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North Carolina Public Radio/WUNC-FM wins most awards in tough division
North Carolina Public Radio/WUNC-FM won four awards at the Public Radio News Directors Inc. convention July 21 in New Orleans. The station received first place awards in the call-in program and student spot news categories and second place in breaking news and use of sound.
For immediate use July 25, 2007
North Carolina Public Radio/WUNC-FM wins most awards in tough division
CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina Public Radio/WUNC-FM, a service of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, won four awards at the Public Radio News Directors Inc. convention July 21 in New Orleans. The station received first place awards in the call-in program and student spot news categories and second place in breaking news and use of sound.
This contest, which covers work produced in 2006, is the only national contest recognizing outstanding public radio news reporting at local stations. WUNC-FM won the most awards in its division, which includes the top stations in public radio, such as WBUR in Boston and KQED in San Francisco.
The call-in program first-place award went to "Law and Society," which aired on "The State of Things" hosted by Frank Stasio.
" 'The State of Things' is uniquely able to further the public conversation about how we live," said Susan Davis, senior producer of "The State of Things." "For instance, the show that won for best call-in program was prompted by a court case that was aimed to change an out of date law about cohabitation, so we addressed how the law evolves to reflect the culture and how, at times, the law can lead the way in transforming the culture."
Yasmeen Kahn, a former intern who still freelances for the station, won first place in spot news for a story on domestic violence. Lorne Matalon and Jessica Jones won second place in the breaking news category for coverage of the fire at a hazardous waste plant in Apex. Dave DeWitt won second place in the use of sound category for "At the State Fair," another story from "The State of Things," which included reactions to the Ferris wheel, pig races and caramel apples from DeWitt's children.
The Public Radio News Directors Inc. presented a total of 87 awards to 34 stations this year. These awards are considered by many to be the Oscars or Pulitzers of the public radio world.
The newest awards come in addition to 25 other regional and national awards for excellence in broadcasting and news reporting that WUNC-FM has received so far in 2007 for reports aired during 2006. These commendations include, for the fourth straight year, the Edward R. Murrow overall excellence award in regional competition from the Radio-Television News Directors Association. The station received 50 awards for its coverage in 2005.
WUNC-FM broadcasts at 91.5 FM in the Triangle and Triad, at 90.9 FM in Rocky Mount/Wilson and at 88.9 FM on the Outer Banks.
North Carolina Public Radio/WUNC-FM Web site: http://www.wunc.org <http://www.wunc.org>
North Carolina Public Radio/WUNC-FM contact: Brent Wolfe, (919) 966-5454, bwolfe@mail.wuncfm.unc.edu News Services contact: Susan Houston, (919) 962-8415, susan_houston@unc.edu
UNC News Release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/jul07/wuncprndiawards072507.html
