WBGO won 5 PMJA (Public Media Journalists Association) Awards for coverage during 2020. The results were announced June 24 after the organization's virtual 3-day conference. PMJA (formerly PRNDI) says more the 1300 entries came in from 128 public radio stations throughout the country. WBGO competes in Division "C" (public radio stations with 1-3 full-time news staffers). You can see all the winners at https://pmja.org.
WBGO's News Director Doug Doyle was excited to hear the news from PMJA.
"I'm so proud of the WBGO News team that worked so hard during the difficult times in 2020. Despite mostly working from home, we were able to provide listeners with quality coverage of the pandemic, social justice matters and local events that made a difference in the jazz community and beyond. PMJA holds an extremely tough competition each year, so we are thrilled once again to be represented along with our talented colleagues in public radio."
Next year's PMJA conference is expected to be in person in Seattle, Washington.
***WBGO won 2 First Place Awards***
Best Interview - Doug Doyle interviews Steve Adubato, Jr. about the loss of his father "Big Steve"
Best Spot News - Doug Doyle reports on Steven Van Zandt's TeachRock Fundraiser
***WBGO won 3 Second Place Awards***
Best Public Affairs Program - "WBGO Journal"
"WBGO Journal" award-winning show contained:
Joe Hernandez's feature on the Jersey Shore's tourism season outlook after the coronavirus pandemic,
Alexandra Hill's in-person trip with a Millburn, NJ restaurant owner who kept his employees working and establishment open during the pandemic,
Doug Doyle's Q and A with WBGO reporter Bob Hennelly on a Congressional effort to aid COVID essential workers and their families,
Jon Kalish's feature on the Seeing Eye in Morris Township,
and Doug Doyle's (SportsJam) interview with Student Player's Founder Zac Segal about college sports scholarships
Best Breaking News - Doug Doyle and Scott Pringle cover the death of David Dinkins with sound from Columbia Professor Ester Fuchs, Mayor Bill de Blasio and an excerpt of Allan Wolper's 2017 interview with David Dinkins. Side Note: Doug's interview with Professor Fuchs resulted from her brother and WBGO member reaching out to him.
Best Use of Sound - Jon Kalish's feature on Gold Shaw farm which produces the podcast "Quack Up Fans"
