KUOW wins eight Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including Overall Excellence

May 11, 2022

Seattle, WA — KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio has won eight 2022 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including Overall Excellence for a large market radio station. The Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards honor outstanding achievement in local broadcast and digital journalism. All winners will automatically be entered into consideration for national Edward R. Murrow Awards.

"I am so incredibly proud of the work this newsroom produces during what are still very challenging times," said KUOW news director Gigi Douban. "They tell stories with depth and stories that are hard, but also stories that celebrate the joys of life and moments of triumph that emerge during a pandemic. This recognition is a testament to the team's unrelenting commitment to meet our communities in the moment."

KUOW is thankful to our dedicated journalists and community, who make this work possible. Below, learn more about KUOW's winning stories.

2022 REGIONAL EDWARD R. MURROW AWARDS

See full list of winners in Region 1 on the RTDNA website.

Overall Excellence

Large Market Radio

Sports reporting

This Kraken fan loves hockey but laments the misogyny in the stands

Reporting by Bill Radke. Edited by Ryan Kailath.

caption: Christy Maggio, a mega hockey fan, with their baby. Maggio loves the Kraken, Seattle's new hockey team, but laments misogyny heard from the stands.

Continuing Coverage

Tracing Covid Outbreaks and Vaccine Hesitation in Washington

Our entry included the following stories:

"As Latinos wait for vaccines in Seattle area, they keep getting sick." Reporting by Eilis O'Neill. Edited by Jeannie Yandel.
"A Sunday service, a funeral, and a conference: How some churches spread Covid in the Seattle area." Reporting by Anna Boiko-Weyrauch. Edited by Deborah Wang and Ryan Kailath.
"How low wages and high rent helped Covid spread from a wedding in Kent to nearly 300 ." Reporting by Anna Boiko-Weyrauch. Edited by Deborah Wang and Ryan Kailath.
"In this Covid hot zone, unvaccinated people fear side effects — or want more answers." Reporting by Eilis O'Neill. Edited by Ryan Kailath.
"This pregnant mom nearly died from Covid. It hasn’t convinced her to get the vaccine." Reporting by Eilis O'Neill. Edited by Ryan Kailath.

Excellence in Sound

Birthing and Parenting in the Pandemic

Reporting by Kate Walters. Photography by Megan Farmer. Edited by Deborah Wang and Ryan Kailath.

caption: Midwife Jenn Linstad, left, and Jake Black, right, hold Hope Black's hands as she breathes through a contraction at 2:25 a.m. on Friday, May 28, 2020, at the couple's home on Vashon Island.

Feature Reporting

How Deadly Fentanyl Pills are Tearing through the Seattle Area

Reporting by Anna Boiko-Weyrauch. Editing by Liz Jones.

caption: An illustration of illegal fentanyl pills manufactured to look like legitimate oxycodone.

Hard News

Right-Wing Conspiracy Theory Politics Grip Sequim

Reporting by David Hyde. Edited by Christy George.

David Hyde reported on the political firestorm provoked in Sequim, Wash., after the town's new mayor turned out to be a promoter of right-wing Q-Anon conspiracy theories.

caption: A sign on Highway 101 welcomes visitors to Sequim, Washington.

News Documentary

Voices of the Pandemic

Lead reporting by Joshua McNichols, with contributing reporting by Ruby de Luna, Kate Walters, Alec Cowen, Isolde Raftery, Eilis O'Neill, Alison Bruzek, Kristin Leong, Ashley Hiruko, John Ryan, Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong, Carolyn Adolph, Esmy Jimenez, Luis Hernandes Vargas, Natalie Newcomb and Jared Lam. Series edited by Carol Smith and Deborah Wang.

Digital

This award is based on a portfolio of our digital work. Our entry included the following stories:

"Photos: Birthing in a pandemic," by Kate Walters and Ryan Kailath.
"Newsletter: Today So Far daily newsletter, Dec. 21, 2021 edition," by Dyer Oxley.
"Personal essay: My 1-year-old son got Covid, then so did we. Here's what I want you to know," by Kim Malcom and Andy Hurst.
"Feature: How a little island drug store became one of the biggest vaccination sites in Washington state," by Isolde Raftery.
"Feature: How a young Black family fought John L. Scott and changed Seattle," by Isolde Raftery.
"Investigations: As sexual misconduct allegations dog Ken Stringfellow of the Posies, the band breaks up," by Ashley Hiruko and Isolde Raftery.
"We know who made the call to leave Seattle's East Precinct, finally," by Isolde Raftery.
"Sabotage caused Washington oil-train disaster, rail union says," by John Ryan.
"This Redmond mom was fatally shot by police after calling 911 for help," by Ashley Hiruko.

caption: Volunteer registered nurse Amy Rioux, left, administers a Covid-19 vaccine for Teddy Haile of Seattle, right, on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at Island Drug in Oak Harbor.