Public Radio Scores Well in National Awards

Sandy Hausman

Roanoke-based WVTF Public Radio continues to dominate the market in quality radio reporting with the release of the winners of the Sigma Delta Chi Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. Reporter Sandy Hausman, who is based in Charlottesville, had an impressive run this year, as is usual with her.

WVTF and Radio IQ received the national awards for the documentary “Fear of Fracking.” Hausman traveled to southwest Virginia for a first-hand look at how the controversial gas drilling technology works.

Here is the press release: 

WVTF’s entry was one of 1,700 received by the society from newspapers, radio and television stations, networks, and websites. The awards recognize outstanding work published or broadcast in 2011.
Dating back to 1932, the awards originally honored six individuals for contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939, when the society granted the first Distinguished Service Awards. The honors later became the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.

WVTF and RADIO IQ also won four first place awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association's 2012 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards program.

The winning entries and categories are:


 *   Audio News Documentary: “Fear of Fracking” by Sandy Hausman;
 *   Audio Investigative Reporting: “Locksmith Scam” by Hausman;
 *   Audio Feature Reporting: “Deathly Lyrics” by Connie Stevens; and
 *   Audio Writing: “Seeing Trees” also by Hausman.

The regional awards program covers media outlets in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Delaware. Regional winners automatically become eligible for the national awards competition.