The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has honored WRAL News with three Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including one for Overall Excellence. The Regional Murrow Awards recognize the best electronic journalism produced by radio, television and digital news organizations. Regional Murrow Awards are presented to small and large radio, television and digital outlets in regions across the country and are automatically considered for a national award.
WRAL News Director Rick Gall said, “We’re really fortunate to receive awards that recognize the true multi-platform work we do for Capitol Broadcasting Company. Seeing our news coverage, digital efforts, and podcast work win Regional Murrow Awards is incredibly gratifying. These awards serve as recognition of our team’s amazing work and dedication to excellence.”
WRAL was recognized in the following categories:
Overall Excellence: WRAL News Excellence, WRAL-TV
Digital: WRAL Digital, WRAL-TV
Podcast: Follow the Truth, WRAL-TV
Overall Excellence: This 40-minute News Excellence entry features 20+ examples of incredible journalism, including Durham’s Black Friday mall shooting, Andrew Brown’s death, QVC fire, inside ICUs battling COVID, vaccine hotline, WRAL Investigates, 5 On Your Side, WRAL Doc “The Skin We’re In,” Forward Together Change Makers, Tar Heel Traveler, and who could forget… the zebra cobra hunt!
Digital: This entry focused on the depth and breadth of our news coverage on digital. It also showcased PolitiFact, Out & About, Hidden History, and HighschoolOT.com.
WRAL Digital Director of Content Jodi Glusco explains, “This is a reflection of the News department as a whole – our continued work toward a multiplatform newsroom. Our work in digital is the result of ALL who pitch stories, work long hours and produce unique and outstanding content that we are able to share on web and app. Every one of us has a stake in and reason to be proud of this award.”
Podcast: This award-winning entry was for the series “Follow the Truth.”
Follow The Truth is the first narrative, true crime podcast produced by WRAL Studios, the original podcast production unit of WRAL.
The series reinvestigates the murder of James Jordan, Michael Jordan’s father, using exclusive news archives, original interrogation tapes and trial audio along with fresh reporting on new evidence brought forth by the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence. The podcast focuses on Daniel Green, one of the two men convicted of the murder, who has maintained his innocence since 1993. Follow The Truth isreported and hosted by Amanda Lamb. The original series was released in 2021. New episodes will be released as the case continues. https://followthetruthpod.com/
Capitol Broadcasting Company GM of Audience Development and Executive Producer Shelly Leslie on the win, “This project took two years to produce but has been in the making for almost 28 years, building on the work of many WRAL journalists who have covered this story since 1993. The Regional Murrow Award is an exceptional honor for our small, dedicated, talented podcast team who did not, and will not, quit in the pursuit of real justice.”
A full list of regional Edward R. Murrow winners can be found here: www.rtdna.org
Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Heather Gray for this Capcom story & graphic.
