Multimedia project chronicles Hurricane Maria: ‘A distant storm with local impact’
HARTFORD, Conn. (April 26, 2019) – Connecticut Public Radio today announced it won a 2019 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for News Documentary/Large Market Television for its documentary, The Island Next Door: Connecticut and Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria.
The winners of the 2019 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards were announced on April 23.
The Island Next Door began in Connecticut Public Radio’s newsroom, and it then moved to Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria on the island in September 2017. The reporting project told stories that linked New England and Puerto Rico, including the people, places, successes and challenges on the island and the mainland. The Edward R. Murrow award is one of several national, regional and local awards that have honored The Island Next Door.
“This is an exceptional accomplishment. It’s the culmination of a year of reporting both in Connecticut and on the island, and it involved the effort of our entire newsroom in various ways,” said Jeff Cohen, Connecticut Public Radio’s News Director. “The Island Next Door reflects our commitment to producing meaningful, impactful stories every day. It also reflects the wonderful collaborative nature within the divisions of Connecticut Public.”
The Island Next Door is a collection of stories, photos and videos that aired on CPTV and WNPR and shared throughout Connecticut Public’s online and social channels. In addition to the 2019 Edward R. Murrow Award, the reporting project has received numerous honors, including the 2018 National Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Video, the 2018 New England Emmy for Outstanding Video Journalist and 1st Place Connecticut Society for Professional Journalists Award for feature photo
About Connecticut Public
Connecticut Public is the state’s only locally-owned media organization producing television, radio, print, and web content for Connecticut’s wide-ranging and diverse communities. It is home to Connecticut Public Television, Connecticut Public Radio, and Connecticut Public Learning. Connecticut Public Television is an affiliate of PBS and is a locally and nationally recognized producer and presenter of quality public television programming. Connecticut Public Radio on WNPR is an affiliate of National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and American Public Media. Connecticut Public Learning serves high school seniors through a partnership with Hartford Public Schools and the Journalism and Media Academy Magnet School. It is also home to the Institute for Advanced Media, a program that provides veterans and adult learners an opportunity to learn valuable digital media skills. For more information, visit content.ctpublic.org.