Awards

2024

Kansas Association of Broadcasters

Large Market Radio Station of the Year, 11 years running
Complete Newscast (second place): Wichita's Early Edition, Sept. 21, 2023 by Beth Golay
Complete Newscast (honorable mention): June 13, 2024 by Fletcher Powell
Hard News Feature/Enterprise Story (first place): This Kansas teacher got hurt breaking up a fight. He says says school staff need more protection by Suzanne Perez
News Feature (first place): How one woman pulled her family out of homelessness by Celia Hack
News Feature (second place): In its ninth year, Recovery Idol provides a safe space for artists in recovery by Kylie Cameron
Spot News (first place): Inside the Marion County Record: Staff rushed to publish a newspaper after the police raid by Rose Conlon
Spot News (second place): Wichita Mennonite protest over war in Gaza by Rose Conlon
Spot News (honorable mention): 'No perfect solutions': Wichita school board votes to close six schools by Suzanne Perez
Sports Feature (first place): Was Wichita State really the first college to throw a forward pass in football? by Tom Shine
Sports Feature (honorable mention): The year Wichita hosted — and then lost — the College World Series by Tom Shine
Public Service Announcement (first place): Substance Use Resource Page by Kylie Cameron and Fletcher Powell
Public Service Announcement (second place): Join the Documenters program by Jessica Treadwell
Public Service Announcement (honorable mention): Wichita Read ICT Challenge by Suzanne Perez
Public Affairs Program (second place): A special holiday edition of The Range by KMUW Staff
Special Program (second place): You’re Saying It Wrong: The Words of 2023 by Fletcher Powell
Editorial/Commentary (first place): And, One Last Thing: A text from my daughter by Tom Shine
Editorial/Commentary (second place): 'Poor Things' is a world of delights by Fletcher Powell
Editorial/Commentary (honorable mention): Kiley Reid's 'Come and Get It' offers enjoyable scenes but falls short on overall story by Suzanne Perez
Station Website (second place): KMUW.org, Hugo Phan and Beth Golay
Excellence In Diversity/Equity/Inclusion News (first place): Relative and friend of Emmett Till reflects on why his story is important now more than ever by Carla Eckels
Excellence In Diversity/Equity/Inclusion News (honorable mention): Using their culture to heal, a Native American sobriety in Wichita gives back by Kylie Cameron
Excellence In Multimedia/Digital Storytelling (honorable mention): New home construction in Sedgwick County fell in 2023. Will that make the housing shortage worse? by Celia Hack
Station Letter of Excellence (first place): Debra Fraser

Public Media Journalists Association

Health/Medical Feature, Division B (second place): Kansas student Zaiylah Bronson was killed while pregnant. Deaths like hers are rising by Rose Conlon
Student features, All Divisions (first place): A blast from the past: How Cine-Genic captures video rental nostalgia by Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval

Radio Television Digital News Association Regional Edward R. Murrow Award (Region 5, Small Market Radio)

Investigative Reporting: Sedgwick County has the most evictions in Kansas. One landlord is responsible for a quarter of them by Celia Hack
Sports Reporting: Was Wichita State really the first college to throw a forward pass in football? by Tom Shine

2023

Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow Award (National Large Market Radio)

Hard News: Research Shows Social-Emotional Learning in Schools Pays Off, but Conservatives See a Liberal Agenda by Suzanne Perez

Radio Television Digital News Association Regional Edward R. Murrow Award (Region 5, Large Market Radio)

Hard News: Research Shows Social-Emotional Learning in Schools Pays Off, but Conservatives See a Liberal Agenda by Suzanne Perez

Radio Television Digital News Association Regional Edward R. Murrow Award (Region 5, Small Market Radio)

Sports Reporting: One Man's Love Affair with Hockey by Tom Shine

Public Media Journalists Association

Audience Engagement Program, Division B (first place): Engage ICT with 1A, Remaking America: Sorting out Facts, Truth, and Opinion by Sara Jane Crespo and Haley Crowson
Digital Writing, Division B (first place): A Kansas program aims to reward good nursing home care, but critics say poor oversight remains by Rose Conlon
Breaking News, Division B (second place): Derby residents pack school board meeting to support principal's lesson on 'white privilege’ by Suzanne Perez
Investigative Reporting, Division B (second place): A Kansas program aims to reward good nursing home care, but critics say poor oversight remains by Rose Conlon

