Hurricane Katrina figured prominently in the 2006 Edward R. Murrow Awards, honoring excellence in electronic journalism. Hurricane coverage was singled out for awards to several local stations in the Gulf area including WWL-TV and WWL-AM New Orleans (which are not co-owned) and WLOX-TV Biloxi, MS. ABC News Radio, CBS Radio News, National Public Radio and NBC Nightly News were also honored for their coverage of the storm and its aftermath as the award winners were announced by the Radio-Television News Directors Association. In all, 55 news organizations won 80 awards out of an initial pool of 3,723 entries from 568 news organizations. Here is the list.
2006 EDWARD R. MURROW NATIONAL WINNERS
Radio Network/Syndication Service
Continuing Coverage:
TIE - ABC News Radio, Hurricane Katrina
------ CBS Radio News, Hurricane Katrina
Feature - Hard News: CBC National Radio News, Toronto, This is How they Teach AIDS Awareness in Thailand
Feature Reporting: National Public Radio, Returning to the Ruins
Investigative Reporting: American Public Media, Power Trips (2005 Series)
News Documentary: Homelands Productions, Saints and Indians
News Series: National Public Radio, Katrina Odyssey
Newscast: CBS Radio News, CBS World News Roundup
Overall Excellence: ABC News Radio
Sports Reporting: CBS Radio News, Washington Nationals
Spot News Coverage: CBS Radio News, London Bombings
Use of Sound: ABC News Radio, The National Anthem
Website: PRI's The World, The World Online
Writing: ABC News Radio, Gil Gross: Hurricane Katrina
Television Network/Syndication Service
Continuing Coverage: NBC Nightly News, Katrina: On the Streets of New Orleans
Feature - Hard News: NBC Nightly News, Baghdad E.R.
Feature Reporting: ESPN, ESPN SportsCenter - Clay Dyer
Investigative Reporting: ABC News 20/20, Cruelty to Owners
News Documentary: CNN, CNN Presents: Autism is a World
News Series: Univision, Angels in Hell
Newscast: NBC Nightly News, Hurricane Katrina: New Orleans in Turmoil
Overall Excellence: NBC News
Sports Reporting: ESPN, ESPN SportsCenter - Terry Fox
Spot News Coverage: NBC Nightly News, London Terror Bombings
Videography: CNN, Candlepin Bowling
Website: Court TV, CourtTV.com
Writing: NBC News: Today Show, American Story with Bob Dotson
Television Large-Market
Continuing Coverage: WWL-TV, New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina Coverage
Feature - Hard News: KHOU-TV, Houston, Firefighters/Cancer
Feature Reporting: WYFF-TV, Greenville, SC, The Star Who Fell
Investigative Reporting: KHOU-TV, Houston, Playing With Fire
News Documentary: New England Cable News, Boston, Way to Live: The John Kach Story
News Series: CTV British Columbia - CIVT-TV, Vancouver, Crystal Meth
Newscast: WBZ-TV, Boston, CBS 4 Newscast
Overall Excellence: KING-TV, Seattle
Sports Reporting: KARE-TV, Minneapolis, Kid Wrestlers
Spot News Coverage: WFOR-TV, Miami, Miami Airport Shooting
Videography: News 12 Long Island, Woodbury, NY, Achieve the Impossible
Website: CP24, Toronto, pulse24.com
Writing: KARE-TV, Minneapolis, Joe Fryer Compilation
Television Small-Market
Continuing Coverage: WLOX-TV, Biloxi, MS, Hurricane Katrina
Feature - Hard News: WTVQ-TV, Lexington, KY, Protected to Death
Feature Reporting: WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI, Building a Dream
Investigative Reporting: WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, FL, Defective Fridges
News Documentary: CTV Atlantic - CJCH-TV, Halifax, NS, Sentimental Journey
News Series: KBAK-TV, Bakersfield, CA, Meth: A Kern Epidemic
Newscast: WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA, Channel 13 News at Ten
Overall Excellence: KATV, Little Rock, AR
Sports Reporting: WTVC-TV, Chattanooga, TN, Dave's Diamond Darlings
Spot News Coverage: WTLV-TV, Jacksonville, FL, Beach Shooting
Videography: KVUE-TV, Austin, TX, Le Parkour
Website: KUAM-TV, Dededo, Guam, KUAM.com
Writing: KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK, Janna Clark Writing Composite
Radio Large-Market
Continuing Coverage: WWL-AM, New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina
Feature - Hard News: KIRO-AM, Seattle, Katrina: The Return Home
Feature Reporting: WTOP Radio, Washington, Scary Clown
Investigative Reporting: WWL-AM, New Orleans, Hell Inside Hospitals
News Documentary: WNYC Radio, New York, Communication Breakdown
News Series: KIRO-AM, Seattle, Long Road Home
Newscast: WWL-AM, New Orleans, WWL 870AM
Overall Excellence: KCBS-AM, San Francisco
Sports Reporting: KIRO-AM, Seattle, Stitch-and-Pitch
Spot News Coverage: WTOP Radio, Washington, Capital Chaos
Use of Sound: KCBS-AM, San Francisco, County Fair
Website: KCBS-AM, San Francisco, KCBS.com
Writing: KCBS-AM, San Francisco, About the Bay
Radio Small-Market
Continuing Coverage: KFDI-FM/KFTI-AM, Wichita, KS, Dennis Rader is BTK
Feature - Hard News: WMSI/WQJQ-FM, Jackson, MS, Saved by the Bush
Feature Reporting: KGOU Public Radio, Norman, OK, Okie Noodling
Investigative Reporting: Vermont Public Radio, Colchester, VT, O'Neil Walker
News Documentary: KBIA-FM, Columbia, MO, What's on the Line
News Series: WILM-AM, Wilmington, DE, Chasing Dreams in the First State
Newscast: KRMG-AM, Tulsa, OK, KRMG Morning News
Overall Excellence: WATD-FM, Marshfield, MA
Sports Reporting: WABB-AM, Mobile, AL, A Team Evacuated
Spot News Coverage: VOCM Radio, St. Johns, NF, VOCM News
Use of Sound: WMSI/WQJQ-FM, Jackson, MS, Building Dreams
Website: New Hampshire Public Radio, Concord, NH, NHPR.org
Writing: WGLT-FM, Normal, IL, Charlie Schlenker Compilation
Website Non-Broadcast Affiliated
Over 200,000: Washington Post, washingtonpost.com
