WEKU captures national award for news reporting

EKU News

June 16, 2009

Anonymous The Richmond Register Tue Jun 16, 2009, 07:42 AM EDT

WEKU, the public radio service of Eastern Kentucky University, has again received national acclaim for its news reporting.

The station earned second place in the breaking news coverage category for mid-sized public radio news staffs (three to four reporters) from the Public Radio News Directors Inc. The award recognized a segment on an effigy of Barack Obama that was found hanging at the University of Kentucky.

The piece — www.publicbroadcasting.net/weku/news.newsmain/article /0/0/1402734/news/Obama.Effigy.Death.Threat.or.Protest — quoted EKU psychology professor Matthew Winslow and, by way of WUKY Radio, comments from UK President Lee Todd.

“When public radio covers a breaking story like this one, it does something unique,” said WEKU News Director Charles Compton. “It provides background and context so listeners can fully understand events as they unfold. This story did that because it included comments from experts on journalism and race. That’s why it was honored by PRNDI judges.”

The award was the only one for any public radio station in Kentucky.

PRNDI is a professional group of radio news directors dedicated to improving the quality of radio news. The awards were presented at the group’s annual conference in Portland, Ore.

EKU broadcasts classical music and news to more than 50,000 listeners in central and southeastern Kentucky on WEKU (88.9FM in Richmond-Lexington), WEKH (90.9FM in Hazard) and WEKF (88.5FM in Corbin), along with 96.9 in Barbourville and 95.1 in Pikeville.

With studios in the Perkins Building on EKU’s Richmond campus, WEKU airs programs produced by its staff, as well as nationally syndicated shows from National Public Radio, Public Radio International and other producers. Its news department has a long-tradition of covering issues affecting central and southeastern Kentucky, and the team has also garnered recognition from the Associated Press, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the American Psychiatric Association.

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EKU professor authors ‘Great Civil War Stories of Kentucky’
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June 24, 2011
Presidential debate delegation visits EKU
A three-member delegation of the Commission on Presidential Debates visited Eastern Kentucky University on Thursday.
EKU, which submitted a bid earlier this year to host a debate, is one of 12 colleges and universities nationwide competing to host four debates in 2012 — three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. It is expected that the site selections will be announced this fall.

May 27, 2011
EKU co-op program first in state to earn accreditation
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A chance for grads and bands to reunite
Eastern Kentucky University alumni and friends are invited to visit the campus April 29 through May 1 when EKU hosts its annual Alumni Weekend, highlighted this year by performances from former members of bands that played at Speck’s, the legendary nightspot previously in downtown Richmond.
Friday, April 29 will offer an evening of live music from the Speck’s bands, including former members of “The Maroons” and “The Exiles,” from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Perkins Building.The cost of $22 includes beverages, appetizers, the live music and dancing.

April 22, 2011
EKU tuition, meals on the rise, again
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On Monday, the EKU regents voted to take the maximum the council will allow and delegated its academic affairs committee to impose the increase after the council’s Thursday meeting.

April 19, 2011 1 Photo
Spring fling
Morgan Jolly, Miss Kentucky Teen 2011, and an Eastern Kentucky University freshman education major from Versailles, prepares to pop bubbles Monday with Sanjay Blevins, a special education student at Model Laboratory School. Jolly and about 19 others who reside in EKU’s education majors’ Living and Learning Community and 14 Model special-ed students enjoyed an hour of fun at the college students’ invitation. Such events outside of their school setting helps special-needs children developmentally, said Jolly, who planned the event with roommate Amanda Hubler.

April 19, 2011 1 Photo
California Schemin’
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Eastern Kentucky University will host the 9th annual Kentucky Science and Engineering Fair on Saturday at Alumni Coliseum. This is the state fair in which middle school and high school students from throughout the Commonwealth will be participating.
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The high school students who are selected as the Best of Fair will be a member of Team Kentucky that will represent the state at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May.
The public can view the student’s work from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday inside Alumni Coliseum on EKU’s campus. The awards ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in Brock Auditorium in the Coates Building.

April 1, 2011
‘Brain Rules’ author to speak at EKU
John Medina, author of the New York Times bestseller “Brain Rules,” will present a public lecture Tuesday, March 29 at Eastern Kentucky University.
His talk, “Brain Rules for Teaching,” will begin at 6 p.m. in Walnut Hall of the Keen Johnson Building. There will be a question-and-answer period following the session.

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Environmental ‘Hero’ to speak at EKU
Graciela Chichilnisky, recognized by Time Magazine in 2009 as one of the “Heroes of the Environment,” will speak at Eastern Kentucky University Thursday, March 31.
Her presentation titled “Avoiding Extinction” will begin at 7:30 p.m. in O’Donnell Hall of the Student Success Building. It is part of the University’s year-long Chautauqua lecture series and serves as the sixth-annual Distinguished Lecture in International Studies and keynote address for Women’s History Month. The event is free and open to the public.

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