Awards for 2014
*Awarded in 2014 for 2013 News Coverage
Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB)
Station of the Year (Group 2)
First Place- Best in Category
- News Special or Public Affairs Program: “Unequal by Law” – Lester Graham
- Mini Documentary or Series: “Detroit Deals with Bankruptcy” – Sarah Cwiek, Sarah Hulett
- Feature/Use of Medium: “Kalamazoo Group Honors WWII Veterans” – Lindsey Smith
- Community Involvement: “State of Opportunity”
- Marketing Materials & Promos: “The Things That Matter” – Tamar Charney, Lindsey Smith, John K. Wilson
Merit Awards
- Membership Appeal: “Making it Possible” – Tamar Charney, Mercedes Mejia, Tom Sleeker
- Musical Programming: “Songs from Studio East: Frontier Ruckus” – Mercedes Mejia
Society of Professional Journalists, Detroit Chapter
Young Journalist of the Year: Lindsey Smith
Radio Television Digital News Association
Edward R. Murrow, Regional Awards*
* Region 7 consists of public and commercial stations in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois
News Documentary, Large Market Radio: “The Education Gap” – Jennifer Guerra for State of Opportunity
News Website, Large Market Radio – Mark Brush
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Michigan Associated Press
First Place, Large Market Radio
Best Spot News: "Detroit Bankruptcy" – News Staff
Best News Documentary: “Unequal by Law” – Lester Graham
Best Feature Story: "WWII Veterans" – Lindsey Smith
Best Website – Mark Brush
Best Spot Photojournalism: "Grand Rapids Flooding" – Lindsey Smith
Best Individual Reporting: Sarah Hulett
Best Individual Photojournalism: Steve Carmody
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Second Place, Large Market Radio
- Best Natural Sound: "Grand River" – Lindsey Smith
- Best Individual Photojournalism: Lindsey Smith
- General Excellence: Michigan Radio
Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI)
Second Place, Large Newsroom-Soft Feature, Association for Women in Communications CLARION AWARD: “Moving In, Moving Out” – Sarah Cwiek
Best Radio Documentary Series: “Shooting in Muskegon shed light on hero, and problems” – Dustin Dwyer for State of Opportunity
National Association of Black Journalists
Salute to Excellence Award, Radio Documentary category: “Race and Racism: A State of Opportunity Documentary” – Jennifer Guerra for State of Opportunity
Scripps Howard
- Finalist, Scripps Howard Award for Radio In-Depth Coverage: “The Education Gap” – Jennifer Guerra
Michigan Radio 2013 Awards
*Awarded in 2013 for 2012 News Coverage
Public Radio News Directors, Inc.
Division A - News Feature
Second Place - Michigan Radio: “Rigged Election Map”
Association of Association for Women in Communications - 2013 Clarion Award
Salute to Excellence Award/Documentary: “Infant Mortality in Michigan,” Jennifer Guerra
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National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)
Salute to Excellence Award/Documentary: “Infant Mortality in Michigan,” Jennifer Guerra
Salute to Excellence Award/Feature category: “Idlewild, the Black Eden, celebrates 100 years” Kate Wells
Michigan Association of Broadcasters
Station of the Year
First Place
Special Interest & Cultural Programming: “The Living Room” - Allison Downey, Zak Rosen
Mini Documentary or Series: “Lessons from Isle Royale’s Wolves and Moose” - Rebecca Williams, Mark Brush
