NHPR Newsroom Cited for Excellence in Prestigious Regional Journalism Competition
New Hampshire Public Radio is the winner of four 2021 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, picking up citations in the digital, hard news, investigative reporting, and news documentary categories. News coverage ranging from an investigation into the millions of dollars in legal settlements New Hampshire municipalities and taxpayers must pay over civil rights violations by police officers, to an in-depth look at a far reaching environmental lawsuit are some of the NHPR reporting projects earning top regional honors.
Each year, the Murrow Awards are presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. Regional Murrow Awards are presented to small and large radio, television and digital outlets based in 14 geographic regions across the U.S.; NHPR competes in the Small Market Radio category in Region 10, encompassing Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
The choice of honors reflected NHPR’s strength in both day to day news reporting and longer form storytelling. The list of NHPR winning entries in full, in the Small Market Radio Station category:
- Digital – Digital Journalism in an Unprecedented Year, reflecting overall web presence and multimedia content (broadcast, digital and social media), and digital approach to stories.
- Investigative Reporting – N.H. Towns Pay Millions To Settle Claims Against Police: Details Often Hidden From Public (Todd Bookman), demonstrating “original and outstanding journalistic enterprise on an important issue.”
- Hard News: Clients, Staff Say Major N.H. Addiction Treatment Center Mishandled COVID Outbreak (Lauren Chooljian)
- News Documentary – Massachusetts v. EPA (Outside/In)
“Reporting under pandemic conditions in 2020 required an unprecedented level of creativity, commitment and cooperation in our news staff and throughout our organization,” said Dan Barrick, news director at NHPR. “It’s gratifying for our journalists and our team to receive this recognition, as it speaks to the many ways we met our public service mission throughout the year, providing listeners in New Hampshire with timely, trusted information and more thoughtful storytelling that fosters dialogue and important public policy discussions.”
Regional winners are automatically considered for awards in the National Edward R. Murrow Awards competition, which will be announced in the summer.
“It’s especially gratifying to see our success in the Murrows reflect our investment in environmental journalism, investigative reporting and digital publishing, and to see both our newsroom and podcast teams honored,” said Jim Schachter, president & CEO of NHPR. “Our reporters, producers and editors rose to meet the challenges of uncharted times, and – with the support of our members and sponsors – everyone at NHPR stood shoulder to shoulder with our journalists.”
The RTNDA has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. According to the RTDNA, The Murrow Awards embody the values, principles and standards set forth by pioneering broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow. The newsman became legendary for his broadcasts from wartime London in the 1940s, and for reporting on McCarthyism in the 1950s. Among the most respected journalism awards in the world, Murrow Award-winning stories put public interest above all else, provide a catalyst for public discussion, and adhere to the RTDNA Code of Ethics, says RTDNA.
For a complete list of Edward R. Murrow Regional Award winners, click here.
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About NHPR
Since 1981, New Hampshire Public Radio has shaped the media landscape in the Granite State and beyond. Our mission is “Expanding minds, sparking connections, building stronger communities.” NHPR is broadcast from 14 different sites, making it by far New Hampshire’s largest (and only) statewide radio news service. Every week, NHPR is the choice of 152,000 listeners as a primary source of in-depth and intelligent news coverage and enlightening programming. Thousands more view NHPR.org, follow our social media sites, stream our service online, or listen to our podcasts. Each day, New Hampshire Public Radio delivers several hours of local news reported by its award-winning news team. Locally produced programs and podcasts include The Exchange, The Folk Show, Outside/In, and Civics 101, among others. NHPR is the exclusive outlet for NPR News in the Granite State and broadcasts national weekly programs such as The Moth Radio Hour, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, and This American Life. Visit nhpr.org to access our news and information.