WFLS-FM receives the regional Radio-Television News Directors Association's Edward R. Murrow Award for second straight year; area stations pick up Virginia AP awards

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Date published: 4/10/2005

WFLS-FM accepts radio and TV honor

WFLS-FM's online news has been named the mid-Atlantic region's Best Web Site for small markets by the Radio-Television News Directors Association.

The station is owned by The Free Lance-Star Publishing Co.

Stations in markets ranked 51 and higher in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware competed for the award.

This is the second consecutive year the online news site for the full-service, country-format station has won recognition from the R-TNDA.

Entries were judged by a national panel of news directors that assembled in early March at the association's headquarters in Washington.

The award was presented last night at the annual Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters/R-TNDA Awards Dinner in Richmond.

The entry now competes nationally.

The station also received the Superior Award for best Web site from the Virginia AP.

The WFLS news staff received the Virginia AP's Superior Award for Continuing Coverage for "The Search for Tyreek," a series of reports on the investigation into the disappearance of 3-year-old Tyreek Davis that was broadcast last September and October.

Two other area stations, WFVA of Fredericksburg and WJMA in Orange, received Meritorious Awards in that category. WFVA won for its coverage of the breaching of Embrey Dam and WJMA for the Somerville murder trial.

WFLS-FM also accepted the Superior Award for Best Documentary or In-Depth Report for the broadcast of "Focus: Fredericksburg's Homeless." The program, hosted by Bob Jones, dealt with the needs of the homeless in the region.

Jones has since left the station.

The station also was recognized for its overall year-round coverage, receiving a Meritorious Award for Outstanding News Operation.

WFLS-FM news anchor Niche Herman received Meritorious recognition in the category of Public Service in Radio Broadcasting for "Scammin' Season." The series of news reports, which aired last spring, dealt with various scams perpetrated by con artists and how people should recognize and avoid them.

Mid-Atlantic Broadcasting's WFVA also received a Meritorious Award in that category for its report "Business Link."

WJMA was the recipient of the Superior Award in the Spot News category for coverage of "Mallory Shooting." News Director Phil Goodwin was the reporter.

Niche Herman received a Meritorious Award in the Spot News category for "Bomb Threat." She reported from a situation at James Monroe High School that followed a phoned bomb threat and several positive hits made by bomb-sniffing dogs. The school and a major office building were evacuated.

WFVA also was recognized with a Meritorious Award in the Feature/Human Interest category for "Fredericksburg Economic Development."

The AP entries were judged by a panel in Mississippi.

Date published: 4/10/2005