Kansas Association of Broadcasters

Large Market Radio Station of the Year, 10 years running
Complete Newscast (honorable mention): Lu Anne Stephens, 3 p.m., June 30
Hard News Feature/Enterprise Story (second place): How does the Sedgwick County jail handle people with mental illness? Sometimes, a restraint chair by Celia Hack
News Feature (second place): Community fridges offer a different kind of solution in Wichita’s food deserts by Kylie Cameron
Spot News (second place): Will strict new anti-trans laws in Kansas keep people and companies away? by Rose Conlon
Spot News (honorable mention): City of Wichita agrees to $5 million settlement in Andrew Finch shooting by Kylie Cameron
Sports Feature (second place): How Laotian-born, Nashville-grown Noi Sourinthone came to lead Wichita’s pickleball scene by Celia Hack
Sports Feature (honorable mention): Why Satchel Paige might be the most significant figure in Wichita’s baseball history by Tom Shine
Public Affairs Program (first place): A special edition of Engage ICT on the future of higher education with Jenn White by Sarah Jane Crespo and Haley Crowson
Public Affairs Program (second place): Community panel discusses policing in Wichita with new Chief of Police by Sarah Jane Crespo and Haley Crowson
Special Program (first place): A Conversation with Con Funk Shun’s Michael Cooper by Carla Eckels
Special Program (honorable mention): Inaugural Engage Kansas meets to discuss broadband expansion by Sarah Jane Crespo and Haley Crowson
Editorial/Commentary (first place): And, One Last Thing: Memorial Day by Tom Shine
Editorial/Commentary (second place): WAM has sold its Henry Moore sculpture. I’m not a fan of the decision by Curt Clonts
Station Website (second place): Hugo Phan and Beth Golay
Excellence In Diversity/Equity/Inclusion News (first place): After Black infant mortality surged in Kansas, birth workers jumped into action by Rose Conlon
Excellence In Diversity/Equity/Inclusion News (second place): Kansas could pressure schools to dump Native American mascots increasingly seen as racist by Suzanne Perez
Excellence In Diversity/Equity/Inclusion News (honorable mention): Drag in Wichita has been going on for decades. Now the art form is under scrutiny by Celia Hack
Excellence In Multimedia/Digital Storytelling (first place): Sedgwick County has the most evictions in Kansas. One landlord is responsible for a quarter of them by Celia Hack
Excellence In Multimedia/Digital Storytelling (second place): ‘I’m just so angry’: How the state failed to follow its plan to tell Wichitans of toxic groundwater by Celia Hack and Trace Salzbrenner
Excellence In Multimedia/Digital Storytelling (honorable mention): Boba Blitz: Wichita continues to see a rise in the number of boba tea options by Hugo Phan
Station Letter of Excellence (first place): Debra Fraser

2022

Kansas Press Association

Story Originating from a Public Notice (First Place): Community members want fishing lake near toxic site tested, but state says it’s not necessary by KMUW's Celia Hack with Trace Salzbrenner of The Wichita Beacon
Best New Journalist (Second Place): Celia Hack

