Graham Media Group Stations Awarded Five 2023 Regional Murrow Awards

The Edward R. Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious, sought-after awards in broadcast and digital news. The Murrow Awards recognizes local and national news stories that demonstrate technical expertise and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community. Graham Media Group stations WDIV-Detroit, WKMG-Orlando, WJXT-Jacksonville, and WSLS-Roanoke were all honored with a national 2023 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award.     

WDIV-Detroit is the recipient of two coveted Murrow Awards for Breaking News and Excellence in Writing. WDIV was awarded for their Breaking News coverage of Detroit firefighters trapped while battling a fire. And anchor Devin Scillian won Excellence in Writing for his story about a local woman who nearly lost her home. “The Murrow Award is a remarkable honor and one of the highest in broadcast journalism,” said Vice-President and General Manager Bob Ellis. “To see our commitment to serving Southeast Michigan rewarded with this honor is a testament to the hard work our news department does each and every day.”

Breaking News

For coverage of the Detroit firefighters trapped while battling a house fire on Detroit’s East Side. Local 4 anchors and reporters were on the air throughout the afternoon and into the evening newscasts and there was aerial coverage, as well as cameras on the ground at the scene as the rescue unfolded.

Excellence in Writing

Local 4 anchor Devin Scillian won for his story on June Walker, the woman who nearly lost her home because of a fake landlord – but the generosity of one man helped her reclaim the house she worked so hard to own. This is the second time the station has won this award.

WKMG-Orlando won a Murrow Award for Excellence in Innovation, highlighting the News 6+ Takeover programming block to change how the audience views local news. In November 2022, WKMG revamped its afternoon lineup by taking over its regular scheduled 5:30 pm newscast with new programming. This new programming included News 6 locally produced podcasts and longer format journalistic shows hosted by their news anchors and reporters. “We are using our broadcast to be a billboard for our digital assets,” said Jeff Hoffman, WKMG’s General Manager. “We are a multiplatform content provider, and we want our community to know they have options for local news, information, and new content on any of our News 6 platforms.” 

WSLS-Roanoke anchor and reporter Jenna Zibton, and Photojournalist Jeff Perzan won the Murrow Award for their Solutionaries series and continuing commitment to solutions journalism. The award submission includes several stories from WSLS in 2022, including how Danville, VA drastically cut crime and murder after having the most homicides per capita in Virginia. In addition to this, WSLS also discussed how local communities are fighting inflation. WSLS talked to a cattle farmer in Bedford County about how he is cutting costs so you do not pay more for meat and how urban gardening is taking off. WSLS also highlighted how a local nonprofit delivers milk to keep their neighbors fed during trying times. The “Moo Crew” raises the money and then picks up and delivers milk in Franklin County. WSLS highlights the creative people in Virginia communities working to make the world a better place, one solution at a time. 

WJXT-Jacksonville was awarded a Murrow Award for News4JAX anchor Mary Baer’s feature story “Child Unsafe,” exposing the life-threatening dangers of children ingesting commonly used lithium batteries. Jodi Mohrmann, Chris O’Rourke, and former colleagues Joe Drumm and Dylan Smith made up the team that produced this award-winning story. “It is unrelenting dedication that earned News4JAX this wonderful recognition. The WJXT team works hard every day to help keep local families safe. I am so proud their hard work is being honored,” said Vice President and General Manager, Terri Cope Walton. 

The Edward R. Murrow Awards are presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to broadcast and digital journalism excellence. 

For links and a complete list of winners, click or tap here.  

WJXT, News4JAX.com awarded prestigious 2022 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for Excellence

WJXT has been awarded two 2022 Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for Excellence.

The Edward R. Murrow Award is among the most prestigious in broadcast and digital news, and is presented to those who demonstrate excellence in their profession. It recognizes the best electronic journalism produced by radio, television and online news organizations around the world.

In the area of Large Market, WJXT-TV, News4JAX, won a 2022 Regional Murrow award for Breaking News Coverage. On the morning of May 27, 2021, morning rush-hour drivers faced an emergency shutdown of the normally busy Buckman Bridge.

Florida Department of Transportation workers were forced to make emergency repairs after a portion of the bridge was damaged. This quickly became a safety concern and caused a traffic nightmare.

