The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) on Wednesday announced the national winners of the Edward R. Murrow Awards, with the local news operations of
Nexstar Media Group receiving a total of six awards for excellence in the categories
of “Breaking News,” won by WKRN-TV in Nashville, Tennessee, “Continuing Coverage,” won by WJZY-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina, “Excellence in Innovation,” won by KXAN-TV (in partnership with ClearHealthCosts) in Austin, Texas, “Excellence in Video,” won by WIVB-TV in Buffalo, New York, and “Newscast,” won by WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island.
WPRI-TV also earned recognition for “Overall Excellence.”
In this year’s competition for the national Edward R. Murrow Awards, Nexstar’s news operations were recognized with the following honors:
• Excellence in Breaking News Coverage/Large Market Television – WKRN-TV earned this award for its coverage of a deadly police-involved shooting on Interstate 65.
• Excellence in Continuing Coverage/Large Market Television – WJZY-TV earned this award for its 18-month investigation into local government corruption. Investigative reporter Jody Barr exposed lawmakers, judges, law enforcement officers and other public servants in Marlboro County, South Carolina. The reports encouraged one high-ranking Sheriff’s Office detective to come forward with allegations against his supervisor, resulting in an indictment.
• Excellence in Innovation/Large Market Television – KXAN-TV conducted a two-year
investigation into medical debt lawsuits that began with a tip emailed to the newsroom. In
collaboration with ClearHealthCosts, the team collected heartbreaking reports about more than one thousand patients targeted by a law firm representing a single hospital. The revelation sparked a new state law for stronger medical bill transparency. To tell their stories, KXAN launched a series of reports and an interactive digital project, featuring data analysis and a podcast that encouraged viewers to share their own stories on social media.
• Excellence in Video/Small Market Television – WIVB-TV earned this award for coverage of a local cemetery which serves as the final resting place for several influential families in the
Niagara Falls area, whose perilous connection to the namesake waters have earned their site on the grounds a special designation: the daredevil section.
• Newscast/Small Market Television – WPRI-TV earned this award for coverage of an intense early morning standoff with police, during which hundreds of rounds were fired, causing residents to evacuate and streets to be closed. 12 News brought viewers the timeline of events, with exclusive video and an investigation into the suspect’s history.
• Overall Excellence/Small Market Television – WPRI-TV earned the distinctive honor of Overall Excellence for their focus on delivering viewers stories that matter in a thoughtful, in-depth manner. Crime, investigative reports, and community happenings contribute heavily to giving 12 News viewers consistent, reliable coverage.
In addition to the national honors, Nexstar’s news operations at 23 television stations earned 36 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards earlier this year, including two awards for Overall Excellence.
The RTDNA has been recognizing outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971.
