PRNDI 2017: “YOU HAVE STOOD YOUR GROUND FOR FACT-BASED NEWS AND THE PUBLIC IS STANDING WITH YOU”

Folks attending the Public Radio News Directors (PRNDI) annual conference last week in Miami took a victory lap and then got back to work.   

News Directors and journalists from around the nation gathered to sharpen their skills, honor excellence and learn the latest developments from NPR.

Michael Oreskes, NPR’s Senior VP of News. Set the pace with his remarks on June 23^rd:

Michael Oreskes, NPR’s Senior VP of News

Our biggest reward has been the audiences flocking to us. You all know the numbers. It is not just that public radio is up double digits since 2015. More than four million new listeners. 

Our audiences are growing far faster than commercial news competitors.

We are delivering journalism that audiences want and that society needs. Reliable, verified facts. Civil, informed conversations. Deeper thinking and broader perspectives.

You have stood your ground for fact-based news and the public is standing with you. Congratulations!

Oreskes’ complete remarks can be seen here. 

THE YEAR OF THE EDITOR

Phyllis Fletcher

The theme of the 2017 PRNDI Conference was The Year of the Editor. The organization chose one of their own as Editor of the Year: Phyllis Fletcher, Managing Editor of the Northwest News Network, a regional public media news collaboration serving stations in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

PRNDI President Terry Gildea, said when presenting the award to Fletcher:

“Phyllis Fletcher is one of the finest editors working in public media today. 

Her positive influence on the many reporters she has worked with is evident in the work they have produced.”

Andrea de Leon

PRNDI’s 2017 Leo C. Lee Award, the organization’s “life time achievement award,” was presented to Andrea de Leon, NPR's Northeastern Bureau Chief. 

De Leon was also one of the founders of PRNDI.

Leo Lee was an innovative Bay Area journalist who founded Western Public Radio, a public radio training program that was a forerunner of PRNDI.

Brian Bull

A new annual honor, the PRNDI/NEFE Excellence in Consumer Financial Reporting Award, was given to Brian Bull from KLCC, Eugene. 

Bull won the award for his reporting about a couple moving from the rural east coast to Oregon and the difficulties they encountered trying to buy a home in the expensive Oregon housing market.

NASHVILLE PUBLIC RADIO LEADS PRNDI’S REPORTING AWARDS

Nashville Public Radio won 11 PRNDI awards (based on my very unofficial count), the most for any single newsroom. Other multiple award winners included WBGO, Newark (9), WFUV, New York (8), KQED, San Francisco and New Hampshire Public Radio (7), and KNKX, Seattle/Tacoma and WLRN, Miami (6).

You can see a complete list of the winners here.