WVPB’s News Team Wins Four Public Media Journalists Association Awards

[CHARLESTON, WV] – West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s (WVPB) news team has won four awards from the 2025 Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) Awards Competition.

The awards, announced in conjunction with the organization’s annual conference being held in Kansas City, Missouri, are for work completed during 2024. In all, the organization is presenting 266 first and second place awards to 113 organizations. Awards are presented in five divisions representing public media organizations with as few as one to more than 30 newsroom employees.

“The journalism staff at WVPB routinely produce content that tells a broader story of what goes on in West Virginia,” said WVPB Director of Broadcast Journalism, Eric Douglas. “This is another perfect example of the quality of work our team can compete on a national level every day.”

2025 PMJA Awards:

Human Interest Feature: Division B

First Place: “Remembering Travis Stimeling, A WVU Professor, Scholar Of American Music, Musician And Friend,” Zack Harold

Investigative Reporting: Division B

Second Place: “Dark Money Group Spins Local Election In National Initiative To Help Big Pharma,” Briana Heaney

Multimedia: Division B

First Place: “West Virginia Eastern Panhandle Election Coverage,” Jack Walker

• Polarization, Property Costs, School Funding Are Key Concerns For Eastern Panhandle Voters
• Jefferson Co. Senate Candidates Debate Education, Environment, Abortion
• W.Va. Republican Party Gains Enrollment Entering Election

Use of Sound: Division B

Second Place: “Everybody Gone Surfing, Surfing W.Va.,” Briana Heaney

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About PMJA: The Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) is a professional association for public media journalists in the United States. Membership includes over 130 local public radio newsrooms across the country. PMJA’s programs provide professional development, career support and networking opportunities to the over 1,800 journalists working at its member stations.

About West Virginia Public Broadcasting:

The mission of West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) is to educate, inform, and inspire people by telling West Virginia’s story. WVPB is an indispensable resource for education, news and public affairs, emergency services and economic development. Learn more at wvpublic.org or find us on Facebook and Instagram.