Virginia Tech's WVTF/RADIO IQ has won national awards recognizing excellence in journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Radio Television Digital News Association, and the Associated Press.

The stations received two Sigma Delta Chi Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists:  The Public Service in Radio Journalism Award for the feature report “Dangerous Cargo Rides the Rails” by Sandy Hausman and the Breaking News Award for “The Disappearance of Hannah Graham” by Sandy Hausman, Hawes Spencer and Connie Stevens. 

WVTF’s entries were two of 1,600 received by the society from newspapers, radio and television stations, networks and websites. The awards recognize outstanding work published or broadcast in 2014. The awards were presented in June at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. and accepted by WVTF/RADIO IQ General Manager Glenn Gleixner on behalf of the WVTF newsroom.

Dating back to 1932, the awards originally honored six individuals for contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939, when the society granted the first Distinguished Service Awards. The honors later became the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.

WVTF/RADIO IQ also won three first place awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association's 2015 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards program. The winning entries and categories:

  • Feature Reporting: “Cigar Box Blues” by Sandy Hausman and Kelsea Pieters; and
  • News Series: “Dangerous Cargo Rides the Rails, 5 part series” by Sandy Hausman

The association received more than 4,200 entries during the 2015 awards season setting an all-time record for entries for the third year in a row. The regional awards program covers media outlets in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Delaware. Regional winners automatically become eligible for the national awards competition.

In addition, WVTF/RADIO IQ accepted three Associated Press 2015 Meritorious Awards. The winning stories and reporters:

  • Douglas Southall Freeman Meritorious Award for Public Service: “Dangerous Cargo Rides the Rails, 5 part series” by Sandy Hausman;
  • Best Feature Meritorious Award: “Cigar Box Blues” by Sandy Hausman and Kelsea Pieters; and
  • Continuing News Coverage Meritorious Award: “The Disappearance of Hannah Graham” by Sandy Hausman, Hawes Spencer and Connie Stevens

Services of Virginia Tech, WVTF Public Radio and RADIO IQ are listener-supported National Public Radio member stations. They broadcast locally and nationally produced classical and jazz music programs; NPR and BBC news shows, and locally produced news and other cultural and entertainment programs. The stations cover central, southwest, and southern Virginia, as well as parts of North Carolina and West Virginia. For a complete listing of signals, visit WVTF online.

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