Judges of the prestigious Edward R. Murrow broadcast journalism competition bestowed WLRN-Miami Herald News with the most awards of any large-market radio station in Region 13, which comprises Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S.Virgin Islands. WABE in Atlanta also won four regional Murrows.
WLRN's wins were for reporting on efforts to legalize medical marijuana; the unintended consequences of El Salvador’s criminalizing abortion, which also affects South Florida; how sharing the cost of tickets to Miami Heat games involves more than mathematical calculations; and best website for WLRN.org.
Hear the award-winning pieces below and see some of the digital projects that got us the win.
CONTINUING COVERAGE
WLRN’s reporting on the fight in 2014 to legalize medical marijuana in Florida won the Continuing Coverage award for excellence. The entry included Tallahassee reporter Gina Jordan’s history of palliative care issues; reporter Rick Stone’s explanation of the Charlotte’s Web bill and other options under consideration; and excerpts from the Sunshine Edition and The Florida Roundup programs hosted by Tom Hudson. Voters eventually approved legalization but not in sufficient numbers for the Amendment 2 to pass although the Charlotte’s Web bill was approved by the Legislature.
AUDIO REPORTING: HARD NEWS
Americas editor Tim Padgett's report "Does Escaping El Salvador's Abortion Law Nightmare Mean Flying To Miami?" won the Audio Reporting: Hard News category. Padgett detailed how the Central American country's criminalization of abortion affected South Florida. Hear the piece here:
AUDIO SPORTS REPORTING, LARGE MARKET RADIO STATION
Reporter Kenny Malone’s story "Time-Sharing Heat Season Tickets Should Come With A Warning" won Audio Sports Reporting, Large Market Radio Station. The judges said, “There were many well done stories in this category, but this story stood out because of its distinctive angle." Malone’s reporting has won different Murrow awards, beginning with his work on the "Remembering Andrew" documentary in 2013.
Hear this year's sports winner:
BEST BROADCAST AFFILIATED WEBSITE
WLRN’s website surpassed other contenders with its “cool use of maps, data, and heavy issues like health care explained,” the judges said. Special projects recognized through this award were WLRN's Power of Price series, spearheaded by VP of news/special correspondent Tom Hudson and contributor Sammy Mack, and editorial director Alicia Zuckerman's "The Sally J. Freedman Reality Tour With Judy Blume."
Take the tour yourself here, and learn about health care pricing here.
From the RTDNA website:
Regional winners now are competing for the national Edward R. Murrow awards for broadcast excellence, which will be announced in June. The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Murrow set as a standard for the profession of electronic journalism.
