Tucked inside the long list of awards given to local radio and television stations by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association over the weekend, were two that were never broadcast.
That they were in categories that didn’t even exist not that many years ago, reflects the changing nature of news gathering and reporting in the digital age.
The awards – best niche website and best use of user-generated content – went to Milwaukee public radio station WUWM-FM (89.7), which also won awards for hard news and editorial commentary.
The user-generated content award was for coverage of the Dontre Hamilton protests, in which demonstrators blocked freeway lanes and 74 people were arrested.
The story (see it here) was a collection of first person social media and live video postings from the scene by sheriffs, police, protestors and reporters on the scene, that captures the immediacy of the event even today.
The niche website award was for the for its black male incarceration series.
The elegantly streamlined site allows former prisoners to define themselves as fathers, husbands and men, and includes photos and small biographies, under the umbrella theme of “I am more than my record…”
The site includes a submission form inviting others to participate, explanations and statistics on the high incarceration rate and a solutions page with links.
WUWM’s digital services coordinator Michelle Maternowski supervised both projects.
According to Dave Edwards, station director and general manager, “the compilation about the protestors blocking freeway traffic was prepared as it was happening and was updated throughout the evening. It was prepared by Michelle, our news director Marge Pitrof and reporter LaToya Dennis.”
The Tumblr site was produced by Maternowski, with contributions from station reporters.
“I’ve been saying for some time that we are not only in the ‘radio’ business,” said Edwards.
“We are content providers and our content has to be available on multiple platforms. We have to meet the consumers where they are. That will always include 89.7 but we are increasingly branching out as new technologies are developed and become popular.”
“Going forward,” Edwards said in an email, “I think we will look for opportunities to showcase our original reporting” and ways to curate “other reports for our website and broadcast.”
Tags: Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, WUWM Posted by