Kansas Association of Broadcasters

Large Market Radio Station of the Year, nine years running
Complete Newscast (Honorable Mention): 9 a.m. newscast, Nov. 3, 2021 by Jonathan Huber
Hard News Feature/Enterprise Story (First Place): 3,000 Kansas Kindergartners And Untold Preschoolers Skipped Last Year. Now They’re Behind by Suzanne Perez
News Feature (First Place): For Nearly 130 Years, This Newton Store Has Offered Old-Fashioned Customer Service by Suzanne Perez
News Feature (Second Place): Starkly Beautiful: A Kansas doctor details his life at the South Pole by Tom Shine
News Feature (Honorable Mention): A new documentary sheds light on Louis Armstrong’s secret daughter by Carla Eckels
Spot News (First Place): Thousands gather to remember Father Emil Kapaun as he is laid to rest in his native Kansas by Suzanne Perez
Spot News (Second Place): A Kansas principal shared a video about speaking up against racism. He was ordered to apologize. by Suzanne Perez
Spot News (Honorable Mention): County commissioner requests outside investigation into Wichita teen’s death by Kylie Cameron
Sports Feature (First Place): Wichita Thunder equipment manager keeps hockey uniforms and skates looking sharp by Tom Shine
Sports Feature (Honorable Mention): Esports pipeline taking shape in Wichita by Daniel Caudill
Public Service Announcement (Honorable Mention): Next Up: WAM’s Art Chatter is 10 years old, and it’s still going strong by Jordan Kirtley and Fletcher Powell
Public Affairs Program (Second Place): Engage ICT: Covid Community Update by Sarah Jane Crespo and Haley Crowson
Special Program (First Place): Books & Whatnot: Summertime reading has arrived by Suzanne Perez, Beth Golay, Haley Crowson, Karlee Cooper and Jonathan Huber
Editorial/Commentary (Second Place): I don't love WAM's new 'Living History' piece. But you should decide for yourself by Curt Clonts, Beth Golay and Lu Anne Stephens
Station Website (First Place): KMUW.org by Jordan Kirtley, Beth Golay, Hugo Phan and Karlee Cooper
Excellence in Diversity/Equity/Inclusion News (First Place): David Parks looks back on the legacy of ‘Shaft’ by Carla Eckels
Excellence in Diversity/Equity/Inclusion News (Second Place): Nicodemus Celebrates Heritage With 143rd Homecoming by Carla Eckels, Katelynn McIlwain and Sam Eckels
Excellence in Multimedia/Digital Storytelling (First Place): Overworked former Kansas teacher has ‘nothing left to give’ public schools and she’s not alone by Suzanne Perez
Excellence in Multimedia/Digital Storytelling (Second Place): Thousands gather to remember Father Emil Kapaun as he is laid to rest in his native Kansas by Suzanne Perez, Tom Shine, Hugo Phan and Brian Grimmett
Excellence in Multimedia/Digital Storytelling (Honorable Mention): Starkly Beautiful: A Kansas doctor details his life at the South Pole by Tom Shine
Station Excellence (First Place)

2021

Society of Professional Journalists

Sigma Delta Chi Award for excellence in journalism, Radio Feature Reporting: 3,000 Kansas Kindergartners And Untold Preschoolers Skipped Last Year. Now They're Behind by Suzanne Perez

Public Media Journalists Association

Interview Podcast (First Place, Division B): You're Saying It Wrong: The (Most Mispronounced) Words of the Year! by Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras and Ross Petras

Kansas Association of Broadcasters

Large Market Radio Station of the Year, eight years running
Public Service Announcement (First Place): The Who And How Of Voting | Next Best Thing by Jordan Kirtley and Fletcher Powell
Station Promotion Announcement (Honorable Mention): Oscar Predictions by Beth Golay, Fletcher Powell, Mackenzie Haas and Jordan Kirtley
Public Affairs Program (First Place): 1A's Friday News Roundup: Wichita Edition by Sarah Jane Crespo, Haley Crowson, Nadya Faulx and Tom Shine
Public Affairs Program (Second Place): The Range | March 19, 2021 by Nadya Faulx, Tom Shine and Lu Anne Stephens
Complete Newscast (Honorable Mention): 3 p.m. newscast on June 8, 2021 by Fletcher Powell
Sports Feature (First Place): Bowling Alleys Struggle To Sell Experiences During Pandemic by Deborah Shaar
Sports Feature (Second Place): Born To Coach: Isaac Brown Leading The Shockers To Surprising Heights by Carla Eckels
Sports Feature (Honorable Mention): Wichita Sports Shop Showcases One Man’s Lifelong Love Of Baseball by Tom Shine
Hard News Feature (Honorable Mention): What’s A Newspaper Without A Newsroom? Many, Like The Wichita Eagle, Are Finding Out by Tom Shine
News Feature (Second Place): 'Her Spirit Was Bright, It Was Happy’: Remembering Wichita Icon Karla Burns by Carla Eckels
Spot News (First Place): Fans Welcome Affiliated Baseball Back To Wichita As Wind Surge Plays Home Opener by Nadya Faulx
Complete Severe Weather Coverage (Second Place): Temperatures Drive Up Power Demand Across The Midwest by Brian Grimmett
Complete Severe Weather Coverage (Honorable Mention): Kansas Customers Left To Pay The Price After Winter Storm Sends Natural Gas Prices Soaring by Brian Grimmett
Special Program (First Place): One Small Step: Courageous Political Conversations by Sarah Jane Crespo and Haley Crowson
DJ Personality (Honorable Mention): Soulsations by Carla Eckels
Editorial/Commentary (First Place): One Last Thing: Remembering Tom Moffitt by Tom Shine
Editorial/Commentary (Second Place): Movie Review: Revisiting The Great Failure Of ‘One From The Heart’ by Fletcher Powell
Editorial/Commentary (Honorable Mention): Hindsight: EMILY’s List by Robin Henry and Fletcher Powell
Station Website (Second Place): kmuw.org by Nadya Faulx, Hugo Phan, Jordan Kirtley and Beth Golay