From The Morning Show through News4JAX at Noon, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., the news team at WJXT provided important safety information and repair status updates for commuters.

In the category of Digital, News4JAX.com also won the Regional Murrow award. The website has a wealth of information for people living in and interested in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.

From the pandemic to social justice, the environment and the legislature, News4JAX.com provides rich detail about the impacts of such issues. It is a commitment to the best coverage of news, weather, community engagement and public service.

News4JAX.com is designed to keep people safe, aware and informed.

WJXT/WCWJ VP and GM Terri Cope Walton talks mentors, value and career advice

As we make our way through Women’s History Month, Graham Media Group is highlighting many worthy stories that are women-related, but most importantly: We're talking to our own female leaders.

We picked the brain of Terri Cope Walton, VP and General Manager of WJXT/WCWJ in Jacksonville, Florida, to learn more about her journey to leadership, what makes someone an effective co-worker and what advice she has.

Q: Who was your mentor, and how did you grow that relationship?

A: My first mentor was my father. In the fourth grade, I had to make a sign. I grabbed a marker and wrote the message on a piece of whiteboard. My father said, “Let’s try this again.” He got another piece of whiteboard, measured it and cut it so it was even. Then, he used a ruler to draw equidistant lines, in pencil, across the board. We wrote the message in pencil until it was perfect, traced it with marker, then erased all the pencil lines. The finished product was a polished and professional looking piece of signage. I honor that relationship by putting in the extra effort, regardless of the assignment, which is a practice that has served me well professionally and personally.

Q: What are the three most important factors that make you an effective, valued co-worker?

A: The most important factors I believe make me an effective co-worker are (that) I’m consistent, transparent and fair. The most respectful thing I can do is to be the same person — most of the time. We all have challenging moments, but that should not affect how I present to others. Nor should I burden them with trying to predict what to expect from me. It is equally as respectful to let people know how you feel. The truth always surfaces, and even if you don’t like it, most of us appreciate not being surprised. Finally, I believe in being fair. The hard part is understanding equity does not mean everyone is treated the same, and that often initiates deeper conversations of transparency with consistency.

Q: What advice would you give yourself when you were just starting your career?

A: If present me could speak with my younger self, I would tell her, “It will be as it should be.” I remember spending a lot of time worrying about life’s destinations: In what field will I build a career? Will I be successful? Who will I choose to marry? Will I be a mother? Then, looking back, I realize all that worry was unnecessary and did not advance or alter the course of my life. And if anything, it took away from the joys of the journey! Sometimes you make intentional decisions. Other times decisions are made despite your best intentions. But it really is a sum total game, and when all is said and done, it will be as it should be.

Volunteers rake in the trash: News4Jax teams up with Beaches Go Green to host clean-up events

Hundreds of volunteers did more than “talk” some trash to help News4Jax and Beaches Go Green give three spots around the Jacksonville area a clean slate.

Volunteers picked up litter at three sites throughout the community.

“We think it is so great," volunteer Blakely Rowe said. "We think it is important to give back, especially when everybody around here is pretty local, and following the wintertime, it is always such a mess, so we think it is pretty awesome.”

Nease High student Allie Leonard said it was surprising they found as much trash as they did, since it’s the offseason and the beaches aren’t filled with tourists.

“We found quite a bit,” she added.

Here’s a breakdown at what was found at the sites:

Atlantic Beach: 319 volunteers; 11,247 cigarette butts; 19 bags of trash; six bags of recycling.

Jacksonville: 459 volunteers; 9,562 cigarette butts; 16 bags of trash; four bags of recycling with two garden snakes (released).

Ponte Vedra Beach: 300 volunteers; 1,350 cigarette butts; 25 bags of trash; four tires; car parts; construction debris.

By county, Duval County had 778 volunteers -- and 20,809 cigarette butts, 35 bags of trash and 10 bags of recycling were collected and cleaned up.

In St. Johns County, there were 300 volunteers, and 1,350 cigarette butts and 25 bags of trash were collected.

Some of what the volunteers found was surprising, too. The group at the Mickler Beach Access Point in Ponte Vedra Beach hauled in a car bumper. Check it out here.

And another interesting find among the hundreds of pounds of litter, plastic and cigarette butts? A set of false teeth.