Feature/Use of Medium: “Jackie and Joe” - Kate Wells
Newscast: August 31st, 2012 - Christina Shockley with Lindsey Smith, Vince Duffy, Steve Carmody
Musical Programming: “Songs from Studio East” - Mercedes Mejia, Jenn White, Bob Skon
New Media: “State of Opportunity” - Sarah Alvarez with Jennifer Guerra and Dustin Dwyer
Community Involvement: “State of Opportunity” - Jenn Guerra, Dustin Dwyer, Sarah Alvarez, Jenn White, Tamar Charney, Vince Duffy, Steve Chrypinski
Marketing Materials & Promos: “That’s What They Say” - Tamar Charney, Mercedes Mejia, Anne Curzan, Rina Miller
Membership Appeal: “Giving Voice” - Tamar Charney, Mercedes Mejia, Tom Sleeker
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Merit Awards
Special Interest & Cultural Programming: “That’s What They Say” - Rina Miller, Anne Curzan, Mercedes Mejia
Mini Documentary or Series: “New International Trade Crossing” - Lester Graham, Sarah Cweik
Feature/Use of Medium: “Idlewild” - Kate Wells
Hard News & Current Events: “40 Square Mile Myth” - Kate Davidson
New Media: “Living with Cancer” - Rebecca Williams, Mark Brush, Sarah Alvarez
Community Involvement: “Issues and Ale: Truth Squad” - Steve Chrypinski, Lester Graham, Jack Lessenberry
Michigan Associated Press
General Excellence Large Market Radio – Michigan Radio
First Place
Feature Story: "State of Opportunity: The Problem With Growing Up Poor," Dustin Dwyer and Jennifer Guerra
News Documentary: "Living with Cancer," Michigan Radio staff
Natural Sound: "Climbing Melting Ice," Meg Cramer
Spot Photojournalism: Steve Carmody
Individual Photojournalism: Mercedes Mejia
Continuing Coverage: "State of Opportunity," Dustin Dwyer and Jennifer Guerra
Second Place
Natural Sound – "Visiting a Black Bear Den," Rebecca Williams
Feature Story – "Idlewild, The 'Black Eden,' Celebrates 100 Years," Kate Wells
News Documentary – "State of Opportunity: Infant Mortality Documentary,” Michigan Radio staff
Individual Reporting – Kate Wells
Spot Photojournalism – Lindsey Smith
Continuing Coverage – "Palisades Problems," Lindsey Smith
Website – Michigan Radio staff
Radio Television Digital News Association
RTDNA/UNITY Award for Documentary: “Infant Mortality in Michigan,” Jennifer Guerra
2012 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award
Best Newscast – Region 7 (Large Market Radio) – Christina Shockley
2012 State Bar of Michigan Wade H. McCree Award for the Advancement of Justice
Lester Graham: No-fault insurance law series
2011 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards
Best Audio News Series: The Midwest and Manufacturing (Changing Gears)
2011 National Headliner Award
Third Place Broadcast Radio Networks and Syndicators: The Midwest and Manufacturing (Changing Gears)
2011 Detroit Society of Professional Journalists Awards
Spot or Breaking News Reporting
First: Steve Carmody – “Rich Rodriguez is Fired”
General News Reporting
First: Sarah Hulett – “Rape Kit Backlog”
Features Reporting
First: Steve Carmody – “Gold!”
Second: Sarah Cwiek – “A Personal Story”
Sports Reporting
First: Kyle Norris – “Autistic Kids Practice Social Skills”
Investigative Reporting
First: Lester Graham – “Confusion and Consequences”
Automotive Reporting
First: Tracy Samilton – “Michigan China Connection”
Newscast
First: Christina Shockley and Michigan Radio Newsroom - Newscast Aug. 16, 7 a.m.
