Murrow Awards… Awarded
• UPDATED: Since 1971, the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has been honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Among this year’s deserving honorees: iHeartMedia’s WBZ NewsRadio 1030/Boston, which won two Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards in the categories of “Best Newscast” and “Continuing Coverage.”
WBZ will celebrate its 100th anniversary later this year, and these awards are the latest additions to its already bulging trophy case that contains previous Regional Murrow Awards for “Overall Excellence,” “Best Newscast,” “Excellence in Social Media” and “Excellence in Writing.” In 2016, WBZ also won the National Murrow Award for “Best Newscast.” Rob Sanchez, VP of News, Talk & Sports for iHeart Boston, commented, “It’s gratifying that in our 100th year of public service to New England and, inarguably, one of the most difficult of those years to cover local news, WBZ NewsRadio remains relevant in people’s lives.”
• Elsewhere in Boston, GBH News won six Regional Murrow Awards, including the “Overall Excellence” award for the second year in a row. The public media outlet is the first recipient of the new “Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” award, and also was recognized in the categories of “Feature Reporting TV,” “Sports Reporting,” “Investigative Reporting” and “Excellence in Sound.” GBH News GM Pam Johnston said, “During a year when reporters have faced intense challenges, including navigating and covering a global pandemic, racial reckoning and a deeply divided political season, GBH News journalists consistently delivered high quality, contextualized and distinctive local news stories. The exceptional work done across our newsroom, and recognized today by the RTDNA, shines a light on the impact and importance of trusted local journalism.”
• Hubbard Radio’s WTOP/Washington, D.C. was honored with four Regional Murrow Awards. The WTOP news team was recognized in the Large Market Radio category for “Overall Excellence” for the 10th time in the past 12 years for its coverage of the D.C. region. In the Digital category, WTOP.com took home a regional award for coverage of news events throughout 2020. WTOP also received recognition in the “Newscast” category for coverage of the June 1, 2020 clearing of Lafayette Square protesters during local demonstrations surrounding racial inequality, and JJ Green and Chris Core, hosts of Colors: A Dialogue on Race in America, won in the “Podcast” category.
“I am so proud of what our team accomplishes everyday but to be recognized for the work we produced in 2020 is special,” said said Julia Ziegler, WTOP Director of News & Programming. “2020 was a year unlike any other in the journalism profession. We are humbled to be recognized for our work across so many of our platforms – radio, web and podcasting.”
• In Baltimore, Hearst’s WBAL (NewsRadio 1090/FM 101.5) also earned Regional Murrow recognition from the RTDNA with a pair of Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards. WBAL was honored in the category of Breaking News coverage for its coverage of an August 2020 row home explosion in Baltimore. It’s the station’s third consecutive Regional Murrow Award in this category, also earning a National Murrow Award for Breaking News in 2020.
WBAL was also recognized for Excellence in Writing for Josh Spiegel‘s commentary features. Spiegel is also a co-host and news anchor for the Justin, Scott & Spiegel morning show across the hall on sister WIYY (98 Rock). It’s the second year in a row Spiegel’s commentaries have been recognized in this category, and the 5th overall. Both entries are now eligible for consideration for National Murrow Awards. The winners will be announced in June. “We are extraordinarily proud of the dedicated journalists at WBAL NewsRadio,” said Cary Pahigian, Pres./GM of WBAL NewsRadio and 98 Rock. “Our commitment to reliable local news coverage along with balanced analysis and insightful commentary remains a top priority.”
• This is impressive — Audacy was honored with 30 Regional Murrow Awards over 11 markets: Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, St. Louis and Wichita. Among the highlights: WBEN/Buffalo, WBBM Newsradio/Chicago, KNX 1070/Los Angeles, 830 WCCO/Minneapolis, and KMOX/St. Louis were the recipients of the prestigious “Overall Excellence” Award. The complete list of the 2021 Regional Murrow winners is posted online.
