APR receives National Edward R. Murrow Award

APR—The Alabama Public Radio news team was honored with the National Edward R. Murrow Award for overall excellence. Elizabeth Brock, director of the Center for Public Television and Radio and APR news director Pat Duggins accepted the honor on behalf of the news department at the Radio Television Digital News Association banquet in New York City. APR was recognized for its coverage during 2011, including the department’s reporting on the Tuscaloosa tornado, Ryan Vasquez’s coverage of the immigration law controversy, Maggie Martin’s feature on a Civil War fort disappearing into the Gulf due to beach erosion, Stan Ingold’s story on the “coondog cemetery” and Duggins’ five part in-depth series “Oil and Water” which investigated the long term impact of the Gulf oil Spill. "I'm jealous," said presenter and ABC-TV "Good Morning America" host Josh Elliot of APR’s coverage after an audio montage was played for the audience. RTDNA awards just seven national Murrows for overall excellence per year. APR was honored alongside NBC network television, CBS network radio, and the Associated Press. APR was also nominated for national Murrows for best series, best continuing coverage, best feature, and best writing.