn accent was the second-highest vote getter. Is it the name recognition?

Never mind, the unstoppable Bernie Sanders won handily for Best Vermont Elected Official. Patrick Give-’Em-Hell Leahy was runner-up.