WKSU RECOGNIZED BY PRESS CLUB OF CLEVELAND

Tuesday June 17, 2008

For immediate release
Contact: Robert J. Burford
(330) 672-3114
burford@wksu.org

     WKSU was honored by the Press Club of Cleveland with nine Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards on June 13 at LaCentre in Westlake, OH. Included among the honors were three first-place awards. Award entries were judged by a panel of judges comprised of journalism professionals from press clubs and news publications located across the country. This was the 30th anniversary of the Excellence in Journalism Award competition.

WKSU winners of the Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards from the Press Club of Cleveland are:

•     First Place – Radio-Web Site Design, News Director M.L. Schultze and Senior LAN Administrator Chuck Poulton for "WKSU.org/news."
The news area on WKSU's web site offers audio from previously broadcast reports, links to NPR, pictures, video and the opportunity for listeners to post comments. The judges add: An attractive, well-organized site.

•     First Place – General News, Reporter/Producer Amanda Rabinowitz for "Small Town Immigration Raid"
Rabinowitz covers the aftermath of a raid by Federal Immigration officials meant to discover undocumented aliens in Painesville, Ohio. The judges add: Solid, balanced reporting.

•     First Place – Documentary, Rabinowitz for "World War II on the Homefront."
A longform piece sharing the stories of a handful of men and women who served their country in Ohio during the second World War. The judges add: Well researched and edited – a polished production.

•     Second Place – General News, Reporter/Producer Kevin Niedermier for "Obama in Cleveland."
A report on a visit by Barack Obama to Cleveland early in his campaign. The judges add: Nice job of pulling a story out of some 'boilerplate" tape.

•     Second Place – On-Going Coverage, Schultze and Daniel Hockensmith for "Keeping Goodyear."
Longterm coverage on efforts by the City of Akron to keep the world headquarters of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in the city.

•     Second Place – Public Service, Reporter/Producer Karen Schaefer for "Getting the Lead Out."
As part of an eight-part series on health issues in Northeast Ohio, Schaefer examines ongoing problems connected with lead poisoning in children.

•     Second Place – Use of Sound, Reporter/Producer Vivian Goodman for "Mountain Biking in Public Parks."
A sound-rich story introducing listeners to mountain bikers who are literally carving their way into the Cleveland Metroparks.

•     Second Place – Radio Show, Schultze and Hockensmith for "Your Way Home."
WKSU's early evening news magazine program focused on the news of the day in Northeast Ohio and included a variety of reports and interviews.

•     Honorable Mention – Human Interest, Goodman for "African American First Family of Golf."
Goodman’s profile of retired LPGA tour professional Renee Powell and her father, William, the man behind Clearview Golf Course in Canton, the first African American owned and operated golf course in the country.

The Ohio Excellence in Journalism is a statewide contest for the best in print and broadcast journalism. More than 1,000 entries were submitted for consideration. WKSU competes in the Major Market division with radio stations in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

WKSU broadcasts NPR & Classical Music at 89.7 FM, and is a service of Kent State University. WKSU programming is also heard on WKRW 89.3 FM in Wooster, WKRJ 91.5 FM in Dover/New Philadelphia, WKSV 89.1 FM in Thompson, WNRK 90.7 in Norwalk, W298BA 107.5 FM in Boardman, and W239AZ 95.7 FM in Ashland. The WKSU web site is www.wksu.org.

PR08.09           ###      6/17/08
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