Groups met at the Atlantic Boulevard Beach Access in Atlantic Beach and at Oceanfront Park in Jacksonville Beach. Despite the chilly morning, volunteers rolled up their sleeves (so to speak) and pitched in. Some even earned prizes for various milestones (like the most cigarette butts collected).

“We’re making a difference together and having fun, and it’s simple,” said volunteer Samantha Ryan with Sisters of the Sea.

While the cleanup was fun for those involved, Beaches Go Green founder Anne Marie Moquin pointed out that the need to keep things clean is very serious.

“A lot of the litter in this area ends up washing and blowing into sensitive marine environments like the ocean and waterways, so it is super important to keep our town center, parking lots and sidewalks clean as much as it is the beach,” Moquin said.

Like the recent food drive, this cleanup is part of News4Jax's Positively Jax campaign, an ongoing effort to make Jacksonville a better place to live through random acts of kindness and other good deeds.

Sign up and join the Positively Jax movement on PositivelyJax.com.

There you can share your good deeds, learn more about what News4JAX and others are doing to help the community and also receive updates about upcoming opportunities to make a difference.

WJXT, WCWJ present special programming in tribute to Black History Month

WJXT and WCWJ will once again be honoring the history, events and people during 2021 Black History Month.

On WJXT, "River City Live" host Eden Kendall sits down with News4JAX anchors and reporters who have made the decision to wear their hair in a natural state. The series is called "Passing the Crown," and airs at 5 p.m. Feb. 8, at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 9, and at 11 a.m. Feb. 10. These eye-opening stories explain how The Crown Act or Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair work to make it illegal to discriminate against someone over the way he or she wears the hair.

CW17 presents programs and special stories that will air in February. The programs praise the achievements of Black Americans today as well as those who fought for our country.

The events kick off at 4 p.m. Feb. 7 on CW17, with "What About Me," featuring the voices and perspectives of African-American men beyond the limiting image of only being entertainers, athletes and criminals.

Then at 5 p.m. is "Mentoring Kings." This special celebrates the national mentoring programs of celebrities, business entrepreneurs, educators and community leaders.

Jacksonville has a rich history in African-American culture. Each day in February, WCWJ will air a short vignette, profiling a moment or person from Jacksonville that played a significant role in African-American history.

"Willie" at 4 p.m. Feb. 14, tells the story of Willie O’Ree, who changed the game of hockey forever in 1958 by becoming the first Black player to skate in a National Hockey League. It is a testament to the resilience and determination of a man empowered by his family’s legacy, and the people he inspired along the way.

Continuing on Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. is "Believe: The Barack Obama Story." This special reveals the extraordinary life story of President Barack Obama, beginning with his parents and culturally diverse childhood in Hawaii, and continuing with his years as a community organizer in Chicago and milestone achievements during his political career. It chronicles his historic campaign to become the 44th president of the United States.

The month caps off at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21 and Feb. 28 on CW17 with the documentary, "For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots." This two-part special salutes the contributions of African-American men and women throughout our nation’s history. Hosted by Halle Barry, the documentary features the voices of Morgan Freeman, Lou Gossett Jr. and more.

'Kicks for the Kids' shoe giveaway helps families put best foot forward

Hundreds of kids now get the chance to take a step in the right direction heading into the new school year thanks to Sunday’s “Kicks for Kids” event.  The charitable event held at the Regency Square Mall was a success thanks to the folks who donated more the 1,500 pairs of shoes.

A grandmother of seven, Loretta Grant was first in line. Her family needed help now, more than ever. The father of her grandchildren suddenly passed away in his sleep.

“He died on Christmas night,” Grant said. “He went to sleep on Christmas night and we woke up the next morning and he was dead. He died in his sleep, 34 years old, and he left behind seven kids.”

Jayden Stratton was also in line with his family. Jayden’s going into the fifth grad and was really hoping for “Jordan's, or Nikes.”  Jayden said he was just excited to get out here and meet new friends. He said he can’t wait to go back to school because he has goals to accomplish.  “Good grades mostly,” Jayden said. “Good attendance and trying to be the best I can be.”

Kara Strayer said she’s grateful her son, who’s going into the third grade, was able to get a pair of shoes for the new year.  “He's an awesome, outgoing kid and he loves to play and ride his bike outside, so he definitely goes through his fair pair of shoes,” Strayer said.