The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has awarded Valley Public Radio with the 2020Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Writing. The honor comes specifically for a piece by Kerry Klein which recountsthe real-life local story of the so-called “Green Book”- a guide which helped African-American travelers find safe places to eat and stay during the middle of the 20th century. It is the second year in a row that Valley Public Radio has received Regional Murrow Award honors. The station entry, which was among small market radio stations in California, Hawaii and Nevada, now advances to the national Murrow Award competition.
Valley Public Radio News Director Alice Daniel says the honor is well deserved. “I’m beyond thrilled that reporter Kerry Klein has received another Edward R. Murrow regional award. Kerry is an exceptional journalist and Valley Public Radio is extremely fortunate to have her on the news team. Thanks to her curiosity and attention to detail, Kerry consistently excels at her job. She always sets a high standard for reporting her stories and she puts in the hard, sometimes relentless, work to craft a well-told story.”
In the report honored by the RTDNA, Klein interviews longtime Fresno African-American residents and shares their stories of dealing with segregation and “sundown” towns in the valley, as well as their recollections of the local restaurants, hotels and shops that were listed in the historic “Green Book.” She creatively weaves their voices in with historical audio, and clips from academic experts studying the topic.
Valley Public Radio’s President and General Manager Joe Moore said the honor is significant on several levels. “First, it recognizes an excellent piece of reporting by Kerry Klein. But beyond that, this is the second time Kerry’s work has been recognized with a Regional Murrow Award in the last two years. Last year, her report about a previously undisclosed ICE hold room facility in downtown Fresno won the Regional Murrow Award for Investigative reporting. To win two years in a row, that’s a powerful statement about the quality of the local journalism produced by our team. The entire news department should be incredibly proud of this honor," said Moore.
About the RTDNA:
The RTDNA is the world's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to broadcast and digital journalism. Founded as a grassroots organization in 1946, RTDNA’s mission is to promote and protect responsible journalism. RTDNA defends the First Amendment rights of electronic journalists throughout the country, honors outstanding work in the profession through the Edward R. Murrow Awards and provides members with training to encourage ethical standards, newsroom leadership and industry innovation
In the report honored by the RTDNA, Klein interviews longtime Fresno African-American residents and shares their stories of dealing with segregation and “sundown” towns in the valley, as well as recollections of the local restaurants, hotels and shops that were listed in the historic “Green Book.” She creatively weaves their voices in with historical audio, and clips from academic experts studying the topic.
