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PBS Wisconsin honored for excellence in journalism and storytelling
June 3, 2025 Leave a Comment
PBS Wisconsin continues to be recognized for its excellence in journalism and storytelling, earning a series of awards across multiple platforms for its work in 2024. Our colleagues at Wisconsin Public Radio were also awarded for their work in 2024 and you can find the full list of their accomplishments at this link.
From in-depth documentaries and compelling news coverage to innovative digital projects and powerful human-interest stories, PBS Wisconsin and its staff were honored by the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association and Current for its outstanding work.
These accolades reflect the dedication and talent of PBS Wisconsin’s journalists, producers and storytellers who are committed to informing, inspiring and connecting communities across the state.
Milwaukee Press Club
The Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism contest, presented by the Milwaukee Press Club, recognizes excellence in journalism at both the state and national level across various categories, including writing, design and reporting.
Presented during the annual Gridiron Awards on May 9, 2025, PBS Wisconsin won two awards in the Best Documentary category – a gold for Wisconsin Lighthouses and bronze for Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Beloit.
PBS Wisconsin’s weekly in-depth news and public affairs program, Here & Now, received the top honor for Best Regularly Scheduled News or Sports Program for its July 19, 2024, episode featuring reporting on the Republican National Convention held in Milwaukee.
Additional awards include:
- Special projects reporter Murv Seymour was awarded bronze in Best Writing in a Video Story for his story, Who did — or didn’t — watch the 2024 RNC around Wisconsin?
- Senior political reporter Zac Schultz was awarded gold in Best Individual Reporting of News for his story, How School Districts Use ‘Defeasance’ to Pass Referendums
- Reporter Steven Potter was awarded gold in Best Short Soft Feature Story for his story, How many fresh-cut Christmas trees are being harvested in Wisconsin?
- Reporter Aditi Debnath was awarded gold in Best Long Hard Feature Story for her story, Medicaid and pay for workers with developmental disabilities
And, the PBS Wisconsin production Wisconsin Life, celebrating Wisconsin’s people and places with host Angela Fitzgerald, took home three gold awards:
- Smashing the patriarchy, one ollie at a time – Best Editing
- The Red Putter: Door County’s mini-golf legacy – Best Long Soft Feature Story
- Food Traditions – Best Use of Multimedia
Wisconsin Broadcasters Association
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Awards for Excellence recognizes outstanding radio and television broadcast achievements by member stations and college/high school broadcasting students. PBS Wisconsin was honored to receive several awards during the association’s May 3, 2025, awards gala.
Wisconsin Life took first place in the Best Use of Video category for Finding flow on a single wheel and third place in the Best Feature category for ‘Writing is listening’ Poet Anja Notanja Sieger types your story.
Wisconsin Lighthouses took the top honor for Best Specialty Programming and PBS Wisconsin Education received two awards: First place in the Best Website category for its Civics webpage and third place for Best Use of Social Media for the season 2 launch of The Look Back.
PBS Wisconsin took first place for Best Topical Promotion for a family-focused Wisconsin Lighthouses video and second place for Best Image Promotion for its 2024 Year in Review.
Midwest Broadcast Journalist Association
The Eric Sevareid Awards are named for the North Dakota-born and University of Minnesota-educated journalist best known for his work as a correspondent for CBS Radio and television. Each year, the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association presents awards to the best work done by broadcast news operations and journalists working in small, medium and large markets in their six-state region on radio, television and online.
In the Medium Market Television category, producer Joel Waldinger was honored with an Award of Merit for Broadcast Writing while Wisconsin Lighthouses earned an Award of Merit in the Documentary/Special category.
Here & Now received awards in three categories: first place in Podcast Series and Talk/Public Affairs programming, and an Award of Merit for General Reporting.
Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Beloit was awarded first place for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Wisconsin Life earned a first place award in Lifestyle or Specialty Programming for Zócalo Food Park.
Current Rising Star
PBS Wisconsin interactive media producer Angelina Shi has been named a 2025 Rising Star by Current, a newspaper and website about public and nonprofit media in the United States. Shi was celebrated by colleagues for pioneering innovative digital experiences at PBS Wisconsin, including the acclaimed Wisconsin Lighthouses: Illuminating Cana Island, a virtual tour of the historic Cana Island Lighthouse in Door County.
