Published: June 16, 2009 07:41 am      

WEKU captures national award for news reporting

WEKU, the public radio service of Eastern Kentucky University, has again received national acclaim for its news reporting.

The station earned second place in the breaking news coverage category for mid-sized public radio news staffs (three to four reporters) from the Public Radio News Directors Inc. The award recognized a segment on an effigy of Barack Obama that was found hanging at the University of Kentucky.

The piece — www.publicbroadcasting.net/weku/news.newsmain/article /0/0/1402734/news/Obama.Effigy.Death.Threat.or.Protest — quoted EKU psychology professor Matthew Winslow and, by way of WUKY Radio, comments from UK President Lee Todd.

“When public radio covers a breaking story like this one, it does something unique,” said WEKU News Director Charles Compton. “It provides background and context so listeners can fully understand events as they unfold. This story did that because it included comments from experts on journalism and race. That’s why it was honored by PRNDI judges.”

The award was the only one for any public radio station in Kentucky.

PRNDI is a professional group of radio news directors dedicated to improving the quality of radio news. The awards were presented at the group’s annual conference in Portland, Ore.

EKU broadcasts classical music and news to more than 50,000 listeners in central and southeastern Kentucky on WEKU (88.9FM in Richmond-Lexington), WEKH (90.9FM in Hazard) and WEKF (88.5FM in Corbin), along with 96.9 in Barbourville and 95.1 in Pikeville.

With studios in the Perkins Building on EKU’s Richmond campus, WEKU airs programs produced by its staff, as well as nationally syndicated shows from National Public Radio, Public Radio International and other producers. Its news department has a long-tradition of covering issues affecting central and southeastern Kentucky, and the team has also garnered recognition from the Associated Press, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the American Psychiatric Association.