WASHINGTON — WTOP has won two national Edward R. Murrow Awards, given by the Radio Television Digital News Association to reward excellence in broadcasting and digital journalism.
WTOP won the 2017 Murrow Award for overall excellence among large-market radio stations, its third such award since 2009. WTOP.com won the Murrow for best website, its fifth such award since 2002.
“Our team works hard every day to provide the community with the news it needs both on air and online,” said Mike McMearty, WTOP’s director of news and programming. “We are so proud and honored to be recognized with an award that bears the name of the great Edward R. Murrow — truly the gold standard for excellence in our industry.”
Some of the station’s highlights for the previous year included the Crumbling Capital series, which examined the problems with D.C.’s infrastructure, and features on the D.C. Divas women’s football team, the new Giant on Wisconsin Avenue and a vintage game room in the District.
Some of the website highlights for the year included Neal Augenstein’s minute-by-minute account of the last night of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham’s life; Dave Dildine’s photo feature on rusting, forgotten “ghost bridges” in Maryland and Virginia; and WTOP’s continuing coverage of Metro’s 24/7 track work and of the 2016 election.
WTOP also won the overall excellence award in 2009 and 2011. WTOP.com also won the top website award in 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009. Taking all categories together, WTOP has now won 20 national Murrows since 2002.
You can hear the broadcast stories and read the web stories that won the awards for WTOP — our contest entries — below, and in this gallery:
Hidden in Maryland and Virginia are rotting, rusting bridges lost to time and encroaching woods. How did they end up like this? WTOP’s Dave Dildine unearthed the answers in photos and stories.
(WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Hidden in Maryland and Virginia are rotting, rusting bridges lost to time and encroaching woods. How did they end up like this? WTOP\u2019s Dave Dildine unearthed the answers in photos and stories.\n (WTOP\/Dave Dildine)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" WTOP\u2019s Neal Augenstein put the reader in University of Virginia student Hannah Graham\u2019s shoes with a minute-by-minute account of her whereabouts the night she disappeared.\n (WTOP\/Neal Augenstein)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" WTOP has kept readers and listeners informed of the overarching safety findings, planned fixes and, most importantly, alternative routes for travelers impacted by a year-plus of 24\/7 Metro track work.\n (WTOP\/Dave Dildine)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, has gripped news headlines since 2014. But more than a decade before Flint, D.C. had its own water crisis that was 20 to 30 times worse. Neal Augenstein used photos, video and audio to paint the picture of what went wrong in D.C. and how the city turned the crisis around.\n (WTOP\/Neal Augenstein)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" When Fairfax County firefighter Nicole Mittendorff went missing in April, anonymous bloggers began circulating crude and embarrassing rumors about her past. When the medical examiner determined the cause of death as suicide, the family decided not to speak to the press. Weeks later, when they were ready to talk, they came exclusively to WTOP, revealing new details about bullying allegations, the suicide note, and the effects of Nicole\u2019s death on her family.\n (Courtesy Facebook\/Jennifer Clardy Chalmers)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Omama Altaleb went beyond the Starbucks and Dunkin\u2019 Donuts to find the DC area\u2019s coffeehouse gems, and used an interactive graphic to showcase their interesting characteristics.\n (WTOP\/Omama Altaleb)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Since the beginning of 2016, WTOP staff planned for continuous and multidimensional election coverage. From the primaries and caucuses to election night and beyond, WTOP rolled out informative voter guides for Virginia, Maryland and D.C. residents. And as results were announced on election night, WTOP provided readers with the most comprehensive local and national election results through articles, Facebook Live chats, mobile push notifications, email alerts, and updates on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.\n (AP Photo\/Andrew Harnik)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" As the Summer Olympics came to a close, WTOP\u2019s Noah Frank said it was time to face a larger truth about the Olympics: The so-called Olympic mission is long dead, and its system is in desperate need of reform.\n (Photo by Buda Mendes\/Getty Images)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" When Eulalio Tordil went on a killing rampage in Montgomery County, Maryland, it became national news. WTOP reporters deployed across the region to provide the latest information on the shooter, who was still at-large. Photos, videos and maps gave the reader a full picture of the fateful day.\n (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" What is the D.C. area\u2019s favorite pizza joint? Which bar has the best vibe? WTOP\u2019s annual Top 10 contest allows readers to vote for their favorite local businesses in 10 categories.\n (Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" | WTOP also won six Regional Edward R. Murrow awards in April. “Now more than ever, it is important to recognize the outstanding journalism being done by newsrooms across the country and around the world,” RTDNA Chairman Vincent Duffy said in a statement. “We’re proud to highlight the great work of dedicated, hardworking, professional journalists who serve a critical role in our society.” The post WTOP wins 2 national Edward R. Murrow Awards appeared first on WTOP.
