WRAL-TV Anchor/Reporter Cullen Browder |
The E9-1-1- Institute in Washington, DC, recently named WRAL-TV Anchor/Reporter Cullen Browder as winner of their 2005 Media/Entertainment Excellence Award for increasing public understanding of the importance of 9-1-1 services.
Browder received the award at a presentation in the nation’s capital on Tuesday, March 1, 2005. The ceremony took place in the Library Congress. Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Congress members John Shimkus (R-IL) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), all co-chairs of the Congressional E9-1-1 Caucus, presented awards in eight categories.
Jason Barbour, the 9-1-1 Director in Johnston County nominated Browder for the honor. Barbour said that Browder “created an informational and investigative series concerning the implementation of wireless 911 technologies. He also covered the first center to deploy 9-1-1 technology, in Johnston County.”
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 Two of Browder’s investigative stories
have been adapted
for WRAL.com.
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“Producers of television and music, and reporters who write the news have an enormous opportunity to educate the public and form pubic opinion,” said the National Number Emergency Association. “Those who choose to go beyond mere entertainment and seek to educate and inform on an important issue, such as 9-1-1 services, deserve to be recognized and honored for their efforts.”
Browder reported on the North Carolina General Assembly’s taking E-9-1-1 funding to balance the budget. “Lawmakers ended up revising the appropriation to make sure the money was still available to 9-1-1 centers across the state,” said Browder.
“Mr. Browder’s work is a wonderful example of public-service journalism at its best,” said E9-1-1 Institute Executive Director Gregory L. Rohde. “His hard work, dedication and pursuit of facts has made the people of North Carolina more informed, and more safe.”
A non-profit organization, the E9-1-1 Institute provides administrative and policy support to the Congressional E9-1-1 Caucus and seeks to promote public education and awareness of E9-1-1 and emergency communications issues.
