witf honored with six Edward R. Murrow 2013 Regional Awards

• By witf

For the third consecutive year, witf has been honored with six Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). The awards acknowledge work of the highest quality produced by radio, television and online news organizations around the world. RTDNA groups witf in a region that includes all of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. witf competed against all radio stations in markets 51 and smaller in the three state region.

From the aftermath of the Sandusky case to the impact of natural gas drilling to honoring Dick Winters, witf’s Multimedia News Department work has been recognized, once again, as among the best in broadcast and digital journalism.

“As the media landscape continues to shift, witf remains committed to providing the best public service to our audience. It’s a tremendous honor to have our reporters’ efforts recognized by RTDNA on this scale,” witf’s Multimedia News Director Tim Lambert said.

Among the categories and stories recognized are:

• Audio Feature Reporting category: Living Simply, Arts and Culture story, reporting by Joe Ulrich
• Audio Continuing Coverage category: The Aftershocks of the Jerry Sandusky Case, team reporting by Craig Layne, Megan Lello, Mary Wilson, Scott LaMar and Scott Detrow on the aftermath of the Sandusky case. The team is recognized for its second straight year in continuing coverage of this story.
• Audio Sports Reporting category: for a continuing coverage story about Penn State – Aftershocks eight months after Sandusky, reporting by Tim Lambert.
• Audio Writing category: Hang Tough: Dick Winters in Normandy, reporting by Tim Lambert.
• Audio Investigative Reporting – StateImpact Pennsylvania Perilous Pathways, and
• Audio News Series – StateImpact Pennsylvania: Impact of PA Natural Gas Boom (The two StateImpact Pennsylvania stories were reported by Scott Detrow, currently Sacramento Bureau Chief for KQED in California. StateImpact Pennsylvania is a major collaboration among witf, NPR and WHYY in Philadelphia to cover energy issues.)

“From providing context to issues as complicated as the Sandusky case and the impact of natural gas drilling to telling the stories of a couple living off the grid and an effort to honor American hero, we work every day to live up to the ideals and responsibilities of the highest quality of journalism. I couldn’t be more proud of witf’s team,” Lambert said.

“Congratulations to the entire 89.5 team and to our News Director Tim Lambert – Tim leads by example every single day.I’m honored to work alongside this dedicated group of journalists every single day. witf is a trusted media organization because of our on-going dedication, hard work and creativity. Great job to the news team and we appreciate the support and teamwork from everyone at witf,” said witf’s Senior Vice President & Chief Content Officer Cara Williams Fry.

Winners of the RTDNA regional awards are automatically entered in the national Edward R. Murrow Awards competition, which will be judged during the summer. National awards will be presented at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City on October 14.

About witf:

From 2006-2013, witf has been honored with 30 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards by the Radio Television Digital News Association — the most of any media organization in central Pennsylvania.

In the last three years, witf has garnered 18 regional Murrows – among the tops not only in its region, but also the country in Markets 51 and smaller. Additionally, witf has been awarded six National RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards since 2007.

witf has been honored:

• The last five years in the Audio News Series category
• The last three years in the Audio Sports Reporting category, Audio Feature (four of last five) and Audio Continuing Coverage categories
• The last two years in the Audio Writing

witf is a valued source of educational, inspiring and creative content for adults and children in every community in Central Pennsylvania. witf’s programs and services reach nearly two million citizens in 19 counties throughout the region. witf is comprised of public broadcasting stations witf TV, witf 89.5 & 93.3, witf.org and many educational services as well as regional magazine Central PA (published by The Patriot-News in an association with witf). The organization also includes the news networks RadioPA and Pennsylvania Public Radio, as well as Media Solutions and Top Flight Media.

About RTDNA:
RTDNA has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Murrow’s pursuit of excellence in journalism embodies the spirit of the awards that carry his name. Murrow Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Edward R. Murrow set as a standard for the profession of electronic journalism.