Dozens of local TV and radio stations were recently honored with regional Edward R. Murrow awards for their work over the past year, ranging from investigative reporting to podcast production to breaking news and more. The dedication of these broadcasters to report on the issues that affect their communities is demonstrated in the wide array of stories put forth by these winners – a deep commitment only possible from stations and reporters living and working in the towns and cities they serve. Below are a few of this year’s winners, and the full list is available here.
WPMI Mobile earned a Murrow Award for Overall Excellence. The station covered a huge range of stories in their community over the year, including remembering a local fallen hero, extreme weather, the shutdown of an illegal graveyard and more.
WCAX Burlington received an award for Continuing Coverage for its extended reporting on new mothers battling opioid addiction in their area. The station produced an in-depth profile of a local young woman and her struggle to take care of herself while pregnant and incarcerated after a relapse.
WCSH-TV/WLBZ-TV Portland also earned an Overall Excellence award. Their ongoing coverage of the explosion in Farmington and its aftermath, along with airing and supporting coat drives and telethons to help Mainers stay warm are just a few of the many local stories covered by the station throughout the year.
WUFT Gainesville’s Overall Excellence Award commended the station’s reporting on a controversial city council election, hurricane recovery in Panama City and continued healing after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, among other stories from around their community.
KREM-TV Spokane’s award-winning investigation into the use of isolation rooms in Spokane Public Schools gave voice to Spokane parents working to change the way special education students are isolated and restrained during the school day. Parents of special needs students said their children were being restrained and isolated far more than necessary, sometimes with detrimental effects, and KREM’s investigation uncovered some staggering statistics.
KREM also took home a Murrow Award for Overall Excellence, recognizing their work throughout the year on stories ranging from the community’s road to recovery after the Carlton Complex fire to historic flooding in Spokane.
Your local broadcasters are on the front lines providing critical support to their communities, even as they struggle from a steep decline in advertising revenue. Read more stories about broadcasters’ public service at BroadcastPublicService.org.
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