WVIK takes home 15 awards for reporting

WVIK 90.3 FM, Quad Cities NPR, won 15 awards in state news contests last weekend.

The WVIK newsroom competed in contests held by the Illinois Associated Press Broadcasters Association (IAPBA) and the Iowa Broadcast News Association (IBNA).

In the Illinois contest, News Editor Michelle O'Neill won:

Best Reporter in Local Radio

First place in Farm and Agribusiness for "Water Quality and Farmin"

First place in General Reporting for "QC Campuses Fight Sexual Violence."

Overall Excellence in Reporting for several stories she submitted on the presidential campaign, a local murder trial, and the John Deere Classic.

In the Iowa contest, she won six second place, third place, and honorable mentions.

Commenting on her Best Reporter award, the judges said, "Michelle demonstrated exceptional reporting and anchoring skills. We are very impressed by her
efforts."

WVIK News Director Herb Trix won first place from the IBNA in the feature category for "Fighting Cancer with Art," as well as second place in Public Affairs for "Midwest Week," and third place in Overall Excellence in Reporting for a group of stories, including Deere earnings, a local murder trial, and The
Lodge closing.

The IBNA awarded the WVIK newsroom third place in Political Coverage by Herb Trix, O'Neill, and Amy Helpenstell Fellow Sarah Ritter. Herb Trix and O'Neill also won second place in Overall Excellence in Reporting.

WVIK provides 24-hour-a-day news and classical music to the Quad Cities and surounding communities in eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois. WVIK is owned and operated by Augustana College, broadcasting from the campus in Rock Island.