News Special/Documentary
First: Michigan Radio Newsroom- “Culture of Class”
Open Government Reporting
First: Lester Graham – “State Police Want Big Bucks”
Young Journalist of the Year
Finalist – Lindsey Smith
2011 Michigan Associated Press Awards
General Excellence – Michigan Radio
First Place
Continuing Coverage: “Emergency Managers in Michigan,” Michigan Radio staff
News Documentary: “Culture of Class,” Jen Guerra
Individual Reporting: Sarah Hulett
Feature Story: “Foreclosures Decline, While Foreclosure Businesses Thrive,” Kate Davidson
Natural Sound: “Green Building Conference: Standing out from the Crowd,” Lester Graham
Website: michiganradio.org, Michigan Radio staff
Honorable Mentions
Continuing Coverage: “Confusion and Consequences: Changing Michigan’s Auto Insurance,” Lester Graham
News Documentary: “The Michigan China Connection,” Tracy Samilton
Individual Reporting: Rebecca Williams
Enterprise/Investigative Reporting: “Health and Safety Concerns Surround Glittersniffer Cosmetics,” Bridget Bodnar
2011 Michigan Association of Broadcasters Awards
Station Awards
Station of the Year – Michigan Radio
First Place- Best in Category
Membership Appeal: “Mornings Sound Like”
Special Interest & Cultural Programming: “The Cost of Creativity”
Community Involvement: Issues & Ale
News Special or Public Affairs Program: The Culture of Class
Hard News & Current Events Story: “Rape Kit Backlog”
Marketing Materials & Promos: “Lights Out”
Musical Programming: “Songs from Studio East: Red Tail Ring”
Merit Awards
Community Involvement: “Your Story”
Hard News & Current Events: “Detroit Census Challenge”
Newscast: 6/9/11 Newscast
News Special or Public Affairs Program: “The Michigan-China Connection”
Marketing Materials & Promos: “Weekends Are”
Feature/Use of Medium: “Remembering Mr. Rogers’ Factory Tour”
2011 Niagara Foundation
Niagara Award in Media: Michigan Radio
2011 Clarion Award from Women in Communications
Best Documentary, Coal: Dirty Past, Hazy Future, The Environment Report
2011 Public Radio News Directors, Inc. Award
2011 National RTDNA/UNITY Diversity Award
(Radio Television Digital News Association and UNITY: Journalists of Color) Radio-Large Market “Muslims in Michigan”
2011 National Edward R. Murrow Award
Best Audio News Documentary (Radio: Large Market) The Environment Report “Coal: Dirty Past, Hazy Future”
Radio Television Digital News Association
2010 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards
Best Documentary
Lester Graham, Rebecca Williams, Mark Brush (Michigan Radio):"Coal: Dirty Past, Hazy Future."
Best Feature
Dustin Dwyer (Michigan Radio): "Curling"
Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals
2010 Gabriel Awards
Local release documentary category
Lester Graham (Michigan Radio): "Kennedy and the Peace Corps: Idealism on the Ground"
Ecumenical & Interreligious local release category
Dustin Dwyer (Michigan Radio): from Muslims in Michigan. "So, A Muslim and a Christian Move into a Dorm Room Together."
2010 Detroit Society of Professional Journalists Awards
General news
First -Sarah Cwiek, Sarah Hulett, Dustin Dwyer (Michigan Radio): "Shrinking Detroit"
Third - Sarah Hulett (Michigan Radio): "Inch-vestors in Detroit"
Features reporting
First - Sarah Hulett, Sarah Cwiek, Jennifer Guerra, Dustin Dwyer (Michigan Radio): "Muslims in Michigan"
Second - Kate Davidson (Michigan Radio): "Retraining"
Spot or breaking news
Second - Michigan Radio Newsroom: "Kalamazoo River Oil Spill"
Third - Tracy Samilton (Michigan Radio): "Whitacre Resigns"
Sports reporting
Second - Kyle Norris (Michigan Radio): "Detroit Soccer Club"
Third - Dustin Dwyer (Michigan Radio): "Curling"
Investigative reporting
First - Jennifer Guerra, Sarah Hulett, Mercedes Mejia, Vincent Duffy (Michigan Radio): "Rebuilding Detroit Schools"
Second - Rebecca Williams, Lester Graham (Michigan Radio): "Is Fire Safety Putting Us at Risk?"
Newscast
Second - Christina Shockley, Michigan Radio Newsroom: 6 a.m. Newscast 10-14-10
Third - Christina Shockley, Michigan Radio Newsroom: 7 a.m. Newscast 8-10-10
News special/documentary
First - Lester Graham, Rebecca Williams, Mark Brush (Michigan Radio): "Coal: Dirty Past, Hazy Future"
Second - Lester Graham (Michigan Radio): "Kennedy and the Peace Corps: Idealism on the Ground"
Open government reporting
First - Lester Graham (Michigan Radio): "Paying for Michigan Schools"
Second - Lester Graham (Michigan Radio): "Who Writes the Laws?"
2010 Michigan Associated Press Awards
Station Awards
General Excellence – Michigan Radio
Best Hard News: “Shrinking Detroit,” Sarah Hulett, Sarah Cwiek, Dustin Dwyer
Best Continuing Coverage: “Kalamazoo River Oil Spill,” Michigan Radio staff
Best News Documentary: "Coal: Dirty Past, Hazy Future," The Environment Report.
