UA-housed APR Sweeps Regional Murrow Awards

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama Public Radio, housed in The University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences, has been announced as winner of four regional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association.

For 2013, only four awards were given in the small market radio category for Region 9, which includes Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, and APR won all four.

“Receiving a Murrow is always flattering,” said Pat Duggins, APR news director. “They’re voted on by other journalists in the trenches, so it’s great when your peers think you’ve done something worthy of recognition.”

Duggins was awarded Best Radio Feature for “The Littlest Victims of Isaac,” about efforts to save sea turtle hatchlings from the approach of Hurricane Isaac to the Alabama Coast.

Stan Ingold won Best Use of Sound for “Holy Smoke,” about a company that loads the cremated remains of hunters into bullets and shotgun shells.

The entire newsroom team (including Ryan Vasquez and Maggie Martin) was honored for follow-up coverage pertaining to the 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado, including Best Radio Documentary for “Winds of Change” and Best Radio Series for “Tuscaloosa Tornado: One Year Later.”

“Alabama Public Radio, like public radio stations across the country, pursues what some might consider old fashioned notions of journalism,” said Elizabeth Brock, director of the Center for Public Television and Radio at UA. “To have our work recognized by RTNDA and the Murrow Awards is a distinct honor. We owe this achievement to the listeners and members of Alabama Public Radio who help make it all possible and to The University of Alabama for its unwavering support.”

The four regional winners will also be entered in the national Murrow competition this summer.