NBC 26 has won a prestigious, regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Small Market Television Station Newscast for "Jayme Closs Found Alive."
After the parents of 13-year-old Jayme Closs were found shot to death in their Barron, Wis., home Oct. 15, authorities issued an Amber Alert for the middle school student who investigators believe had been abducted. When she escaped after being held for 88 days in a remote cabin, NBC 26 provided live coverage from her hometown to share her story of survival, the latest information from investigators about the suspect in custody and community reaction.
The regional competition includes news organizations from Wisconsin, Minnesota and North and South Dakota.
"We don't do what we do for awards. We do it to serve our community,” said NBC 26 News Director John Laughrin. “With that said, it is nice to be honored with this prestigious award. I'm very proud of our team and all the hard work they've done and continue to do every day."
The Murrow Awards are named after Edward R. Murrow, a journalism pioneer who set the standards for the highest quality of broadcast journalism. The awards are the embodiment of the values and principles he set forth.
"I continue to be inspired on a daily basis by how hard our news team works to shine a light on stories that matter to our community," said WGBA-TV Vice President and General Manager Joe Antonelli. “I'm very proud of this accomplishment; especially the fact that this is a team award.”
Regional Murrow Award winning stories put public interest above all else, provide a catalyst for public discussion, and adhere to the Radio Television Digital News Association Code of Ethics, according to the RTDNA.
It is one of the most respected awards of those given to journalists in the world.
Regional Edward R. Murrow Award winners automatically advance to the national competition, with winners announced later this year.
