(NEWARK, NJ) -- On Saturday, November 12, 2022, at a ceremony held in Princeton, WBGO was presented with eight Excellence in Journalism Awards from the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists (NJ-SPJ). Among the programs honored were “The Black Church: WBGO Panel Discussion,” WBGO Journal, and SportsJam.
The contest, which is judged by a panel from out-of-state, received more than 160 entries. “The goal for this contest is to highlight the best in journalism within New Jersey, and the best journalism about the Garden State,” said P. Kenneth Burns, NJ-SPJ president and co-chair of this year’s contest. “I am proud that our contest highlighted great journalists and provided a platform for outlets to compete against each other in a professional, friendly competition.”
For a complete list of the winners, visit NJ-SPJ’s website.
WBGO’s News and Sports Director Doug Doyle was on hand to accept the awards in seven categories, including Best Podcast, Best Arts and Entertainment Coverage, Best Public Affairs Program, Best Sports Feature, Best Breaking News Coverage and others. "We are thrilled our special ‘The Black Church’ panel discussion was recognized by the NJ-SPJ,” said Doyle. “It was an amazing grant-funded show that featured a terrific discussion about the connection between church and music. The first-place awards for the WBGO Journal and SportsJam are also extremely satisfying because of the continuing commitment to excellence with those shows."
WBGO News has won multiple NJSPJ, PMJA and NYABJ Awards over the past three years, adding to their long history of award winning journalism.
Here is the complete list of the awards WBGO received from this year's NJ-SPJ ceremony:
First Place Awards
Best Arts and Entertainment Coverage - First Place - WBGO
"The Black Church: WBGO Panel Discussion" - Host Doug Doyle
Best Public Affairs Program (TV/Radio) - First Place - WBGO
"WBGO Journal" - Reporters Doug Doyle, Alexandra Hill, Joe Hernandez and Harlan Jacobson
Best Podcast - First Place - WBGO
"SportsJam with Doug Doyle" - Host and Producer Doug Doyle
Best Sports Feature - First Place - WBGO
"Ken Burns Documentary Muhammad Ali" - Reporter Doug Doyle
Second Place Awards
Best Arts and Entertainment Coverage - Second Place - WBGO
Best Breaking News Coverage - Second Place - WBGO
"Jazz Legend Chick Corea Dies" - Reporters Doug Doyle and Nate Chinen
Best COVID Coverage - Second Place - WBGO
"Newark to Create Housing Out of Shipping Containers amid Pandemic" - Reporter Alexandra Hill
Best Continuing Coverage - Second Place - WBGO
"Jack Ciattarelli nearly upsets Phil Murphy in NJ Governor's Race" - Reporters Doug Doyle and P. Kenneth Burns
WBGO is a publicly-supported cultural institution that preserves and promotes jazz, blues, Latin jazz and classic rhythm & blues. From its home base of Newark, New Jersey, public radio station WBGO has long been an anchor institution in community engagement through its music and news programming, live performances and partnerships. WBGO reaches a diverse audience from its broadcast location in America's number one media market, the New York/New Jersey metro area. Through programs such as Jazz Night in America, produced in partnership with NPR and Jazz at Lincoln Center, the organization’s reach extends to millions more across the country, and around the globe through WBGO.org and the WBGO mobile app and social media plus Facebook Live broadcasts. WBGO is broadcast at 88.3 FM in the NY/New Jersey area and may be streamed from WBGO.org.
