WORT Wins 5 “Awards for Excellence”
Earlier this month, WORT won five awards in audio categories in the 2021 Awards for Excellence from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association.
The WORT News Department took home hardware for their reporting on a diversity of topics, from Madison’s new crisis response team to a profile of a Cambridge-area horologist to what is likely its first award for digital content. An award for our Promos Department scratches the surface of our creative and inventive ways to deliver you information.
WORT competed in the Large Market Radio News and Talk, in direct competition with the largest news outlets in the state. We’re thrilled and honored to be in good company. A full list of award winners is available here.
Read on to learn more about our award-winners.
Best Hard News/Investigative: Jonah Chester 🥇
Former Assistant News Director Jonah Chester took home the first place award in the Best Hard News/Investigative category, for his profile of Madison’s crisis response team.
Chester shadowed the Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) team in summer 2021, as the small team of paramedics and mental health counselors began responding to certain 911 calls. The goal of the program is to reduce reliance on the Madison Police Department for certain non-violent crises.
Best Spot News: Jade Iseri-Ramos 🥈
Reporter/producer Jade Iseri-Ramos won a silver award in the Best Spot News category, for her reporting on a student walkout to support a victim of alleged sexual assault at Madison East High School in fall 2021. The incident was notable for its lasting effects, including a student-led effort to educate the community on sexual assault and harassment as well as a change in leadership at East.
Best Promotional Announcement: Thom Jones & Aaron Scholz 🥈
Tech & Facilities Director Thom Jones is a jack-of-all-trades here at WORT, at home fixing equipment day in and day out. His unique voice is great on the radio, and he hammed it up for a promotional spot about our 833-WORT-CAR program, which takes your donates car and generates it into income for WORT.
It’s one of many creative promos thought up by Production Director Aaron Scholz.
Best Use of Audio in Radio News: Danielle Kronau 🥉
UW-Whitewater intern Danielle Kronau volunteered with us in summer 2021, producing longform slice-of-life features from south-central Wisconsin. Danielle picked up the third-place award in Best Use of Audio in Radio News, for her profile of Phillip Smith, horologist and owner of a watch and jewelry repair shop in downtown Cambridge.
Best Original Digital Content: WORT News Department 🥉
The WORT News Department picked up the bronze award for Best Original Digital Content, likely its first-ever award for digital production, for our series of virtual debates with local candidates during the spring 2021 campaign season. These debates were conducted on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
Spearheaded by producer Jade Iseri-Ramos and News Director Chali Pittman, this award is shared with several local journalists who donated their time to help with hosting and production aspects. Our thanks also to the Google News Initiative, which made this project possible.