Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM won seven first place and nine second place Alabama Associated Press Media Editor awards at a ceremony held June 17, 2017.
“It’s wonderful to have earned recognition on such a broad range of initiatives, from noteworthy reporting to public service,” says WBHM News Director Gigi Douban. “For us here at WBHM, reporting on our communities and serving our communities go hand in hand. These awards are a testament to the outstanding work and dedication of our staff.”
The judges gave WBHM the first place award for Public Service for its project “Next Generation Voices” produced in partnership with Birmingham City Schools and the Birmingham Education Foundation. During this project, WBHM’s staff worked with students to produce commentaries that were later aired. Student Berucha Cintron received a second place award for Best Commentator or Editorialist for her commentary, “I Will.”
The judges highlighted this project saying, “This entry met the goal of enabling journalism to make a difference in the Birmingham community by motivating students to improve their lives as they improve their community. The entrant provided ample evidence of the project’s public service impact. Lots of work involved by WBHM! But, lots of impact on those graduates, too! And, the community. Good job!”
WBHM also won awards for:
- Best Radio Coverage of a Spot News Story, First Place: Esther Ciammachilli, Gigi Douban, and Rachel Lindley, “Roy Moore’s Battle Against Same-sex Marriage”
- Best Radio Coverage of a Spot News Story, Second Place: Esther Ciammachilli, “Oxford’s Transgender Bathroom Law”
- Best News Feature, First Place: Esther Ciammachilli, “Colonial Pipeline’s Shocking Safety History”
- Best News Feature Second Place: Esther Ciammachilli, “Alabama Cattle Rangers Hit Hard by Drought”
- Best Coverage of a Scheduled Event, First Place: Esther Ciammachilli, Andrew Yeager, and Dan Carsen, “Roy Moore’s Judicial Ethics Trial”
- Best Coverage of a Scheduled Event, Second Place: Esther Ciammachilli, “Oxford City Council Adopts, then Repeals Transgender Bathroom Ordinance”
- Best Reporter, First Place: Esther Ciammachilli
- Best Series, Second Place: WBHM Staff, “Birmingham’s Revitalization”
- Best Anchor, Second Place: Esther Ciammachilli
- Best Use of Tape, First Place: Esther Ciammachilli, “Alabama Cattle Rangers Hit Hard by Drought”
- Best Use of Tape, Second Place: Dan Carsen, “Many Schools Moving to Active Responses to Gunmen”
- Best Investigative Reporting, First Place: Gigi Douban, “Immigrants in Alabama Wait Years for Deportation”
- Best Regularly Scheduled Radio Newscast, Second Place: Andrew Yeager
- Best Radio News Operation, Second Place: WBHM Staff
“Excellence in journalism is something our newsroom strives for every day and it is what our audience has come to expect from WBHM,” says General Manager Chuck Holmes. “We’re rightly proud of this prestigious recognition. It’s cause for celebration. And it is a moment to remind ourselves that there’s no higher standard than the one we set for ourselves as we seek to serve our community.“
The Associated Press is a not-for-profit news cooperative representing 1,400 newspapers and 5,000 broadcast stations in the United States.