Murray, Ky.–WKMS News took home 12 awards in the Kentucky Associated Press Broadcasters Association’s professional and collegiate competitions this month.
WKMS, a member station of National Public Radio based at Murray State University, offers news and music 24 hours a day across the airwaves and online.
“WKMS News is honored to be recognized among professional peers as an award-winning team of professional and student journalists,” said News Director Matt Markgraf. “Most of our newsroom is comprised of working Murray State students and they won awards covering the Murray State Racers and research by Murray State biologists. WKMS News is honored to have the top two College Digital Journalists in the state in Cory Sharber and Sydni Anderson, winning first and second place respectively.
“We provide students an unmatched professional experience thanks to listener donations and support from Murray State. We’re grateful for Murray State recognizing WKMS News as a valuable asset to the university and regional community for nearly 50 years. We look forward to this sustained support for many years to come.”
In the professional radio competition, the news team won second place in the Breaking News category and first place in Continuing Coverage for its reporting on the Marshall County High School shooting tragedy.
Former Ohio Valley ReSource reporter Nicole Erwin won first place for Long Serious News Feature for her in-depth work on the shooting. She, along with OVR managing editor Jeff Young, won second place in Enterprise Reporting for the story “In The Wake of School Shooting, A Look at How Kids Get Guns.”
Erwin’s piece “Win For Wetlands: Program Helps Farmers Conserve More Flood Prone Land” won first place in Long Public Affairs. Several of her stories, featuring graphic design work from OVR’s Alexandra Kanik, comprise her second place award for Digital Coverage. Markgraf, with contribution from Kentucky Public Radio capitol reporter Ryland Barton and student reporter Cory Sharber, won first place in the Use of Sound category for “The Sights & Sounds Of Fancy Farm 2018.”
Murray State University students had a strong showing in the college radio competition. Cory Sharber of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, won first place in the Digital Journalist category. Sydni Anderson of Indian Mound, Tennessee, won second place in that category. Anderson’s “Murray State Scientists Searching for Conditions that Cause Harmful Algal Blooms” won first place in Best Public Affairs. Sharber’s story, “Murray State Basketball is Dancing for the 16th Time,” won first place in Best Sports Coverage.
Made possible by listener support, WKMS News is committed to — and relies heavily on — quality student journalism featured on wkms.org, which won first place in Best Website.
Fellow member stations of the Kentucky Public Radio Network and Ohio Valley ReSource won numerous awards overall. These public radio collaboratives are made possible because of listener support.