WSIU Awards
WSIU's efforts to improve the quality of life in our region have garnered dozens of local, regional, and national awards, which in turn have raised awareness about the transformative power of public broadcasting.
Although we are proud of our accomplishments, none of the awards listed here would have been possible without the support of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the College of Arts & Media; our national, state, and regional partners in public broadcasting, government, education, and the social services; the Friends of WSIU advisory board; and our donors, staff, students, and community volunteers. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of others!
2015
Station of the Year: 2015 Illinois Associated Press (AP) Broadcasters Association
1st Place – Best Newscast: 2015 Illinois Associated Press (AP) Broadcasters Association
2014
1st Place – Downstate TV, Best Light Feature: Benjy Jeffords; 2014 Illinois Associated Press (AP) Broadcasting Contest for Mobile Canning.
2nd Place – Downstate Radio, Best Newswriter: Benjy Jeffords; 2014 Illinois Associated Press (AP) Broadcasting Contest for WSIU Radio News Features.
2nd Place – Best Videography: Benjy Jeffords; 2014 Illinois Associated Press (AP) Broadcasting Contest for the Scratch Brewing Company feature.
2013
1st Place – Best Radio Newscast – Downstate, Associated Press: WSIU Public Radio
1st Place – Best Collegiate Television Magazine News Show in the Nation, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation College Television Awards: alt.news 26:46
1st Place – Outstanding TV Newscast, Student Illinois News Broadcasters Association: River Region Evening Edition
1st Place – Outstanding TV Sports Program, Student Illinois News Broadcasters Association: Saluki SportsView
1st Place –TV Sports Reporting, Student Illinois News Broadcasters Association: Jessica Anderson
2nd Place – Radio Sports Program, Student Illinois News Broadcasters Association: Sunrise Sports
2nd Place – Radio Sports Play-By-Play, Student Illinois News Broadcasters Association: Danny Valle
2012
Gold Medal – The Tragedy of Bataan, Audio Series, 2012 New York Festival International Radio Program and Promotions Awards. Produced by Jan Thompson, Associate Professor of Radio-Television, SIU Carbondale. Presented by WSIU.
Best of Festival – Faculty Audio division, Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts: The Tragedy of Bataan radio series. Produced by Jan Thompson, Associate Professor of Radio-Television, SIU Carbondale. Presented by WSIU.
Award of Excellence – Short Form category, Faculty Competition, Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts: The Tragedy of Bataan TV documentary. Produced by Jan Thompson, Associate Professor of Radio-Television, SIU Carbondale. Presented by WSIU.
Best of Competition – Interactive Media, Faculty Competition, Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts: The Tragedy of Bataan TV documentary. Produced by Jan Thompson, Associate Professor of Radio-Television, SIU Carbondale. Presented by WSIU.
2nd Place – Outstanding Television Newscast, Student Illinois News Broadcasters Association: River Region Evening Edition
2nd Place – Outstanding Television News Reporting, Student Illinois News Broadcasters Association: Chris Slaby, River Region Evening Edition
3rd Place – Outstanding Videography, Student Illinois News Broadcasters Association: Chris Slaby, River Region Evening Edition
2011
Newsfinder of the Year-Illinois, Associated Press: Jennifer Fuller
1st Place – Best Downstate Radio News Reporter, Associated Press: Jennifer Fuller
1st Place – Best TV Sports Story in the Nation, Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts: Nicholas Gresham, “All-Access: Saluki Practice,” River Region Evening Edition
1st Place – Best Collegiate Television Magazine News Show in the Nation, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation College Television Awards: alt.news 26:46
Gold Plaque – Best Student Produced Television Program, Hugo Television Awards: alt.news 26:46
2010
1st place – Outstanding Soft Radio Program, Illinois News Broadcasters Association Student Awards: Sunrise Sports, WSIU Radio
National My Source Education Innovation Award: WSIU for creative implementation of PBS TeacherLine and early childhood educational initiatives at the local level.
2009
National My Source Community Impact Award for Education: WSIU for "Biz Kid$ Bash" and "Raising Readers in Southern Illinois" (Jak Tichenor, producer)
My Source Startup and Community Impact Grant: WSIU for creation of new viewer/listener testimonials in support of public broadcasting
2nd Place – Outstanding Soft Radio Program, Illinois News Broadcasters Association Student Awards: Sunrise Sports, WSIU Radio
2nd Place – Best Newscast in the State, Associated Press Awards: WSIU Radio News
2nd Place – Best Reporter in the State, Associated Press Awards: Jennifer Fuller, WSIU Radio, for stories on medicine distribution, animal care, and teen drivers
2008
Award of Excellence, The Videographers Awards: WSIU Public Television for the SIU Law School Recruitment DVD (David Kidd, producer)
Friend of Young Children Award, Southern Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (SIAEYC): Candis Isberner and WSIU TV
Innovation Award, Southern Illinois Workforce Investment Board: WSIU TV and the Southern Illinois Reentry Group (SIRG), for the founding of SIRG and their efforts to provide effective services to ex-offenders.
