Newsroom Awards
Illinois News Broadcasters Association
The INBA recognized WGLT with first place honors in its inaugural Crystal Mic Awards in 2021:
- Best Newscast (Small Market Radio) - first place - Charlie Schlenker
Public Media Journalists Association
The Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) recognized WGLT's newsroom with two first-place national awards for its work in 2020.
- Audience Engagement Program - Living Black in Bloomington-Normal, reporting by Jon Norton, Ariele Jones and Darnysha Mitchell
- Use Of Sound - 911 Calls Show Nursing Home COVID-19 Outbreak Unfolding In Slow Motion, reporting by Ryan Denham
2019 awards
- Enterprise/Investigative – “School District HR Director Exits,” reporting by Mary Cullen
- Newscast – Jon Norton, morning newscast on Aug. 22, 2019
Regional Murrow Awards
WGLT has earned three regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for 2020 for its local reporting and newscasts and will advance to the prestigious National Murrow Award competition this summer.
- Hard News – “Failing Rica,” reporting by Ryan Denham and Edith Brady-Lunny
- Newscast – Charlie Schlenker
- Investigative Reporting – “School District HR Director Exits,” reporting by Mary Cullen
Associated Press
WGLT News has received 111 Illinois AP journalism awards since 1997.
- Outstanding News Operation – entire staff
- Best Hard News Feature – Second Place – “Failing Rica,” by Ryan Denham and Edith Brady-Lunny.
- Best Series or Documentary – First Place – “Down On The Farm,” by Eric Stock and Ryan Denham from WGLT. Jointly produced with Dana Vollmer and Tim Shelley at WCBU.
- Best Series or Documentary – Second Place – “Fines and Fees System Fail the Disadvantaged,” by Mary Cullen.
- Best Investigative Report – Second Place – “Failing Rica,” by Ryan Denham and Edith Brady-Lunny.
- Best Digital Presence – First Place – entire staff
- Best Reporter - First Place – Ryan Denham
- Best Newscast – Second Place – entire staff
2018
- Outstanding News Operation – entire staff
- Best Investigative Report (first place): Ryan Denham and Mary Cullen, Police Diverge on Approach to Speeding Tickets
- Best Reporter (first place): Ryan Denham
- Best Series or Documentary (second place): Skipping School: Illinois' Teacher Shortage
- Best Newscast (second place): Charlie Schlenker
- Best Sports Report (second place): Eric Stock, Friday Night Lights Out: Football's Uncertain Future
- Best Digital Presence (second place): Recognizing overall excellence in online content, including reporting, writing, and photography, at WGLT.org, and on social media.
2017
- Best Digital Presence (first place) – Recognizing overall excellence in online content, including reporting, writing, and photography, at WGLT.org, and on social media.
- Best Reporter (first place) – Ryan Denham, WGLT digital content director
- Best Reporter (second place) – Judy Valente, WGLT reporter
- Best Light Feature (first place) – Jon Norton, WGLT music director and Morning Edition host, for After Quiet Stretch, Thriving Bloomington-Normal Music Scene Makes Some Noise
2016
- Best Investigative Report (First Place): Judith Valente, How’s The Water?
- Best Use of Sound (Second Place): Judith Valente, Peoria Presbyterian Church Gets Jazzy
2015
The Illinois AP honored WGLT for journalistic excellence with five awards for work in the Local Radio category in 2015. WGLT received more awards than any other station in the division, the second year in a row for such a distinction.
- Best Series or Documentary: Judith Valente, Unknown Illinois and Shattering Transgender Stereotypes
- Best Newscast: Charlie Schlenker, 6:06 PM Newscast
- Best Investigative Report: Judith Valente, Ex-Con Priest
- Best Use of Sound: Judith Valente, Racial Tension Meeting
Previous Murrow Awards
For the first time in station history, WGLT was honored in 2015 with two national Edward R. Murrow awards for journalistic excellence in one year by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). WGLT had previously won three national Murrow awards for work in 2005, 2006, and 2008.
WGLT News won the coveted News Series award for the group of investigative reports, Police and Race in the Twin Cities. That also took honors in the Investigative Reporting category. The series was honored earlier this year with two regional Murrow awards, and defeated contenders from 13 other regions to gain the national acclaim.
This marks an unprecedented three national awards for WGLT News for work done last year, all centered around the Police and Race series.
Listen to the award-winning series Police and Race in the Twin Cities.
Diversity Reporting
WGLT News was one of seven media outlets in the nation honored with the 2015 Kaleidoscope Award for reporting on cultural diversity in 2014. The award was developed with Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) together with UNITY: Journalists For Diversity as part of a shared commitment to developing news content and editorial staffs that reflect the changing face of America.
WGLT is the national winner in the Small Market Radio division. (RTDNA considers stations to be in small markets if the metro area they serve is less than 1,014,900 in population.) The award highlights the WGLT newsroom's "ongoing commitment to covering issues of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity: the cultural diversity of (its) community.”
Civic Engagement
WGLT News was honored with the Unit/Department Award for civic engagement at Illinois State University's 2019 Civic Engagement Celebration. The university recognizes students, faculty, staff, and on- and off-campus groups for their outstanding contributions to civic engagement and demonstrating the university's core value. The award highlights WGLT's local election forums and hosting a series of Community Conversations that brought community members together for discussions on gun violence, journalism, and youth mental health.