MetroNews has won its fifth National Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television Digital News Directors Association since 2007, RTDNA announced Thursday.
The organization’s reporting of the 2021 ice storm impacting parts of Cabell, Wayne and Putnam counties won in the Continuing Coverage category for Small Market Radio. The entry features reporting by longtime MetroNews anchor/reporter Chris Lawrence.
“Edward R Murrow Awards are among the most coveted broadcast awards given out. It is a tribute to the quality of the work that the MetroNews team does every day to have received it fifth National Murrow Award. We are all very proud of the exemplary work that they do,” said George Pelletier, president and chief executive for WVRC Media, the parent company for MetroNews and its associated radio network.
RTDNA said there were more than 5,200 entries in various categories representing work by more than 100 radio, television and digital news organizations.
“The Edward R. Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious in journalism,” said RTDNA President and CEO Dan Shelley. “More than 750 Regional Murrow winners advanced to the national competition, and over the past few months, an expert panel of journalists has meticulously reviewed and deliberated over every entry. That’s why I’m confident in saying today’s winners represent the absolute best of the best. So let me be the first to say congratulations to our newest National Edward R. Murrow Award winners.”
Thursday’s announcement is the fifth National Murrow Award the MetroNews news team has earned in the last 15 years. National Murrows also came in 2007, 2011, 2017 and 2019.
MetroNews had five Edward R. Murrow Regional Awards considered this year for the national competition. The news team has won 35 Murrow regionals since 2002.
“It’s great to see hard work recognized. I would like to thank RTDNA. We have an excellent team of reporters who cover the Mountain State on a daily basis,” said Jeff Jenkins, chief of the news division for West Virginia MetroNews.
The MetroNews team includes reporters/anchors Jenkins, Lawrence, Brad McElhinny, Carrie Hodousek, Alex Thomas and Jake Flatley.