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West Virginia Public Broadcasting Named Top Radio News Operation in the Virginias

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West Virginia Public Broadcasting was named Outstanding Radio News Operation among metropolitan stations in Virginia and West Virginia at The Virginias AP Broadcast awards luncheon Saturday.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting also won top honors in six categories: best investigative reporting, best website, best radio news anchor, best spot news, best documentary, and outstanding effort by an individual reporter.

News Director Beth Vorhees was named best radio news anchor, and reporter Glynis Board received the outstanding reporter award.

Reporter Jessica Lilly’s investigation into the inaccuracies of the documentary “Oxyana” won the award for best investigative reporting in radio news.

West Virginia at 150,” a documentary celebrating the state’s 150th birthday by Cecelia Mason and Suzanne Higgins, was named top documentary or in-depth report.

The new website for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, wvpublic.org, won top honors at The Virginias AP Broadcast Awards, and West Virginia Public Broadcasting also won in the spot news category for the story, “Theatre West Virginia Is Closing.”

West Virginia Public Broadcasting also won several second-place awards. In all, 26 broadcast stations across Virginia and West Virginia were honored at The Virginias AP Broadcast awards luncheon at The Boar’s Head Inn.

Marshall University’s station, WMUL-FM, won for non-metropolitan radio. WWBT-TV in Richmond won Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias for large market television and WVIR-TV in Charlottesville for small market television.

RADIO, METROPOLITAN CATEGORY

BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING:

Superior: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Charleston, W.Va., “Oxyana”

BEST WEBSITE

Superior: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Charleston, W.Va., www.wvpublic.org

BEST RADIO NEWS ANCHOR OF THE YEAR

Superior: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Beth Vorhees, Charleston, W.Va.

BEST COVERAGE OF A SPOT NEWS STORY

Superior: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Charleston, W.Va., “Theatre West Virginia Is Closing”

BEST DOCUMENTARY OR IN-DEPTH REPORT

Superior: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Charleston, W.Va., “West Virginia at 150”

OUTSTANDING EFFORT BY AN INDIVIDUAL REPORTER

Superior: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Charleston, W.Va., Glynis Board

BEST FEATURE OR HUMAN INTEREST

Superior: WTOP-FM, Manassas, Va., “Homeless Search”

Meritorious: WTOP-FM, Manassas, Va., “Arlington Wreaths”

Meritorious: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Charleston, W.Va., “The Demon Beat”

BEST COVERAGE OF A CONTINUING NEWS STORY

Superior: WTOP-FM, Manassas, Va., “Government Shutdown”

Meritorious: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, “Patriot Coal vs. UMWA”

Meritorious: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, “Schools for the Deaf and Blind”

BEST COVERAGE OF A CONTINUING NEWS STORY

Superior: WTOP-FM, Manassas, Va., “Government Shutdown”

Meritorious: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, “Patriot Coal vs. UMWA”

Meritorious: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, “Schools for the Deaf and Blind”