WHRO Public Media has been honored to win several awards recently. From our new weekly Facebook series, Martha Reads, to several advertising awards for promotions, we are excited to celebrate these accomplishments. 

“WHRO Public Media is committed to delivering outstanding content that enriches and educates our community. We are honored by the these awards and nominations,” stated Bert Schmidt, president and CEO of WHRO.

Below is a list of our 2021 Awards.

The Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters

Photo by Gina Gambony/WHRO

A group from the Tidewater chapter of the National Federation of the Blind gathers under an umbrella at Colley Cafe. October is "Meet the Blind" month.

First Place, Best Light Feature:

Gina Gambony, WHRO-FM, Norfolk, VA 

Reporter's Notebook: A Walk on White Cane Day

WHRV's Gina Gambony fortuitously participated in "Meet the Blind" month. She has a Belgian waffle to thank.


Photo By Jackson Robles

Three police vehicles, including an MRAP at the top left, support a line of police. Robles took this photo from a nearby parking garage during the May 31 BlackLivesMatter 757 demonstration at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

Second Place, Best Investigative Reporting:

Paul Bibeau, WHRO-FM, Norfolk, VA

Five Hampton Roads Police Departments Have Military Vehicles. Here's How They Used Them.

How police departments in Hampton Roads justified their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles is not how they actually used them - when they used them at all.




Virginia Association of Broadcasters (VAB) Awards

First Place

Jazmine Smith and Thomas Fields
Photo courtesy of Jazmine Smith

Thomas Fields was 32 when he died from COVID-19. He was engaged to be married to Jazmine Smith.

Outstanding News Series:

"Detroit's COVID-19 Outbreak Hits Home for Virginia Beach Woman"

Headlines have detailed the celebrities who have died from COVID-19. But there are names you’ve never heard of who had more impact on people here in Hampton Roads.

Click Here to Play Audio



Ryan Speedo Green

Best human interest series:

Curate 757: Ryan Speedo Green

A native of Suffolk Virginia, Ryan Speedo Green experienced a difficult childhood that ultimately led to juvenile detention at the age of 12. Green turned his life around with the help of dedicated teachers and learned to sing opera. At only 33, still young for a baritone, Green has performed on stages around the world, including the New York Metropolitan Opera.

Watch the episode. 




Challenge to Change1200

Best station promotion/contest:

Challenge to Change

2020 has been a challenge but we always look for a bright side. WHRO is proud to have brought more educational resources to more Virginians than ever before!




Work Like A Girl

Best public service/community event:

Work Like A Girl

Work Like A Girl is part of WHRO’s American Graduate: Getting to Work national initiative, funded by Corporation for Public Broadcasting, to create awareness of the great opportunities for young women in skilled careers.




Work Like A Girl

Best radio personality or team:

HearSay with Cathy Lewis Final Show

On the last episode of HearSay past producers Danny Epperson, Tayla Burney, Hannah Martin, Paul Bibeau and Jonah Grinkewitz discussed their time working on the show.

Listen to the episode. 




Cathy Lewis

2020 award for creative excellence

VA TV Classroom

WHRO Public Media worked closely with the Virginia Department of Education to create the second season to provide SOL-aligned instruction to students in grades K-7 who are unable to access other distance learning options due to a lack of high-speed internet. Public media stations across the Commonwealth aired VA TV Classroom during the pandemic while schools were closed.




MRAP and police in Virginia Beach
Photo By Jackson Robles.

Best in investigative reporting:

"Five Hampton Roads Police Departments Have Military Vehicles. Here's How They Used Them."

Reporter Paul Bibeau explores the use of military vehicles by local police departments.

Click Here to Play Audio




Second Place

30 years

Best radio personality or team:

Hosts Share Memories From 30 Years of Public Radio

As we celebrated the 30th anniversary of WHRO and WHRV FM,  WHRV's Gina Gambony interviewed our "30-year heroes," those at the station who have been with us for 30 years or more.

See more of this campaign. 




Ms. Martha Reads

Best public service/community event:

Ms. Martha Reads

A weekly Facebook series featuring stories written by local children. Each week hear Ms. Martha read a new story, Fridays at 10 a.m.




Generic Theater

Best human interest series:

Arts Undercurrent: Generic Theater and A Chorus Line

Generic Theater was planning on presenting the musical A Chorus Line this summer. When the pandemic hit, every part of their creative process, from auditions, to dance rehearsals, to the actual show, went virtual. Rebecca spoke with General Producer Shon Stacy about directing, rehearsing, and filming in the age of COVID-19.

Click Here to Play Audio



Public Media Award

Category: COVID-19 Marketing/Communications

martha reads updated

Each week on Facebook, Martha reads a new story aloud. Rather than reading the books that children may already know, or could possibly find on their shelves at home, Martha reads stories that were submitted in previous years to the WHRO annual Young Storytellers Contest. These short tales are stories written by children, for children, with accompanying illustrations.




Addy Awards

Gold

spelling bee2021 square

Spelling Bee

Category: Art Direction—Campaign

This annual event helps students improve their spelling, increase their vocabulary, learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives.





Silver

wlag logo

Work Like A Girl

Category: Television Self-Promotion-Local Campaign

Work Like A Girl is part of WHRO’s American Graduate: Getting to Work national initiative, funded by Corporation for Public Broadcasting, to create awareness of the great opportunities for young women in skilled careers.


rise mediaplayer square

RISE

Category: Television-Local Campaign

RISE is an economic development organization with a mission to accelerate innovation around solutions to coastal communities’ resilience challenges. The TV campaign promoted a challenge program covering Hampton Roads designed to support founders of startups and small businesses who are solving climate-change related problems in coastal cities.


ootb new square

Out of the Box

Category: Art Direction—Campaign

Paul Shugrue opens the box on great new music that's rarely played on the radio anywhere else. Hear the show on WHRV FM Monday-Thursday, 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, 1-5 p.m.

Or check out the archives online.




Telly Awards

telly logo social

Gold

Curate 757: Mascon Leather

Category: Online General - Cultural

Artie Shell worked in the banking industry for many years. After discovering his passion and talent for leather crafting, he left the corporate world to pursue his dream. Now owner of the successful brand Mascon Leather, his leather goods have been sold on every continent in the world.

Watch the episode. 


Telly silver

Silver

Curate 757: Art In The Time Of COVID
Category: Online Craft - Editing

Curate 757: Danny Doughty
Category: Online General - Cultural

VA MOCA: Close Looks and Make Breaks
Local TV Campaign - Campaign Not-for-Profit

African American History Course Videos
Online Series - Series: Education & Discovery

Curate 757: Healing Ink
Online General - Cultural


Telly bronze

Bronze

Curate: Season 5, Episode 1
Television General - Cultural

Curate 757
Online Series - Series: Documentary

RISE Resilience Campaign / Rise Resilience Innovations
Online Commercials Campaign - Campaign Not-for-Profit

Good Bugs
Social Video Craft - Use of 2D Animation

Vision Zero, City of Norfolk, VA
Social Video - General Public Service & Activism

See the awards WHRO won in 2020.