Ferndale CA – In continuing acknowledgment of its increasing emphasis on public affairs, KHUM has been named the national winner of the Edward R. Murrow award for best radio station news documentary from the Radio-Television News Director Association (RTNDA).

The award was given to KHUM 104.7/104.3 FM for its special two-part series, "Picking Up: Meth on the North Coast," a look at the methamphetamine problem in Humboldt County. The documentary was broadcast last year on KHUM, as well as on co-owned stations KSLG 94.1 FM and KWPT "The Point"100.3/102.7 FM last June.

The station was awarded the western regional award in March, but as KHUM general manager Patrick Cleary noted, "To win the regional award was a great honor, and to win the national award is simply amazing."

KHUM Program Director Mike Dronkers produced the documentary and provided audio footage. Additional reporting came from KSLG morning personality and Production Director John Matthews.

Cleary said, "I am incredibly proud of Mike Dronkers and John Matthews, who are both extremely talented journalists. For our very first radio documentary to receive such a prestigious award is a reflection of the dedication to our community that they and the rest of our staff exhibit constantly."

"Not bad for a station without a formal news department," Mike Dronkers said, referring to KHUM's unique style of mixing community news with music. "It's a good award for the station, but if you heard the show, you know the real impact came from the stories. We just arranged the edits."

KHUM's involvement with the methamphetamine project was initiated by local PBS affiliate KEET-TV, who invited KHUM to participate in an application to the Benton Foundation for a Sound Partners grant. The resulting combined TV and radio documentaries have brought increased awareness of the problem and the difficulties in coming up with a solution.

KHUM's public affairs programming includes The Humboldt Review, a locally-oriented news show broadcast on Thursdays at 6pm and hosted by North Coast Journal editor Hank Sims.

In addition to the Murrow award, KHUM has received the 2006 National Association of Broadcasters Service to America award and was a 2007 finalist for the Radio Mercury award.

The Edward R. Murrow Awards are named for the fabled journalist and television pioneer. RTNDA is the world's biggest professional organization that solely serves the electronic news profession. They have been recognizing excellence in electronic journalism with the presentation of the Murrow Award since 1971.

The complete list of Edward R Murrow award-winners can be found at http://www.rtnda.org/asfi/awards/murrowshow2007.shtml. The national award will be presented to KHUM at the awards ceremony in New York City in October.

You can listen to Part 1 of the documentary by clicking here. Part 2 is here.

The National Association of Broadcasters has named KHUM its Service To America-Friends In Need Award winner for community service during the 2005/2006 winter storms. [more]