2020

Kansas Association of Broadcasters

Large Market Radio Station of the Year, seven years running
Public Affairs Program (First Place): 'Get Big Or Get Out' Farming Has Left Kansas Towns Struggling For Survival, My Fellow Kansans by the Kansas News Service with contributions from KMUW's Beth Golay and Lu Anne Stephens
Public Affairs Program (Honorable Mention): Kansas Women In Politics And The GOP
Complete Newscast (Second Place): March 20, 2020, 8 a.m. newscast by Jonathan Huber
Complete Newscast (Honorable Mention): June 22, 2020, 3 p.m. newscast by Fletcher Powell
Sports Feature (Honorable Mention): Kansas Community College Football Now Has Its Own Stars, Netflix Series And Scandals by Stephan Bisaha
Hard News (Second Place): Wichita Rules Out Renovating Century II For Performing Arts by Deborah Shaar
Hard News (Honorable Mention): Seizing And Selling Tribal Land In Kansas Funded Scores Of American Universities by Stephan Bisaha
News Feature (Second Place): From Old Paint To Old Town Road: Tracing The History Of Black Cowboys In Western Music And Film by Jedd Beaudoin
Spot News (Second Place): Wichita, Meet Your New Baseball Team: The Wind Surge by Nadya Faulx
Spot News (Honorable Mention): Sedgwick County Says: Stay Home by Deborah Shaar
Special Program (First Place): Global Village at the Savannah Music Festival by Chris Heim
DJ Personality Air Check (First Place): Chris Heim, Night Train
Editorial/Commentary (First Place): En Route with Sylvia and Sam by Beth Golay and Nadya Faulx
Editorial/Commentary (Second Place): Movie Review: Defending 'The Blob' by Fletcher Powell
Editorial/Commentary (Honorable Mention): Hindsight: The Centennial Anniversary of the 19th Amendment by Robin Henry and Fletcher Powell
Station Website (Second Place): KMUW.org by Nadya Faulx, Beth Golay, Jordan Kirtley and Hugo Phan

Radio Television Digital News Association Regional Edward R. Murrow Award (Region 5, Small Market Radio)

Sports Reporting: Kansas Community College Football Now Has Its Own Stars, Netflix Series And Scandals by Stephan Bisaha

Public Media Journalists Association (Division B, News staff of 4 to 7)

Arts Feature (Second Place): Gordon Parks' 'The Learning Tree' Still Resonates After 50 Years by Carla Eckels
Interview (First Place): Branch Rickey III On Baseball, Wichita's New Team And The 'Beautiful Legend' Of Jackie Robinson by Tom Shine
News Feature (Second Place): Kansas Is In Danger Of Losing A Generation Of Hunters And Their Conservation Money by Stephan Bisaha

