The Kansas City Press Club announced the winners of the Heart of America Awards at its banquet in Kansas City on Saturday. KBIA was honored with 24 awards, including 9 Gold Awards, 5 Silver Awards, 7 Bronze Awards, and 3 Honorable mention awards.
KBIA won 3 Gold Awards for its in-depth series, “Mizzouat a Crossroads.” In the comments on one of the wins, the judge said, “Context is more than just a snapshot of the week or month or even the semester or year. These journalists have stepped back to show how what we do now has a ripple effect for decades and longer. And why social construction won't change life overnight. Very important work.”
KBIA was also named the radio station of the year, competing with stations of all sizes in the region, including larger stations in Kansas City. The contest honors outstanding journalism published in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. The Kansas City Press Club is the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
Notably, KBIA also won awards in the competitions for online media and television media. Below is the list of winning entries:
Regular Franchise Feature
Gold: “KBIAHealth and Wealth Desk,” Bram Sable-Smith, Rebecca Smith
Investigative Reporting
Gold: “Putting Columbia’s Payphone Mystery to Rest,” Emerald O’Brien
Silver: “Skewed Sampling Persists in St. Louis Lead Contamination Testing,” Riley Beggin
Beat Reporting
Gold: Kris Husted
Silver: Bram Sable-Smith
Bronze: Rebecca Smith
Public Service Project
Gold: “Mizzou at a Crossroads” Ryan Famuliner, Kristofor Husted, Nathan Lawrence, Bram Sable-Smith, Guimel Sibingo, Sara Shahriari, Rebecca Smith
General Reporting
Gold: “Mizzou at a Crossroads” Ryan Famuliner, Kristofor Husted, Nathan Lawrence, Bram Sable-Smith, Guimel Sibingo, Sara Shahriari, Rebecca Smith
Bronze: “How One Missouri Pharmacist Battles Prescription Drug Abuse in His Community,” Bram Sable-Smith
Honorable Mention: “Rural Towns Banking on More than Just Farming to Survive,” Kristofor Husted
Documentary
Gold: “Mizzou at a Crossroads” Ryan Famuliner, Kristofor Husted, Nathan Lawrence, Bram Sable-Smith, Guimel Sibingo, Sara Shahriari, Rebecca Smith
Silver: “Putting Columbia’s Payphone Mystery to Rest,” Emerald O’Brien
Talk Program
Gold: “Intersection,” Sara Shahriari
Bronze: “Paul Pepper,” Paul Pepper, James Mouser, Travis McMillen
Sports Reporting
Silver: “MoberlyMan Takes Special Olympics Coaching Beyond the Court.” Ashley Reese
Honorable Mention: “Saturday Sports: ‘The Legends Series,’” Darren Hellwege
Arts and Entertainment Reporting
Bronze: “Folk Artist Jesse Howard and his Complicated Legacy in Fulton, Missouri,” Elena Rivera
Profile
Bronze: “Folk Artist Jesse Howard and his Complicated Legacy in Fulton, Missouri,” Elena Rivera
Business Reporting
Bronze: “Insurance for Your Insurance? New Plans Offer to Fill the Gaps in High-Deductible Health Coverage,” Bram Sable-Smith
Feature
Bronze: “Your Dilapidated Barn is Super Trendy, Just Ask HGTV,” Kristofor Husted
Honorable Mention: “After 72 Years, Columbia Veteran Reunited with his Plane,” Rebecca Smith
Online
Multi-Media Package
Gold: “An Uncertain Road: Life After Premature Birth,” Rebecca Smith, Nathan Lawrence
Silver: “Putting Columbia’s Payphone Mystery to Rest,” Emerald O’Brien, Nathan Lawrence
Television
Talk Program
Gold: “Paul Pepper,” Paul Pepper, James Mouser, Travis McMillen