WKU News

Jerry Bransford stands next to a monument honoring five generations of Bransford cave guides at Mammoth Cave National Park. A WKU Public Radio report on the legacy of Black cave guides at the park is a finalist in the 56^th Public Media Awards. (Photo by Alana Watson)

WKU Public Media is proud to announce that four entries submitted by staff and students have been chosen as finalists in three different categories for the 56th Public Media Awards, given by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA).

The PMAs are a highly competitive national competition featuring some of the best work produced by public television and radio stations. The awards honor excellence in local programming, education, marketing and community engagement.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our team for achieving national recognition once again. These awards not only affirm the exceptional creativity and work ethic that define our efforts but also underscore the vital role we play in shaping the careers of WKU students,” said Jordan Basham, Interim Executive Director. “By working side by side with our staff, these students gain invaluable experience across every aspect of our operation, positioning them for future success.”

WKU PBS is a finalist in the television category Performing Arts for an episode of Lost River Sessions featuring the Appalachian Bluegrass/Venezuelan Folk fusion group Larry & Joe. Lost River Sessions spotlights regional musical artists performing live in local venues. The nomination honors WKU PBS Producer/Director Elijah Smith; Audio Producer Jeff Petrocelli; and Western Kentucky University students Shea Goebel, Tyler Huisman, Demi Lemons, Ben Taylor, Nick Teller, and Quillan Wilson, for their roles as camera operators.

“To have Lost River Sessions be named as a finalist for the Public Media Awards again is a testament to the dedicated efforts of our staff and students to strive for excellence that not only receives national attention, but serves our local community as well,” said Josh Niedwick, Production Manager for WKU PBS.

WKU Public Radio reporter Lisa Autry is a finalist in the radio category of Local Storytelling for her piece profiling the changes underway in the small Hardin County town of Glendale as it becomes home to a massive electric vehicle battery manufacturing project.

Reporter Alana Watson and student news producer Kennedy Gayheart received a nomination in the radio category Society & Culture for their exploration of the legacy of Black cave guides at Mammoth Cave National Park, with one local family contributing five generations dating back to the 1830s. 

Reporter Jacob Martin was also named a finalist in the Society & Culture category for his story about a Bowling Green-based support group for the nation’s LGBTQ+ semi-truck drivers. 

“The three radio nominations are perfect examples of the kind of local journalism that our news team contributes to our communities,” said News Director Kevin Willis. “Being recognized by our public media peers for those efforts is extremely gratifying.” 

Award winners will be announced on September 15, 2024, at the NETA Conference and CPB Public Media Thought Leader Forum in Pittsburgh, PA.      

WKU Public Media, provides public service broadcasting, professional training for students, creates and distributes media content that serves WKU and more than a million citizens of Kentucky, southern Indiana, and northern Tennessee. For more information, visit https://www.wku.edu/public-media/ 

Contact: Jordan Basham, jordan.basham@wku.edu 

-WKU-

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.