WSAV Earns Five 2013 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards:
WSAV-TV, the NBC affiliate serving Savannah GA / Hilton Head SC has won five Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in television journalism including the organization’s top three categories. The announcement was made Thursday by the Radio Television Digital News Association which has been honoring outstanding achievement in electronic journalism with the Murrow Awards since 1971.
This continued an impressive trend as WSAV has been recognized with 26 Regional Murrow awards for excellence in journalism over the past six years — as compared to two awards for all other Savannah area Television stations.
Among the honors, the coveted Murrow Award for Overall Excellence. It’s the fifth time in the last six years the WSAV’s entire staff has been so honored. In addition, the WSAV staff also won the Murrow Award for Newscast with its coverage of a visit by President and Michelle Obama to Ft. Stewart in 2012. It’s the fourth time in the last six years WSAV has won for Newscast.
WSAV Chief Investigator JoAnn Merrigan takes her third Murrow in three years, this time receiving the award for Investigative Reporting. Her reports unearthed unethical insurance company practices trying to force bundling with threats of dropping all coverage.
WSAV anchor/reporter Kim Gusby, Photojournalist Chris Murray and Production Manager Jerry Perlman share the Murrow Award for outstanding Documentary/Special Program for WSAV’s Celebrating Black History program. This marks the third year in a row the program has achieved this distinction.
Finally, WSAV Chief Photographer Jim Jensen wins the Murrow Award for Use of Video (Photojournalism) for his photo essay on the Savannah Police Memorial for officers killed in action. It’s Jensen’s fourth win in this category in the past seven years.
WSAV General Manager Deb Thompson said “It is gratifying to see our news team receive such well deserved recognition from the RTDNA for the outstanding work they do every day in delivering news to our viewers.” WSAV took five of the thirteen awards presented in its region — a region that includes more than 30 television news organizations in cities throughout Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Regional Edward R. Murrow Award winners automatically move to the RTDNA’s national competition.
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