November 3, 2025
The Radio Television Digital News Association celebrated the National Edward R. Murrow Awards honor excellence in local and national journalism. These awards, along with the wider regional awards, provide an opportunity to explore some of the best in broadcast journalism. Local stations' award-winning investigative news units uncover government corruption, question those in power and expose those who abuse their positions. The stories below include Murrow winners and other examples of broadcasters' impactful investigative journalism.
NBC News won a National Edward R. Murrow Award for “Dealing the Dead,” a year long investigation into the body brokering industry. Incorporating stories from across the country, the series uncovers how unclaimed corpses, often of impoverished or marginalized people, were leased and dissected in medical and commercial circuits. The fallout includes institutional reforms, firings and public attention to dignity and consent in medical research.
WRDW/WAGT's I TEAM in Augusta, Ga., owned by Gray Television, also won a national Murrow for its investigation into the Burke County Sheriff's Office, uncovering cases of favoritism, interference with law enforcement and retaliatory firings. Its reporting documented how individuals connected to the sheriff were treated differently by the legal system and how deputies who spoke up faced termination. This is local journalism in action, ensuring that power in small communities is held to account and citizens see that their public institutions are subject to oversight.
Asheville, N.C.'s News Radio 570 WWNC-AM, owned by iHeartMedia, won a Continuing Coverage Murrow Award, as well as an NAB Leadership Foundation Service to America Award, for their remarkable service during Hurricane Helene. WWNC news director and morning show host Mark Starling became part of the story when he spoke to his wife, Brandi, for the first time since historic floods hit the region. Trapped in the studio with no power or phone service, Mark had been tirelessly working to keep the public informed while worrying about his family. His experience underscored the personal challenges broadcasters face while staying committed to serving their communities in times of crisis.
In Phoenix, Arizona, local reporting led to real change when ABC15, an E.W. Scripps station, uncovered dangerous conditions at an airport catering company. Their investigation found that workers were enduring extreme heat, with some vehicle temperatures soaring beyond 100 degrees. The exposé prompted swift action from local officials to protect workers' safety.
In Idaho, KTVB, a Tegna-owned station, tackled one of the most complex issues facing their community: the rise of extremist ideology. Their award-winning three-part series featured voices from all sides, including a rare and revealing interview with Tony McAleer, a former Aryan Nations member turned anti-hate advocate. It was fearless journalism that earned KTVB a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award — and more importantly, sparked community conversations that continue today.
In Washington, D.C., WTOP Radio, owned by Hubbard, partnered with Maryland Matters to shed light on nearly $360 million in unauthorized spending by the State Highway Administration. The report found that officials had knowingly charged federal projects in an attempt to mask a shortfall in the state's Transportation Trust Fund. That kind of accountability reporting is only possible when journalists are empowered to ask tough questions, and are protected by the First Amendment when they do.
More than 2.47 million American jobs depend on broadcasting, and the local broadcast radio and television industry - and the businesses that depend on it - generate $1.17 trillion annually for the nation's economy.
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