Radio Rookies Awards

Teenaged reporters pick up microphones and let down their guards in this series of remarkably immediate and illuminating first-person dispatches. - 2006 Peabody Judges

These stories — crisply written and tightly produced — give adults one of the best views of life through a young person’s eyes since Peanuts’ Charlie Brown. Clever, brash and irreverent, the simple truths emerge from the scripts and authentic sounds. – 2002 Casey Medal Judge’s Comments

WNYC’s Radio Rookies took an unflinching look inside the world of teenagers...a fresh perspective and deep insight that only could be gathered and reported by youth. – 2013 America’s Promise Alliance Judge’s Comments

The series has an element of rawness, the feeling that these are real stories told by real people. – 34th Annual Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Journalism Award Judge’s Comments

2023

Radio Rookies and Notes from America with Kai Wright won a Gracie Award for best radio documentary for “Half of My Parents, All of Me,” an honest and deeply personal story from Folashade Olatunde about her journey to reconnect with her dad, who’s been incarcerated since she was two years old.

“How a Secretive Police Database Affects Young Black and Brown Men” from Rainier Harris won a 2023 Media for a Just Society Award in the youth media category. Folashade Olatunde’s “Half of My Parents, All of Me” was named a finalist in the category.

2021

Radio Rookies and YR Media won a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Innovation for “18-to-29 Now: Young America Speaks Up,” a collaboration with young contributors from across the country who came together to report on the issues that mattered most to them leading up to the 2020 presidential election.

2020

Shamari Ridley won a National Edward R. Murrow Award for Feature Reporting in the Large Market Radio category for his piece, “Trying to Graduate From High School at 21.”

2019

WNYC won an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for “Caught: The Lives of Juvenile Justice.” About Caught, the jury said, “With gripping personal stories and tense intimate scenes, this nine-episode podcast revealed a web-like juvenile justice system and explored its devastating long term effects on young people.”

2017

Corinne Bobb-Semple won the National Association of Black Journalists’ “Salute to Excellence” award for Best Radio Feature for her piece, “Gentrification: Feeling Like an Outsider in Your Own Neighborhood.”

Alexia Richbourg won a Gracie Award for Best Radio Documentary for her piece, “Seven Schools Later, One Student's View of Segregation.”

Corinne Bobb-Semple won the RTDNA National Edward R. Murrow Award for Reporting: Hard news for her piece, “Gentrification: Feeling Like an Outsider in Your Own Neighborhood.”

Alexia Richbourg was a finalist for the National Association of Black Journalists’ “Salute to Excellence” award for Best Radio Commentary for her piece, “Seven Schools Later, One Student's View of Segregation.”

2016

Rainy won the Third Coast / Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition Bronze Award for "Why Do I Stay?"

Rainy won the Gabriel Award for "Why Do I Stay?"

Destiny Mabry, Rainy and Beth won the National Headliner Award for “Crushed: Teens and Dating Abuse”.

Destiny Mabry, Rainy and Beth won the New York Festivals Radio Gold Award for “Crushed: Teens and Dating Abuse”.

Dakota Salcedo won the RTDNA Kaleidoscope Awards, honoring outstanding achievements in the coverage of diversity, for his piece, "Not the Right Kind of Gay."

2015

Jairo Gomez's story, "Nine People, One Bedroom: A Teens's Take on Life in Poverty" won the 2015 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Audio News Documentary.

Marvin Ramos' story, “Trying to Do It Right and Not Repeat a Father’s Mistakes,” won the 2015 NY State Broadcasters Association’s Excellence in Broadcasting Award for Outstanding Feature Story.

2014

Temitayo Fagbenle and Gemma Weiner won the National Association of Black Journalists’ “Salute to Excellence” award for Best Radio Feature for their piece, The Mary Jane Mindset: Teenagers and Marijuana.

The Mary Jane Mindset, reported by Radio Rookies Gemma Weiner and Temitayo Fagbenle, won the 2014 Regional Murrow Award for Feature Reporting.

2013

Temitayo Fagbenle's The Modern Day Scarlet Letter A won the Radio Impact Award in the 2013 Third Coast / Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition.

Radio Rookies Mike Brown and Temitayo Fagbenle won two National Association of Black Journalists awards for News-Long Form and Commentary in the NABJ 2013 Salute to Excellence competition.

American Heaven reported by Danielle Motindabeka won the 2013 Child Welfare League of America's Anna Quindlen Award for Excellence in Journalism on Behalf of Children and Families.