Best Individual Reporting: Kyle Norris
Best Enterprise/Investigative Reporting: “Rebuilding Detroit Schools: A Tale of Two Cities,” Jennifer Guerra, Sarah Hulett, Mercedes Mejia
Best Newscast: Zoe Clark, Michigan Radio Newsroom
Best Natural Sound: “Senior Musicians,” Kyle Norris.
Best Website: Mark Brush, Tamar Charney, Lani Chisnell, Zoe Clark, Vincent Duffy
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Honorable Mention
Newscast: Christina Shockley, Michigan Radio Newsroom
News Documentary: “Rebuilding Detroit Schools: A Tale of Two Cities,” Jennifer Guerra, Sarah Hulett, Mercedes Mejia
Enterprise/Investigative Reporting: “Is Fire Safety Putting Us at Risk?,” Rebecca Williams, Lester Graham
2010 Headliner Awards
News Series, Third Place: "Is Fire Safety Putting Us At Risk?," Rebecca Williams and Lester Graham, Michigan Radio
2010 Michigan Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Excellence Awards
Michigan Radio received seven awards this year for our journalism.
Best Mini-Documentary or Series: Rebuilding Detroit Schools: A Tale of Two Cities - Jennifer Guerra, Sarah Hulett, and programming staff
Best News Special or Public Affairs Program: Coal: Dirty Past, Hazy Future - Mark Brush, Lester Graham, Rebecca Williams
Best Sports: Olympic Snowboarding - Charles Manley
Merit
Mini-Documentary or Series: Shrinking Detroit - Sarah Hulett
Sports: Curling - Dustin Dwyer
Newscast: August 10th, 2010 7:00AM - Christina Shockley and newsroom
News Special or Public Affairs Program: Kennedy and the Peace Corps: Idealism on the Ground - Lester Graham
Michigan Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Excellence Awards
2009 Public Radio Station of the Year (Group 2)
Best in Category Awards
- Hard News And Current Events Story – "Overqualified Applicants"
- Mini-Documentary Or Series - Facing The Mortgage Crisis
- Newscast – December 10, 2009
- News Special Or Public Affairs Program – "Remaking Michigan" Call-In Show
- Special Interest And Cultural Programming – "Generation Y Michigan”
- Membership Appeal – "Don’t Wait For The Senate"
- Community Involvement – Facing The Mortgage Crisis
- Marketing Materials And Promos – Facing The Mortgage Crisis
Merit Award
- Hard News And Current Events Story – "Highland Park Unemployment"
- Mini-Documentary Or Series – "Cody Chronicles"
- Newscast – November 11, 2009
- News Special Or Public Affairs Program – "Generation Y Michigan" Call-In Show
- Membership Appeal – Facing The Mortgage Crisis
- Marketing Materials And Promos – Sounds Of The State
2009 Clarion Award from Women in Communications
Best Documentary: Foreclosing on the American Dream
2008 National Edward R. Murrow Award
Best News Documentary: Ashes to Hope - producer Tamar Charney; host Christina Shockley; editors Vincent Duffy and Lester Graham; reporters Steve Carmody, Dustin Dwyer, Vincent Duffy, Jennifer Guerra, Sarah Hulett, and Tracy Samilton; segment producers Richie Duchon, Jennifer Guerra, Maria Howes, and Jack Lessenberry; and production assistants Zoe Clark, and Katherine Gorman.
2008 Clarion Award from Women in Communications
Best Documentary: Ashes to Hope
Best Documentary Series: Grading Michigan Schools
2007 Sigma Delta Chi Award from The Society of Professional Journalists
Public Service in Radio Journalism: Grading Michigan Schools
Congratulations to Sarah Hulett, Tracy Samilton, and Samara Freemark along with Vincent Duffy, Lester Graham, and Kaomi Goetz for their work on this award winning series.
2008 Region 7 Edward R. Murrow Winners
Best Continuing Coverage: Michigan's Budget Crisis
Best Feature: Turning Around A Troubled School
Best News Documentary: Ashes to Hope