News Release

WUNC recognized for excellence
with numerous broadcasting awards

CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, a service of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has received 50 regional and national awards for excellence in broadcasting and news reporting for reports aired during 2005 and the first six months of 2006.

The station's news director, Connie Walker, said the wide distribution of awards shows the depth of experience and skills of the staff at WUNC. "The awards are a testament to the station's commitment to covering important issues about a variety of topics including government and politics, education, health, the environment and the changing economy," Walker said.

The "North Carolina Voices: Understanding Poverty" collection of features and documentaries exploring poverty throughout North Carolina was among the honored reports. The series received eight awards, including the prestigious national Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Broadcast News Award given to only 13 programs from a pool of more than 600 radio and television news entries from across the United States. Among the other news organizations receiving the duPont-Columbia Broadcast News Award are ABC News, CNBC, PBS, CNN and HBO.

The series also took home a Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism with top honors in the radio category. The awards citation lauded the series for "a profound understanding of the issues facing people living at or below the poverty level."

Other recognition for "North Carolina Voices: Understanding Poverty" included the Harry Chapin Media Award; Public Radio News Directors Incorporated Award; North Carolina Associated Press Award; Radio-Television News Director's Association Edward R. Murrow Southeast Regional Radio Award; Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award; and the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television Gracie Allen Award for a Public Radio Programming Series.

In all, North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, which 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, received the following awards:

• "North Carolina Voices: Understanding Poverty"

2006 Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism - Radio

• "North Carolina Voices: Understanding Poverty"

Harry Chapin Media Award - Broadcast

• "North Carolina Voices: Understanding Poverty"

Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI) Awards
Division A (Stations with a news staff of four or more)
Breaking News

• First Place: "Cross Burnings," Jessica Jones

Series

• First Place: "North Carolina Voices: Understanding Poverty"

North Carolina Associated Press Awards
Enterprise/Documentary

• "Seeds of Sustenance," Leda Hartman

Feature

• "Sweet Potato," Laura Leslie

Best Newscast

• "8-31-05 Newscast," David Brower and Eric Hodge

Best Sports Programming

• "NASCAR Hall of Fame," Dave DeWitt

Best Consumer Report

• "Short Term Loans," Laura Leslie

Series

• "North Carolina Voices: Understanding Poverty"

Best News Writing

• "President Visits Fort Bragg," Rusty Jacobs

Radio - Television News Director's Association Edward R. Murrow Southeast Regional Radio Awards

Overall Excellence

• North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC

Continuing Coverage

• "Truth and Reconciliation," Rusty Jacobs

News Series

• "North Carolina Voices: Understanding Poverty"

Documentary

• "The Trouble With Teeth," Emily Hanford

Feature/Hard News

• "Mobile Hospital," Rose Hoban

Society of Professional Journalists - Green Eyeshade Awards

Documentary

• First Place: "Seeds of Sustenance," Leda Hartman

Sports Reporting

• First Place: "NASCAR Hall of Fame," Dave DeWitt

Feature Reporting

• Second Place: "Katrina Volunteer," Leoneda Inge

Business Reporting

• Third Place: "Short Term Loans," Laura Leslie

Radio Television News Directors Association of the Carolinas Contest (work aired January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005)

Documentary

• First Place: "Seeds of Sustenance," Leda Hartman

General News

• First Place: "Katrina Volunteer," Leoneda Inge

Feature

• First Place: "Confederate Cemetery Clean-Up," Leoneda Inge

Consumer/Economic

• Second Place: "Short Term Loans," Laura Leslie

Education

• Second Place: "New Age Controversy," Jessica Jones

Spot News

• First Place: "Cross Burning," Jessica Jones

Political/General

• First Place: "Budget Pork," Laura Leslie

Health/Medicine

• Second Place: "Healing Lodge," Rose Hoban

Sports

• First Place: "NASCAR Hall of Fame," Dave DeWitt

NC Radio Journalist of the Year

• Second Place: Leoneda Inge

Radio Television News Directors Association of the Carolinas Contest (work aired July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006)

NC Radio Journalist of the Year

• Silver Award: Laura Leslie

Radio News Block

• Gold Award: "One Man's Quest for Truth," Frank Stasio and The State of Things staff
• Silver Award: "Ralph Eperson," Frank Stasio and The State of Things staff

Best Newscast

• Gold Award: "June 23, 2006 Newscast," Eric Hodge and David Brower

General News

• Silver Award: "Katrina Volunteer," Leoneda Inge

Feature

• Gold Award: "Florida Panthers," Lorne Matalon

Spot News

• Gold Award: "Hurricane Ophelia," Laura Leslie
  
• Silver Award: "State Fair Bids," Laura Leslie

Consumer/Economic

• Silver Award: "Reverse Migration," Leoneda Inge

Education

• Gold Award: "Daily Lessons," Emily Hanford et al (NC Voices High School series)

Political/Election

• Gold Award: "Voting Machines," Laura Leslie
  
• Silver Award: "Canes Tickets," Laura Leslie

Health/Medicine

• Gold Award: "Grief Counseling," Rose Hoban
  
• Silver Award: "Wounded Marine Barracks," Rusty Jacobs

Sports

• Gold Award: "Disabled Surfers," Rose Hoban

Association of Health Care Journalists - Excellence in Health Care Journalism Awards

• First Place, TV/Radio Below Top 20 Markets: "The Trouble With Teeth," Emily Hanford

National Headliner Awards - Radio Stations Division

• Third Place, Hurricane Coverage: "Katrina Volunteer," Leoneda Inge

Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Awards

• Finalist, Excellence in Electronic Media/Radio: "North Carolina Voices: Understanding Poverty"

Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television - Gracie Allen Award

Public Radio Programming - Series

• "North Carolina Voices: Understanding Poverty"

-30-

North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC contact: Brent Wolfe, (919) 966-5454, bwolfe@wunc.org
News Services contact: Kyle York, (919) 962-8415, kyle_york@unc.edu