BEAUMONT, Texas — 12News has been awarded two Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism, among the most prestigious award in broadcast and digital news.
12News won for Best Newscast and Multimedia, which highlighted 12News' commitment to transform local news in the digital age.
The awards were announced Tuesday morning by the Radio Television Digital News Association.
“Murrow Award-winning journalism upholds the guiding principles of RTDNA’s Code of Ethics: truth, accuracy, fairness, context, independence, transparency and accountability for consequences,” said RTDNA Chairman Terence Shepherd. “Displaying technical excellence, creativity and innovation, this year’s winners have empowered audiences across the country to make more informed decisions for themselves and to become closer to their communities.”
This is the first Regional Murrow Award for 12News, president and general manager Paul Bergen said.
12News is now under consideration for a National Murrow Award which will be awarded in the fall.
12News parent company TEGNA won 88 Regional Murrow Awards, more than any other local TV group in the country.
“Purpose-driven, impactful local journalism is more important than ever during these unprecedented times, and I am incredibly proud of the TEGNA journalists who keep raising the bar for excellence,” said Dave Lougee, president and CEO, TEGNA. “Across all platforms, we are helping keep our communities safe and informed through innovative content and investigative reporting that continues to change laws and lives, and it’s an honor for our TEGNA colleagues to be recognized for these achievements.”
The Radio Television Digital News Association has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Murrow set as a standard for the profession of broadcast and digital journalism.
Murrow Awards are presented to news organizations, not individuals (except in the Student categories). All awards are presented based on the specific body of work submitted.
BEST NEWSCAST: 12News was recognized for its extensive coverage of the John William King execution.
MULTIMEDIA: 12News was recognized for its commitment to covering Southeast Texas through online and social media. Here is part of the submission from news director Daniel Brown:
"Our team strives for the user experience – using innovative digital and social tools to help tell the stories of Southeast Texas. During two disasters – Tropical Storm Imelda & the TPC plant explosion – our team provided extensive content on our mobile, digital and social platforms. When T.S. Imelda knocked 12News off the air, our reporters provided the community live updates on YouTube, Facebook & Twitter as we worked to get back on TV. As thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate during the TPC explosion, our reporters were providing real-time updates on traffic and shelters through social media.
Our team is the fifirst in the market to use the power of YouTube to showcase our stories. High school sports is a way of life in Southeast Texas, and our digital and sports team worked together to showcase local talent in the areas first and only podcast centered around high school sports.
Our team is innovating with social videos to help tell important and sometimes complicated stories. Using photos and facts, our audience can quickly understand important stories and digest information that impacts their lives."