2019

Kansas Association of Broadcasters

Large Market Radio Station of the Year, six years running
Complete Newscast (Honorable Mention): Sept. 7, 2018 newscast by Jonathan Huber
Sports Feature (Second Place): Are Video Games A Sport? Hoping To Attract Fans And Students, Kansas Colleges Say Yes by Stephan Bisaha
Sports Feature (Honorable Mention): Players, City Eye Major Changes For Wichita's Struggling Golf System by Nadya Faulx
Hard News Feature (First Place): Pipe Dreams: Effort To Keep Famous Wurlitzer In Wichita Amid Century II's Uncertain Future by Deborah Shaar
News Feature (Honorable Mention): Whispers Of The Dead: Remembering The Great War, Harry Knowles And A Country's Coming Of Age by Tom Shine
Spot News (First Place): Wichita To Get New Baseball Team, Stadium by Nadya Faulx
Spot News (Honorable Mention): Westar Responds To Concerns About Electric Poles In Northeast Wichita by Carla Eckels
Special Program (First Place): 'Hope For The Future': The Dockum Sit-In, Sixty Years On by Carla Eckels
Personality Aircheck (Second Place): Carla Eckels, Soulsations
Editorial/Commentary (Honorable Mention): What Are The City's Budget Priorities? by Curt Clonts and Beth Golay
Station Website (Honorable Mention): kmuw.org

RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award (Region 5 Small Market Radio)

KMUW's Morning Edition host Jonathan Huber won in the category of Best Newscast for his newscast on May 9, 2018.
Reporter Brian Grimmett, who covers energy and environment for KMUW and the Kansas News Service, won for Hard News for his explanatory piece on energy demand charges and what it could mean for utility customers' bills.
The Kansas News Service's original podcast My Fellow Kansans won for best News Documentary for its episode on the Summer of Mercy. The podcast, hosted by Jim McLean of the Kansas News Service, looked at the 2018 governor's race in the context of Kansas' free-state beginnings and its hard turn to the political right. KMUW's Beth Golay, Nadya Faulx and Jordan Kirtley contributed to the project.

Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Newscast: First Place Award - Jonathan Huber
Podcast: Second Place Award - My Fellow Kansans, Summer of Mercy episode

Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Wichita Chapter

Outstanding New Professional: Haley Crowson

2018

Kansas Association of Broadcasters

The Kansas Association of Broadcasters has named KMUW 89.1 FM the Large Market Radio Station of the Year for the fifth year in a row. KMUW earned a total of 14 awards in the contest, which includes both commercial and public broadcasters. The Kansas News Service, a statewide reporting collaboration that includes KMUW, KCUR, High Plains Public Radio and Kansas Public Radio, was also honored.

KMUW's Carla Eckels was also honored with the 2018 KAB Sonny Slater Award for Service to Station and Community. The award was established in 1992 to recognize a Kansas broadcaster, who is not an owner or general manager, for long time service to his or her station and community.

In addition, KMUW received the following awards:

1st place:

Hard News Feature: Valley Center, Kansas, Preparing For Future Without Independent Grocery Store, by Deborah Shaar
Sports Feature: Hot Towels And Tapered Cuts: Local Barbershop Welcomes NCAA Tournament, by Carla Eckels
Editorial/Commentary: A Musical Life: Erick Riedell, by Jedd Beaudoin
DJ Personality Aircheck: Soulsations with Carla Eckels
Station Promotion Announcement: Media Circus featuring Bill Kurtis, by Lu Anne Stephens

2nd place:

News Feature: Local Nonprofit Uses Equine Therapy To Help People With Disabilities And Special Needs, by Deborah Shaar
Spot News: Civil Rights Icon Linda Brown Remembered As Humble, by Carla Eckels
Complete Severe Weather Coverage: Dangerous Fire Conditions Expected Through Wednesday, by Deborah Shaar
Editorial/Commentary: Movie Review: 'The Beguiled,' by Fletcher Powell
Public Service Announcement: Girls Rock Science Camp, by Jon Huber
Station Website: KMUW.org

Honorable mention:

Sports Feature: Final NCAA Tournament Prep Underway At Intrust Bank Arena, by Deborah Shaar
Editorial/Commentary: Cooking With Fire: Pork Belly Burnt Ends, by Beth Golay, Josh Cary, and Tom Jackson

RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award (Region 5 Small Market Radio)
Outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the regional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association