WMU News

WMUK sweeps Associated Press awards

April 9, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- Radio station WMUK-FM, Western Michigan University's public radio station, swept the news documentary category in this year's Michigan Associated Press Broadcasters Association competition.

A documentary titled "City Commissioner," produced by Gordon Evans, won top honors. Evans spent two weeks following Kalamazoo City Commission candidate Sean McCann before the election last November. He sat in on campaign strategy sessions, went door-to-door with McCann and interviewed campaign volunteers, as well as the candidate. The documentary aired after the election and offered listeners an inside look at what it's like to run for local elected office.

"Fish for All," produced by Abraham Hohnke and Andy Robins, won an honorable mention. The half-hour program used oral history interviews gathered by WMU's Great Lakes Center for Maritime Studies to look at the conflict over fishing resources in northern Lake Michigan.

The program looked at the issue from the perspective of Native Americans, non-native commercial and sport fishermen and state officials. Hohnke, of Traverse City, was an intern at WMUK and was also a member of the student team that recorded the oral histories. The main purpose of the project was to create a traveling museum exhibit. Audio recordings were adapted for use in the radio program.

First place and honorable mention are the only prizes awarded in the documentary category, giving WMUK a sweep. The MAPBA awards will be presented at the group's annual meeting in Southfield on April 29.

Media contact: Mark Schwerin, 616 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu


Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
616 387-8400
univ-rel@wmich.edu

http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news