WHRO Public Media took home four Public Media Awards at the recent National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) Conference—including the industry's top award in education!

The Public Media Awards honor their member's work in the highest caliber community engagement, content, education, and marketing and communications. A mosaic of relevant content that reflects both creativity and diversity that paint rich stories of truth and consequence. Piece-by-piece and member-by-member, public media stations come together as choreographers of the public good, to spark more imagination and inspiration than they ever could have alone.

“Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees and award winners,” said NETA President Eric Hyyppa. “This year the entries were exemplary, showcasing the best of the best from across the public media system.”

The winners were announced at the 55th Annual Public Media Awards Gala on September 10 at the NETA Conference and CPB Public Media Thought Leader Forum. With the exception of the overall excellence categories, stations compete within their divisions based on their station size. Awards are judged by a group of expert panelists from within the public media system, as well as industry professionals working outside of public media.

Public Media Awards

WHRO Education

Excellence in Education
Making a Digital Difference

The WHRO Education Team provides high-quality content, services, and resources for various audiences. In the period spanning from July 2022 to June 2023, the team accomplished an extraordinary feat by collectively developing over 2,500 learning objects, crafting four comprehensive high school online courses, building one enriching middle school online course, and delivering a professional development course that empowers educators. But that's not all; their innovation extended beyond traditional formats as they also developed learning interactivities, engaging videos, eMediaVA (WHRO's statewide digital repository) collections, and even two captivating online games.

Working Virginia Series

Radio – Local Storytelling
Working Virginia Series

“Working Virginia” probes how Virginians feel about their jobs. From day laborers to federal agents and CEOs, they all see work as a reflection of their values and sense of self. The series – an idea borrowed from the legendary journalist Studs Terkel - collects the stories and images of Virginians across the commonwealth and through many communities.

strawberry fields beer

Promotion
Strawberry Fields Gose Beer Branding

As part of the Time Machine Radio launch, Smartmouth Brewery in Norfolk created a limited-release beer for WHRO. Everyone loved the Strawberry Fields Gose. 20,000 beer cans were distributed regionally at local events/Harris Teeter, and the opening party was one of Smartmouth Brewing's biggest nights with Strawberry Fields being the most poured beer with 2500 pours.

Music Library Giveaway1200

Special Events
WHRO's Great Music Library Giveaway - 2023

Hundreds of people showed up to search through the thousands of CDs and LPs looking for treasures at WHRO's Great Music Library Giveaway. Among the LPs were classic recordings, some very rare and valuable, especially those featuring great opera singers of the past. Music fans of all genres searched for their favorite jazz, rock, acoustic, bluegrass and classical artists. Within 2 days, registrations had reached the attendee cap of 1,000.

See all of WHRO's awards at whro.org/awards.