1st place – Outstanding Soft Radio Program, Illinois News Broadcasters Association Student Awards: Sunrise Sports, WSIU Radio
2007
Community Grant Award, Wal-Mart Corporation: Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS) and WSIU Radio
2006
1st Place – Outreach, National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) Awards: WSIU for SciGirls, best small-market outreach campaign based on a national project (Beth Spezia, Monica Tichenor)
National Community Partnership Award, National Center for Outreach (NCO): WSIU and the Quad Counties Coalition
Public Citizen of the Year Award, National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Southern Illinois Chapter: WSIU TV producer David Kidd for exemplary contributions to the community and social work profession
2nd Place – Best Series/Documentary, Associated Press Award: Jennifer Fuller, WSIU Radio, for "Housing Authority Hubbub" (Williamson County Housing Authority); 2nd Place – Best Light Feature, Jennifer Fuller for "Champions League" (special needs children in Carterville)
2005
Public Service Award, Illinois Archeological Society: Artifacts & Heavy Timber: The Reconstruction of Fort Massac (Richard Kuenneke, producer)
2004
1st Place – Local Promotion Campaign (Small Market), National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) Awards: WSIU for The Legend of Charlie Birger (staff/students: Monica Tichenor, Roger Suski, Joshua Gumiela, and Sarah Bradish)
1st Place/Regional Emmy Award – Lighting, National Television Academy Mid-America Chapter: WSIU for The Legend of Charlie Birger (WSIU staff: Mark Wetstein, David Kidd, Roger Suski; students Grant Morrow, Matthew Kras)
Certificate of Excellence – Multimedia, The Illinois State Historical Society: WSIU Public Television for The Legend of Charlie Birger
Telly Award: WSIU Public Television for The Legend of Charlie Birger
Award of Excellence, The Videographer Awards: WSIU Public Television for The Legend of Charlie Birger.
Certificate of Excellence, Jefferson County (Illinois) Chamber of Commerce: WSIU Public Broadcasting
2003
National Advocacy Award, Association of Public Television Stations (APTS): WSIU Public Broadcasting
Friend of 4-H Award: WSIU Public Broadcasting
Franklin County Tourism Bureau Award: WSIU TV for The Legend of Charlie Birger
2001
1st Place – Education/Inservice Staff, National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) Awards: WSIU for "E-Tools Online Staff Development Program"
Certificate of Recognition, The Southern Illinois Festival of Irish Music and Dance: WSIU Radio (Tom Godel)
1999
Media Award, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)/National Association of Social Workers (NASW): WSIU/WUSI-TV
1997
The Learning Station Appreciation Certificate: WSIU-TV
The Charlotte Hill Volunteers in Fund-Raising Award, National Friends of Public Broadcasting: The Friends of WUSI Board
Silver Gavel Award, American Bar Association: WSIU TV and Southern Illinois University Documentary Productions for Mississippi America
1996
PBS Development Award, Special Fundraising Events - $250,000 – 499,999: WSIU
Honorable Mention – 44th Annual Columbus International Film & Video Festival, Film Council of Greater Columbus: WSIU TV for A Date With the Duchess
Honorable Mention – 44th Annual Columbus International Film & Video Festival, Film Council of Greater Columbus: WSIU TV for Save Amtrak
1995
Bronze Award, the Charleston International Film Festival, TV Commercial/PSA: WSIU TV/Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for Pedestrian Safety'
Honorable Mention – Educational Outreach, National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) Awards: WSIU/WUSI-TV/WMEC/WQEC/WSEC-TV/Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the SIU School of Medicine for “Downstate Women's Health Project”
Best Informational Program, Central Education Network (CEN): WSIU TV for Backroads, episode #103
Friend of Children Award, the Southern Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children: WSIU TV
1994
Honorable Mention – 42nd Annual Columbus International Film & Video Festival, Film Council of Greater Columbus: WSIU for Backroads
1993
Honorable Mention – 41st Annual Columbus International Film & Video Festival, Film Council of Greater Columbus: WSIU for Partners in Progress
Honorable Mention – 41st Annual Columbus International Film & Video Festival, Film Council of Greater Columbus: WSIU TV for Backroads, episode #101
Outstanding Service to Community and Country, National Public Service Award, Project Vote Smart: WSIU/WUSI-TV
1992
The Bronze Plaque – 40th Annual Columbus International Film & Video Festival, Film Council of Greater Columbus: WSIU TV for Ready on the Homefront: An Earthquake Preparedness Guide for Households
The Bronze Plaque – 40th Annual Columbus International Film & Video Festival, Film Council of Greater Columbus: WSIU TV for Sexual Harassment on Campus: A Proactive Approach Toward Prevention
Honorable Mention – 40th Annual Columbus International Film & Video Festival, Film Council of Greater Columbus: WSIU for Emphasis: Part 1, Timber and Emphasis: Part 2, Fairview – The Right to 'No'
Honorable Mention – 40th Annual Columbus International Film & Video Festival, Film Council of Greater Columbus: WSIU for Airshow '91
1991
Outstanding Participation in the Associated Press News Report, Associated Press Managers/Editors Association: WSIU FM
1990
Outstanding Participation in the Associated Press News Report, Associated Press Managers/Editors Association: WSIU FM
1989
Stringer of the Year, Illinois Associated Press Broadcasters Association: Jak Tichenor
1988
Cooperation Weekends, Illinois Associated Press Broadcasters Association: WSIU
1982
Outstanding Achievement, Illinois Broadcasters Radio Documentary: WSIU for Rape is a Reality