25-05-2025
WKRG News 5 wins 2025 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in Gulf Coast journalism
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — News 5 has been selected to receive the 2025 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence.
Video: Watch WKRG News 5's 'Overall Entry' video — submitted to the Regional Edward R. Murrow Award judges — in the player above.
WKRG News Director Gene Kirkconnell made the announcement in a Thursday email to the station's staff.
'It is with pride and gratitude that I share with our WKRG-TV family members that News 5 has been selected to receive the 2025 Edward R. Murrow Regional Award for Overall Excellence,' Kirkconnell said.
'This award validates the hard work and creativity that our news team puts in every day to earn the trust of viewers and serve them with the highest quality news, weather, sports, and community news available along the Gulf Coast on all platforms; TV, digital, and social media,' he said.
In this article, we'll look back at the entry that won WKRG this top industry honor.
But first, here's some background information on the award itself.
The Radio Television Digital News Association is 'the world's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to broadcast and digital journalism,' its website states. The RTDNA, founded in 1946, aims to 'promote and protect responsible journalism.'
The RTDNA's Edward R. Murrow Awards have annually honored 'outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism' since 1971, the site states.
'Among the most prestigious in news, the Murrow Awards recognize local and national news stories that uphold the RTDNA Code of Ethics, demonstrate technical expertise and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community.'
The awards are named after , an American broadcast radio and TV journalist whose achievements included reporting on World War II live from London; exposing Sen. Joseph McCarthy's anti-Communist tactics; and setting standards for transparency and integrity in broadcast journalism.
'News stations, networks, syndication services, program services, and digital news organizations are all eligible to enter the awards,' the RTDNA's rules state, noting that Edward R. Murrow Awards are presented to news organizations, not individuals.
On Thursday, RTDNA announced the Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards' 2025 winners in Region 9. This region includes Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, according to its website.
WKRG won the 'Overall Excellence' award in the 'Television | Small Market' category.
News 5's 'Overall Excellence' entry featured the station's best investigative journalism, weather, sports and breaking news on broadcasting and digital platforms in 2024.
Here are some examples:
News 5's Asher Redd uncovered a video showing child abuse at a local daycare. He spoke to the child's mother, who watched footage of a daycare worker grabbing and throwing down her daughter, violating DHR guidelines.
Watch the report:
News 5's Kathryn Bruch took viewers behind the scenes of a months-long undercover drug operation. She followed a team of Mobile Police Department detectives as they confiscated large amounts of crack cocaine and other drugs and arrested dozens of people.
Watch the report:
Sports Director Simone Eli's exclusive report showed how a scoring error in a Vigor girls' basketball game cost the team a shot at the state title. Eli talked to the coach and showed viewers how the error was made.
Watch the report:
Asher Redd reported live from Hurricanes Helene, Milton, and Francine. Our First Alert Storm Team warned viewers of threatening tornadoes, tracked dangerous weather, and gave the all-clear when people were safe.
News 5 also provided hundreds of stories and live shots to Nexstar stations across the country and News Nation.
WKRG was live on the scene as a window-washer dangled on the side of the RSA Tower, Alabama's tallest building. Anchor Devon Walsh narrated the heart-pounding rescue as Mobile firefighters brought the man to safety.
Watch the report:
WKRG was also live on the scene as parents rushed to pick up their kids from Foley High School after reports of a fight and gun on campus.
Watch the report:
In addition to breaking news, like coverage of and a , WKRG's 'Overall Excellence' entry included soul-stirring feature stories.
The entry said, 'WKRG-TV shares the stories of our viewers that touch the heart.'
WKRG's Debbie Williams reported on Gulf Shores High School offensive lineman Tyler Burkett, who began his senior year on the sidelines with cancer, not knowing if he would ever again play the game he has loved his whole life.
Watch the story:
Devon Walsh told the story of a groom whose bride gave him a kidney soon after the two started dating. (His then-girlfriend learned he would need a kidney or would not survive.)
Watch the story:
And, the Regional Edward R. Murrow entry noted, 'Many of our stories are just plain fun.'
Like Simone Eli's piece, ',' in which she teaches News 5 employees who are not from Mobile, all about Carnival season.
'The newbies go through a boot camp to learn the best way to catch a moonpie, and avoid getting pelted in the face with beads,' the entry notes.
News 5's 'Overall Excellence' entry featured the year's best digital coverage, which included:
The launch of '5th Quarter Extra,' a popular livestream for sports fans
Exclusive reporting on Hoover football coaches humping and pushing players
A leadership change within the Mobile Police Department
The death and remembrance of Alabama broadcasting icon Mel Showers
A rare look at News 5's social media comment moderation policy after viral coverage of an Alabama pageant queen led to cyberbullying
And in 2024, News 5 spotlighted our local military and law enforcement with franchises '' and '.'
News 5's showcased a police K-9 who jumped off a bridge while chasing suspects. Police bodycam video showed the dog leap off the bridge, proving that two-legged officers aren't the only ones .
showcased former , who used the skills he gained during his service to form a commercial diving and consulting business.
Part of that was consulting for the film industry, where he made his on-screen debut in the Steven Seagal film 'Under Siege,' filmed on the USS Alabama Battleship in Mobile.
The 'Overall Excellence' entry also featured News 5's commitment to community service, with the following projects:
News 5's Boys & Girls Club Telethon, which raises money for underserved children. The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama provide, among other things, academic programs, social skills training, health and nutrition classes, on-site counseling, and college and career guidance.
News 5's Stock the Pantry Food Drive, which feeds children during the summer months when they can't receive breakfast and lunch at school.
News 5's Paddle & Raquet Battle, which unites tennis players and pickleball players in a combined tournament that raises money for the American Heart Association.
News 5's Magical Christmas Toy Drive, which collected more than 35,000 toys valued at more than a half-million dollars in 2024. The annual effort ensures children across the Gulf Coast receive Christmas gifts.
WKRG General Manager Jesse Grear summed it up following the announcement about News 5's Regional Edward R. Murrow Award.
'Congratulations to the entire team!' he said.
'Ya'll are the best!
Neil Costes contributed to this report.
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