Media outlets recognized with Edward R. Murrow Awards

WPRI-CHANNEL 12, WJAR NBC 10 and Rhode Island Public Radio are recipients of regional 2015 Edward R. Murrow Awards, announced recently by the Radio Television Digital News Association.
WPRI-CHANNEL 12, WJAR NBC 10 and Rhode Island Public Radio are recipients of regional 2015 Edward R. Murrow Awards, announced recently by the Radio Television Digital News Association.

PROVIDENCE – Several local media outlets are the recipients of regional 2015 Edward R. Murrow Awards, announced recently by the Radio Television Digital News Association.
WPRI-TV CBS 12 and WJAR-TV NBC 10 received awards in the small market television categories, while Rhode Island Public Radio received awards in the large market radio category.

WPRI’s Target 12 investigator Tim White won the investigative reporting award for his story – “Where’s the Chief?” White shares the award with photographer John Villella and senior investigative producer Nick Domings, according to information from WPRI.

The Target 12 investigation involved months of undercover work and raised questions about accountability and public safety concerns surrounding Coventry Fire District Chief Paul Labbadia, who was seen in undercover video leaving work in a taxpayer-funded department vehicle to go play golf in another town over several days; drinking during the day, then driving the fire department vehicle back to work; and taking the department vehicle to a party on Federal Hill. Labbadia has since been terminated by the fire district board.

“The Eyewitness News team has made a tremendous commitment to investigative reporting, and the Target 12 Investigative team is dedicated to reporting on stories that are important to our viewers,” News Director Karen Rezendes said in a statement. “Watching out for taxpayers is a cornerstone of our mission, and we appreciate being recognized for these efforts on behalf of our viewers.”

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WJAR was honored for overall excellence.

Rhode Island Public Radio also was recognized for investigative reporting for its piece, “Westerly Quarry Still a Quandary for Neighboring Residents.” RIPR’s environmental reporter Ambar Espinoza spent months researching the story of how residents were surprised when the Bradford quarry, dormant since 1969, became active again, once new owners took over.
RIPR’s education reporter Elisabeth Harrison won her award in the “Reporting: Hard News” category for her story “Transgender Student Remembers Year Marred By Bullying.”

Harrison reported on Pawtucket resident Hannah Rini as she prepared for her first day of middle school at Goff Junior High. After the first few months, Rini began to experience bullying in the hallways and the classroom.
By the end of the school year it became such a problem that her parents decided to take her out of school.
“Elisabeth’s reporting drew attention to the challenges transgender students can face when they are open about their gender identity and led the Pawtucket School Department to change the way schools report bullying. The story also led to increased anti-bullying programs at the school Hannah had attended,” according to information from RIPR.

Harrison’s report also won the Michael P. Metcalf award for diversity in reporting.

Said RIPR Interim General Manager Susan Greenhalgh, “We heard from many listeners who were personally moved by Hannah Rini’s story. And we heard from residents in Westerly who were grateful that we brought that story to the public’s attention. We can thank the generous financial support from our listeners for helping to create this award-winning local newsroom.”
“We are proud that we are able to provide our listeners with the same kind of quality that they hear from stations in much larger markets,” Greenhalgh said.
Regional winners automatically advance to the national competition. National winners will be announced in June.
The Radio Television Digital News Association has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971.
“Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Murrow set as a standard for the profession of electronic journalism,” according to information from the association.
The country is divided into 14 regions for the awards. Rhode Island is in region 10, which also features the other New England states.

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