EAST LANSING, Mich., April 16, 2021 -- The radio news team at WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University has earned the Outstanding News Operation award from Michigan Associated Press Media Editors (APME) for 2020. In total, the team at the public broadcasting station serving mid-Michigan received twelve first place and seven second place awards across fourteen categories.
APME is a nonprofit group of newsroom leaders and journalism educators that works closely with the Associated Press to promote journalism excellence. The Michigan chapter of the APME announced the awards on April 14.
“I’m honored that the Michigan APME recognized the journalistic work of WKAR with their Outstanding News Operation award,” said Drew Henderson, WKAR senior director of radio strategy and operations.
"The news in 2020 was dominated by a pandemic, civil unrest, and contentious elections, and our reporters worked hard to keep our audience informed. Financial support from WKAR donors made this award-winning coverage possible, and I welcome them to join us in this celebration.”
“The pace of news that came out in 2020 was unprecedented,” said Karel Vega, WKAR News managing editor. “Along with providing our listeners with information they could trust, WKAR News strove to dive deeper into the context surrounding these events to further inform our audience. It’s an honor to receive recognition for our work from the Michigan APME.”
Michigan APME honors are awarded in three print, one television, and two radio divisions. Outstanding News Operation awards were given in each division based on points earned by winning in other categories. WKAR competes in Radio Division II.
RADIO DIVISION II
General Excellence – Outstanding News Operation - Broadcast
First Place: WKAR-FM/AM
Best Feature Story
- First Place: Local Drag Queens Get Creative in Quarantine by Sophia Saliby
- Second Place: Children of Migrant Workers Face Housing Challenges After MSU Goes Remote by Michelle Jokisch Polo
Best Reporter/Anchor
- First Place: Sophia Saliby
Best Sports Feature Story
- First Place: Moore To The Story by Al Martin
- Second Place: Lansing Lugnuts Host First Game of Their 'Lemonade League' To Sold-Out Crowd of 100 by Sophia Saliby
Best in Sports Coverage
- First Place: Interview with Filmmaker Maya Washingtonby Al Martin
Best Sportscast
- First Place: Current Sports | May 28, 2020| George Floyd by Al Martin
Best Use of Sound
- First Place: MSU Composer Says Latin Grammy Nominated Project Points Out That Diversity Is an Elusive Construct by Michelle Jokisch Polo
- Second Place: Potter Park Zookeepers Make Holidays Festive for Animals | Messages from The Mitten by Sophia Saliby
Best Use of Portrait
- First Place: In Photos: Portraits of Protest by Abigail Censky
Best Documentary
- First Place: Reporting on the Alleged Plot to Kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer by Abigail Censky
Best Public Service
- First Place: Coronavirus in the Lansing Region
Best Spot News Coverage
Second Place: John James Concedes US Senate Race to Gary Peters by Abigail Censkey
Best Continuing Coverage
- First Place: Continuing Coverage of Michigan Board of State Canvassers by Abigail Censky
- Second Place: Latinx Voters in Michigan by Michelle Jokisch Polo
Best Newscast
- Second Place: Sophia Saliby
Best Multimedia Storytelling
- First Place: Hundreds Protest Police Brutality at Capitol After Police Killing of George Floyd by Abigail Censky and Karel Vega
- Second Place: Delhi Township Sheep Provide Lawn Care and Wool For Socks by Sophia Saliby
The full list of awards can be found at the Michigan APME website.
WKAR Public Media is a division of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University. WKAR provides Michigan’s capital region and the global community with award-winning original programming and the best from PBS and NPR via television channels WKAR-HD, WKAR World, WKAR Create and WKAR PBS Kids; and radio broadcasts at 90.5 FM, 105.1 FM/AM 870 and WKAR Radio Reading Service.
At wkar.org and video.wkar.org, the network offers live audio streaming, plus local news features, TV original full episodes and the best from NPR and PBS on-demand. WKAR provides additional community outreach with WKAR Ready to Learn Service and PBS LearningMedia. WKAR is funded in large part by community viewer and listener contributions with additional support from Michigan State University and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.