Receives Seven First Place Awards, Including “Best Web Site”

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

COLUMBUS, OHIO, October 26, 2015 — 89.7 NPR News, the all-day NPR news radio station of WOSU Public Media, was honored with Best Web Site by the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists at a recent ceremony.

The 2015 Ohio’s Best Journalism Competition recognizes work from the 2014 calendar year and was presented collaboratively by the Society of Professional Journalists’ chapters in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland.

Six First Place awards were given to 89.7 NPR News in a variety of categories, including Best of Show to 89.7 NPR News Reporter Sam Hendren as Best Editor and the WOSU News Team for Best Web Site. WOSU TV’s local public affairs program, Columbus on the Record, was also recognized with a Best of Show in First Place for Best Public Affairs Program.

Full details of the 2015 Ohio’s Best Journalism Competition are as follows:

  • Best of Show, Best Editor – First Place to 89.7 NPR News Reporter Sam Hendren for “Horseracing Ends at Beulah Park” about the end of thoroughbred horseracing after 91 years in Grove City.
  • Best Education Issues Reporting: K-12 – First Place to 89.7 NPR News Managing Editor Tom Borgerding for “Columbus Schools Data Scandal”, which highlighted continuing coverage of the data rigging scandal faced by Columbus City Schools.
  • Best Government Reporting – First Place to 89.7 NPR News Managing Editor Tom Borgerding and 89.7 NPR News Reporter Mandie Trimble for “Columbus Zoo Levy Series”, regarding the vote to renew the levy in support of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
  • Best Investigative Reporting – First Place to 89.7 NPR News Reporter Mandie Trimble for “City-County Agency Fails to Make Loan Payments”, looking at a lack of funds for loan payments to cover operating costs of Nationwide Arena.
  • Best Minority Issues Reporting – First Place to 89.7 NPR News Reporter Mandie Trimble for “Columbus’ Dismal African American Infant Mortality Rate”, an examination of African American babies dying at twice the rate of Caucasian babies in Franklin County.
  • Best Enterprise Reporting – Second Place to 89.7 NPR News Managing Editor Tom Borgerding for “Fracking Spurs Short-Line Railroads” covering how the need to quickly transport oil and natural gas liquids away from Ohio shale drill sites is spurring new short-line rail construction.
  • Best of Show, Best Anchor – Second Place to 89.7 NPR News Morning Anchor Steve Brown
  • Best of Show, Best Newscast – Second Place to 89.7 NPR News Morning Anchor Steve Brown
  • Best of Show, Best Reporter – Second Place to 89.7 NPR News Reporter Mandie Trimble
  • Best of Show, Best Public Affairs Program – First Place to 89.7 NPR News Programming Director and Host of Columbus on the Record, Mike Thompson and TV Producer and Editor Diana Bergemann, for Columbus on the Record

Entries were judged by out-of-state chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists and professional organizations. Ohio’s Best Journalism is the only Ohio competition that honors journalists who fulfill the SPJ mission: defense of the First Amendment, support of literacy, resistance to censorship, advocacy for openness of public records and meetings, media self-criticism and community service.

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 also available at wosu.org, as well as through the free WOSU Public Media mobile app.

WOSU TV is a PBS member station (simulcast on WPBO TV in Portsmouth) and features well-known children’s, public affairs, science, and nature programs as well as locally produced shows such as Columbus on the Record, Broad & High and In the Know. National news programming such as PBS NewsHour, Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and Frontline is also broadcast.

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