UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- WPSU-FM’s Kate Lao Shaffner was honored with a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). The Murrow award is the first for WPSU-FM since 2009.
Lao Shaffner’s award-winning story “Leasing Water Systems” garnered recognition in the breaking news category for small market radio within Region 11, which consists of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The WPSU-FM Keystone Crossroads reporter examined the financial plight of several Pennsylvania cities and how municipalities are considering either leasing or selling assets as a way to help balance cash-strapped budgets.
The Keystone Crossroads: Rust or Revival initiative explores the urgent challenges pressing upon Pennsylvania cities and is a collaboration between WPSU-FM and three additional public radio stations — WHYY-FM (Philadelphia), WITF-FM (Harrisburg) and WESA-FM (Pittsburgh). The story can be heard here.
The RTDNA has honored outstanding achievements in electronic journalism — produced by radio, television and online news organizations — with Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. As a winner of a regional award, Lao Shaffner advances to the national competition, which will be judged in May. National awards will be presented at the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala at Gotham Hall in New York City on Oct. 12.