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WVPB Honored Among AP Broadcasters Of The Virginias

Virginias AP Broadcasters Contest

West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s team earned seven top honors during the 2019 Virginias AP Broadcasters Contest. Awards were announced May 1 during a virtual awards show. Thirty-five stations in Virginia and West Virginia submitted 535 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories from 2019.

WVPB Executive Director Chuck Roberts said he’s proud of the team.

“All of us at WVPB are proud of our team members that earned awards at this year’s virtual AP Awards,” Roberts said. “Our talented employees in the newsroom, video production, and digital departments work hard to bring the stories of West Virginia to the public, and these awards give credence to just how valuable their work is.

“During this pandemic, all of WVPB’s employees have been essential in keeping the flow of news, educational content and entertainment flowing to the viewers and listeners that rely on it. Thank you all for your hard work and attention to detail that make WVPB a vital part of the broadcasting horizon,” Roberts said.

Our Folkways reporter Caitlin Tan took multiple honors  for her Arts & Culture reporting, winning in both the Best Specialty Reporting and the Best Mountain State Heritage Reporting for stories about topics like  Mothman and Salt Rising Bread. Judges said, “Great storytelling and wonderful use of natural sounds and music.”

Together with data journalist Alexandra Kanik at the Ohio Valley ReSource, Energy and Environment reporter Brittany Patterson won best Investigative Reporting for a deep dive into Governor Justice’s family company debts. Patterson also teamed up with WVPB filmmakers Larry Dowling and Chuck Kleine to win in a multimedia journalism category with a story about making mead in the Mountain State.

Our Eastern Panhandle reporter Liz McCormick produced a feature about unseen impacts of the opioid crisis that won in the Best Serious Reporting category. Judges said, “The top two finalists in this [Best Serious Reporting] competition were both well written, professionally produced, and engaging to listeners.”

Our Director of Digital Services Chad Matlick was honored for excellence online in the Best Website category.

WINNERS BY CATEGORY
 
 

Best Specialty reporting, Second Place
Caitlin Tan for “Arts and Culture Reporting”

Best Mountain State Heritage, First Place
Caitlin Tan for  “The West Virginia Monster That Crept Into International Pop Culture”

Second Place
Caitlin Tan for “How to Bake Bread Like Appalachia’s Ancestors”

Best Multimedia/Online Journalism, Second Place
Brittany Patterson, Larry Dowling and Chuck Kleine for “Mountain State Mead Makers Provide a Taste of Appalachia” (See the video https://youtu.be/14xxKNpcGDA” target=”_blank”>here.)

Best Investigative Reporting, First Place
Brittany Patterson and Alexandra Kanik for “Mine Safety Debt for West Virginia Governor Justice’s Family Companies Grows to $4 Million”

Best Serious Feature, Second Place
Liz McCormick for “Unseen Impacts of Opioid Epidemic: More Autopsies, Staff Shortages and Transporting the Dead”

Best Website, Second Place


Chad Matlick