WBFO Awards and Recognitions
2009 Associated Press Awards
2009 SUNY CUAD Awards
2008 Associated Press Awards
WBFO 88.7FM Wins NYS Associated Press’s Top Award for the second time in three years!
WBFO-FM 88.7, UB's National Public Radio affiliate, won 10 awards -- including the coveted Stephen Flanders award -- at the New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association's annual awards banquet held Saturday, June 6 in Saratoga Springs.
The station captured six first-place awards to earn the 2008 Stephen Flanders Award, named in memory of a New York City radio reporter who died of a heart attack while on his way to a City Hall news conference in 1983. The Flanders award -- the AP's highest radio honor -- is given to the station (commercial or public) in New York with the most top finishes in the competition among news stories aired during the calendar year. WBFO was deemed by the judges to "exemplify the best traditions of journalistic initiative and dedication in providing a complete news service to the listening public."
WBFO won more awards than any other radio station in New York State, including New York City. It is the only radio station in Buffalo to have earned the Flanders award.
Members of the WBFO news team are Mark Scott, news director; Eileen Buckley, assistant news director, news producer and reporter; and Joyce Kryszak, cultural affairs reporter and producer.
"To have received the Stephen Flanders award for the second time in as little as three years, is indeed an honor. This award is the culmination of many years of superb reporting by WBFO's well-experienced and highly committed news team," said Carole Smith Petro, associate vice president and WBFO general manager. "As individuals and as a team, they have consistently achieved the highest standards of radio reporting. The recognition accorded by the Associated Press confirms the high regard in which they are held by the Western New York community."
The 2008 awards that WBFO received were as follows:
- Arts Athens Award for General Excellence in Individual Reporting: Eileen Buckley and Special Mention to Joyce Kryszak
- Best Interview: First Place to Joyce Kyrszak for her interview with UB artist Steve Kurtz after federal charges against him were dropped [Listen]
- Best Enterprise Reporting: First Place to Joyce Kryszak for a report on predatory lending [Listen] and Special Mention to Eileen Buckley for a report on the blood collection competition in Buffalo [Listen]
- Best Continuing News: Special Mention to Eileen Buckley for her coverage of Buffalo Police Detective Dennis Delano's suspension to his run for the State Senate [Listen]
- Best Sports Coverage: First Place to Joyce Kryszak for her report on the Winter Classic in Buffalo and Special Mention to Eileen Buckley for a report on Richard Zednik nearly fatal hockey injury [Listen]
- Best Use of Medium: First Place to Alison Zero for her story on the local music group, Too Many Sisters [Listen]
- Best Web Site: First Place to news staff and Director of Digital Media Kara Sweet
In the last decade, the WBFO News Department has received 52 Associated Press Awards, including the 2006 Steve Flanders Award, named in memory of a New York City radio reporter who died of a heart attack while on his way to a City Hall news conference in 1983. The Flanders award -- the AP's highest radio honor -- is given to the station in New York with the most top finishes in the competition among news stories aired during the calendar year.
2009 SUNY CUAD Awards
WBFO’s On the Border new music programming utilized grass roots organization and digital/ social media to market its Wednesday Night concerts and Nighttime on the Border. The SUNY CUAD (State University of New York Council for University Advancement) Awards for Excellence Program rewards “the very best efforts of our talented and creative professionals”. WBFO On the Border won a “Judge’s Citation” in the advertising category. Judge’s comments were “Creative brand strategy for an innovative product. Has a nice feel…edgy and grass roots. We like the regional focus and the attempt to build a community. Strong use of media in many forms.”
2008 NYS Associated Press Awards
The WBFO 88.7FM News department won one three first place award and four special mentions at the New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association's annual awards banquet in Saratoga Springs in June 2008. Members of the WBFO news team are Mark Scott, news director, Eileen Buckley, assistant news director, producer and reporter and Joyce Kryszak, cultural affairs reporter and producer.
- Best News Special/Documentary
- Best Interview
- Best Continuing News Coverage
Special Mention: WBFO, Buffalo, The Lynn Dejac Case - WBFO News Team
- Best Enterprise Reporting
Special Mention: WBFO, Buffalo, Homemade Pet Food - Joyce Kryszak
- Best Feature
Previous awards won by WBFO include:
- 2007 - Three PRNDI Awards from Public Radio News Directors, Inc., the only national awards competition for public radio journalism.
- 2007 - Top News Radio Station and Five First-Place Awards from the New York State Associated Pres
- 2006 - One First-Place award and five Special Mentions from the New York State Associated Press
- 2005 - Two First-Place awards and four Special Mentions from the New York State Associated Press
- 2004 - Two First-Place awards and five Special Mentions from the New York State Associated Press
- 2003 - One First-Place award and one Special Mention from the New York State Associated Press
- 2002 - Five awards from the New York State Associated Press
- 2002 - Gold and Silver award from the Western New York ADDY Awards (in conjuction with Crowley Webb and Associates)
- 2001 - Special Mention from Public Radio News Directors, Inc.
- 2001 - One First-Place award and five Special Mentions from the New York State Associated Press
