May 11, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paul Maassen, General Manager, WWNO and WRKF, 504-444-2249 paul@wwno.org
WWNO-WRKF newsroom wins two Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards
New Orleans-Baton Rouge public radio partnership honored for hurricane, climate change reporting.
NEW ORLEANS AND BATON ROUGE, La. – The combined newsroom of public radio stations WWNO New Orleans and WRKF Baton Rouge, has won two 2021 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for its journalism in 2020.
The stations won in Continuing Coverage for reporting on the Hurricane Laura aftermath, including a story by Aubri Juhasz, “‘I Lost My Mind’: Lake Charles Residents Come to Terms with Hurricane Laura’s Devastation.” The LifeRaft podcast episode by Travis Lux and Lauren Melara, “Have I had my Last Good Oyster?” won in the Podcast category.
The collaborative news team competed among large market stations in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Its winning entries now advance to the National Murrow Award competition with winners to be announced later this year.
WWNO New Orleans and WRKF Baton Rouge have shared newsroom resources and planned together since 2017. The team’s reporting previously won three 2019 Regional Murrow awards, for coverage of Louisiana’s flood recovery; the state’s non-unanimous jury law; and a podcast about Huey Long, “Sticky Wicket.” Patrick Madden is news director for the two stations.
About WWNO
WWNO New Orleans Public Radio serves New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana with NPR, local news and cultural programming on 89.9 FM; 24-hour classical music on Classical 104.9 FM; and 24-hour jazz on 89.9 HD3. Hear each at wwno.org, WWNO’s app, and via smart speaker.
About WRKF
WRKF NPR for Baton Rouge informs and entertains Baton Rouge and the surrounding area with news and cultural programs at 89.3 FM. WRKF Classical is on HD radios at 89.3 HD2 24 hours per day. Listen at wrkf.org, via WRKF’s mobile app, or ask your smart speaker to “Play WRKF.”