Receives Four First Place Awards, Including “Best Continuing Coverage”

Contact: Meredith Hart, Marketing & Communications Director
614.247.2675, meredith.hart@wosu.org

COLUMBUS, OHIO, May 4, 2015 — 89.7 NPR News, the all-day NPR news radio station of WOSU Public Media, was honored with eight awards from the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors. The state-wide division of radio stations recognized covers major markets in Ohio, including Cleveland and Cincinnati.

89.7 NPR News Managing Editor Tom Borgerding and Reporter Mandie Trimble received First Place awards in the categories of Best Enterprise Reporting and Best Investigative Reporting. Together, they also jointly received First Place for Extraordinary Coverage of a Scheduled Event. Four Second Place awards were also given to 89.7 NPR News in a variety of categories, including General Excellence.

Full Ohio APME award details are as follows:

  • General Excellence – Second Place to 89.7 NPR News
  • Best Newscast – Second Place to 89.7 NPR News Reporter Steve Brown
  • Best Investigative Reporting – First Place to 89.7 NPR News Reporter Mandie Trimble for “City-County Agency Fails to Make Nationwide Arena Loan Payments”, a report that looked at the complex deal to use casino-tax money to help the city of Columbus and Franklin County pay off Nationwide Arena loans.
  • Best Enterprise Reporting – First Place to 89.7 NPR News Managing Editor Tom Borgerding for “Demolition of Poindexter Sends Community Shudders” a story about the nation’s first public housing development being flattened.
  • Best Continuing Coverage – First Place to 89.7 NPR News for “The OSU Marching Band Scandal”, continuing coverage of Ohio State’s Marching Band Director Jon Waters being fired by the University after a two-month investigation revealed ‘serious cultural issues’ in the marching band.
  • Extraordinary Coverage of a Scheduled Event – First Place to 89.7 NPR News Reporter Mandie Trimble and Managing Editor Tom Borgerding for “Auditor’s Report Slams Record Keeping Practices, Former Data Czar”, an examination of Ohio Auditor David Yost’s release of the results from an 18-month investigation into the practice of scrubbing student records in Columbus City Schools.
  • Best Documentary or Series – Second Place to 89.7 NPR News Reporter Mandie Trimble and Managing Editor Tom Borgerding for “Examining the Columbus Zoo Levy”, a five-part series that looked at the permanent tax levy for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium that was up for renewal before Franklin County taxpayers last spring.
  • Best Anchor – Second Place to 89.7 NPR News Reporter Steve Brown

Comments from the Ohio APME judges for 89.7 NPR News’ award-winning entries included: “Thorough piece that does exactly what an investigative series should; asks and answers questions in the public interest”; “The station had the story covered front-to-back both on radio and online…; and “A great compilation of the anchor’s versatility…”

As stated in the bylaws of the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Association, the main purposes of the Association are ‘to advance the profession of journalism’ and ‘to examine the news and the services of The Associated Press’.

89.7 FM NPR News is the only all-day NPR news radio station in Central Ohio and specializes in news and public affairs programming, including All Sides with Ann Fisher, Morning Edition, and All Things Considered. Live audio streaming of the station is available at wosu.org, as well as through the free WOSU Public Media mobile app.

WOSU Public Media is a community-supported, noncommercial network of public radio and television stations, and digital services.