UA-housed APR Named Best Radio News Operation in Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For the third year in a row, the Alabama Associated Press Managing Editors named the Alabama Public Radio newsroom the state’s “Most Outstanding News Operation” in the radio category.

Alabama Public Radio is housed in The University of Alabama’s Digital Media Center, located in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The winning entry included stories like news director Pat Duggins’ coverage of the UPS cargo jet crash near Birmingham/Shuttlesworth International airport and Ryan Vasquez’s coverage of the Shelby County legal challenge to the U.S. Voting Rights act.

Another focus was APR’s year-long coverage of the 50th anniversary of key moments in Alabama’s civil rights movement, including Stan Ingold’s series on how Alabama cities are vying to become the center of civil rights “tourism.” A newscast from Jeremy Loeb rounded out APR’s winning entry.

“The news team and I are very grateful for this generous recognition by our industry,” said Duggins. “Everyone works really hard to make this coverage possible, and it’s so gratifying to see the whole team get to take a well-deserved bow for their efforts.”

The Associated Press also named APR the winner for best regularly scheduled newscast, and APR received three first-place awards for reporting. The team’s coverage of the UPS cargo jet crash near Birmingham/Shuttlesworth International Airport won for best news spot coverage and best hard news feature.

The team also took first place for best documentary for “Civil Rights Radio,” APR’s half-hour program on the 1963 segregation protest known as the children’s march.