Kansas Public Radio sweeps awards at Associated Press ceremony
The Kansas Public Radio news team swept three categories in the annual Kansas state competition of the Associated Press Broadcasters.
KPR took first- and second-place honors in the Spot News, Newscast and Enterprise categories. The AP bestows only first- and second-place awards in each category. KPR did not enter the only other category, Best Sportscast.
"This is as good as it gets," said J. Schafer, KPR news director. "We swept all categories and all places within each category. This is a real testament to the high quality and hard work of the KPR news staff."
Winning AP awards were:
- BEST ENTERPRISE REPORTING
- 1st Place - "Gardner’s Future: Not So Clear?" by health reporter Bryan Thompson. This feature, from the weekly series "Kansas Health: A Prescription for Change," examined the controversial plan to build a massive rail and truck facility in Gardner, and the possible health effects of such a facility on residents. Story available here.
- 2nd Place - "Last Weekend at the Kansas State Fair," by News Director J. Schafer. This feature took listeners on an audio tour of the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson that included a trip through "Ye Old Mill," the oldest amusement ride in the state. Story available here.
- BEST SPOT NEWS
- 1st Place - "Ongoing coverage of the Lawrence Microburst," by reporter/producer Joseph DiNitto, with help from Laura Lorson. This entry comprised a series of newscast reports, from coverage of the initial damage to the effort to secure federal aid to help pay for repairs in Lawrence and at the University.
- 2nd Place - "Attorney General Candidates Spar at Forum," by political reporter Peter Hancock. This feature focused on the contentious race between Phill Kline and Paul Morrison and included verbal fireworks from both men. Story available here.
- BEST NEWSCAST
- 1st Place - "Morning Edition News," by News Director J. Schafer.
- 2nd Place - "All Things Considered News," by reporter/producer Laura Lorson.
KPR, licensed to KU, broadcasts on KANU 91.5 FM in Lawrence, KANH 89.7 FM in Emporia, KANV 91.3 FM in Olsburg-Junction City and K210CR 89.9 FM in Atchison. KPR can be heard on the Internet at kpr.ku.edu. KPR also operates KPR-2, a news-talk channel on HD Radio. Those broadcasts can be heard on an HD receiver or on KPR's Web site.
