WBFO-FM 88.7 earned eight first-place and nine second-place awards at the New York State Associated Press Association awards banquet Saturday – more than any other news outlet.
As a result, WBFO was the winner of the Outstanding News Operation award for the sixth year in a row.
The awards are:
Spot News Coverage
First place: Eileen Buckley and Michael Mroziak, “Students Protest Gun Violence"
Investigative & Watchdog Reporting
First place: Daniela Porat (Investigative Post) “Police Diver's Drowning an Avoidable Tragedy"
Second place: Angelica Morrison “Racial Equity in the Justice System"
Continuing Coverage
First Place: WBFO-FM, Buffalo, "Buffalo Diocese Struggles With Clergy Sex Abuse"
Public Service
First place: Avery Schneider, “Oasis of Healthy Options in Buffalo's Food Desert"
Second place: Marian Hetherly, Eileen Buckley, Angelica Morrison. Buffalo, "Mental Health and the Holidays"
Feature Story
Second place: Nick Lippa, "Passionate Students Can’t Get Enough of the Music of the Movies"
Documentary
Second place: Eileen Buckley, “Buffalo's Insane Asylum History"
Sports Coverage
First place: WBFO staff “No Ordinary Playoff"
Sports Feature
Second place: Michael Mroziak, “Gay Referee Makes His Biggest Call"
Use of Sound
First place: Nick Lippa, “BPO Cellist Reflects on His Family's History While Playing at Auschwitz"
Second place: Angelica Morrison “Climate Change Threatens Maple Trees - And Syrup"
Digital Presence
Second place: WBFO staff, "Everywhere Digital Needs to Be"
Newscast
First place: Jay Moran
Second place: Jay Moran
Art Athens General Excellence of Individual Reporting
First place: Michael Mroziak
Second place: Eileen Buckley
WBFO received 17 nominations – more than any other radio or television station and more than any newspaper in the state.
The NYSAPA awards banquet was held on Saturday, June 1, in Saratoga Springs. The awards recognize the best in newspaper, television, and radio journalism. A panel of peers from similar-sized markets judge the entries.