Unfolding My World: Reports from WNYC’s Radio Rookies won the 2013 Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism and the America’s Promise Alliance 2013 Journalism Award with reports from Mike Brown, Selena Brown, Chantell Clarke, Temitayo Fagbenle, Ephraim Frommer, Bree Person, Danielle Motindabeka, Sabrina Smith, and Tangeneka Taylor.

Temitayo Fagbenle's The Modern Day Scarlet Letter A won the Newspaper Guild-CWA’s 2013 David S. Barr awards.

Stop and Frisk: The Cycle of Mistrust Between Minority Youth and the NYPD won third place in the 2013 National Headliner Awards.

2012

Radio Rookies' Staten Island workshop series, received a 2012 Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism Award for Youth Media.

Erin Reeg's "Daughter of a Survivor" won Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow Awards for National Writing.

Alicia Martinez's "Half My Family is Illegal" won a New York State AP Awards for Best Feature.

Radio Rookies "Our 9/11: Growing Up In The Aftermath" series received Special Mention in New York State AP Awards for News Series.

Michael Jacobson's "Nothing's Ever Permanent in Foster Care" received Special Mention in New York State AP Awards for News Special/Documentary.

Michael Jacobson's "Nothing's Ever Permanent in Foster Care" won a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Feature Reporting.

Norhan Basuni, Eric Leinung, Erin Reeg and Jillian Suarez join the series, "Living 9/11" reported by Marianne McCune, as winners of the 2012 Dart Awards for Excellence in Reporting on Trauma.

2011

Radio Rookies' Staten Island workshop series, "Coming Up in 2011" received an Alfred I. duPont Finalist award.

Radio Rookies receives two PRNDI Awards. Hawa Lee won Best Writing with her story, "Interview With a Teenage Vampire" and Rayon Wright won Best Soft Feature for his story, "Gamun-Pyul."

Radio Rookies received two NABJ Awards. Alexis Gordon won Best Long From Story for her documentary, "Back to the Middle East" and Rayon Wright won Best Feature for his story, "Gamun-Pyul."

Alexis Gordon won the New York State Broadcasters Association Award for Best Feature story.

Radio Rookies wins the United Nations Department of Public Information gold award for exemplifying the ideals and goals of the United Nations for its Flushing Rookies series.

Radio Rookies wins the New York Festivals International Radio Awards Silver Award for Community Portrait for its Flushing Rookies workshop series.

Radio Rookie Alexis Gordon wins the NY State AP Broadcasters Association Award for Best New Special/Documentary.

Radio Rookie Rayon Wright wins the 2011 Gabriel Award for best local release Arts programming.

2010

Radio Rookies receives the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for Domestic Radio for its series of stories, "This is the South Bronx."

The "This is the South Bronx" series receives the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service in Radio Journalism.

A series of stories from the East Crotona Park workshop wins the Alliance for Women in Media's Gracie Award for Outstanding Series.

Radio Rookie Miguelina "Erikka" Diaz' story, "Money Stress" wins the National RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Radio Feature.

Radio Rookie Amon "AJ" Fraizer's story, "Promotion in Doubt" was a finalist for the National Association of Black Journalists' Award for Long Form Radio News.

2009

Radio Rookies series "Growing Up in the System" receives the inaugural America's Promise Alliance Journalism Award, inspired by the late Tim Russert, an Alliance board member.

Josetta Adams' story, "I'm Not Emo," wins a National Association of Black Journalists 2009 Salute to Excellence award for the best Radio-Feature category.

Victoria Cruz's "Best Couple" story receives the first Sidney Award. The Sidney Awards is a new monthly award from the Sidney Hillman Foundation honoring an outstanding piece of socially-conscious journalism.

Radio Rookies series "Growing Up in the System" receives 2009 Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism in the Radio Category.

Keith Harris' "Read a Book" wins 2009 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Feature Reporting category.

2008

The Manhattan Workshop series "Out on Our Own: Stories of Living Away From Ones Parents" won the New York Festivals Gold Award in the Profiles/Community Portraits categories.

In October 2008, Shirley Diaz's story won the Third Coast International Audio Festival's Silver Award for Best Documentary.

Sara Martinez' piece "The Second Mom" won a National Edward R. Murrow Award for feature reporting.

Also from the Staten Island Workshop, Marie Stephen won a Regional Murrow Award in the writing category for her radio piece "Feeling Ugly Inside."

2007

Radio Rookies received a National Coming Up Taller Award at a White House Ceremony in recognition of outstanding arts and humanities programs for children.

Radio Rookies received the General Features Award from the New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ) for stories by Allison Jones and Michael Lewis.

Radio Rookies received an Excellence in Education award from the New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ).

Radio Rookies received the Sigma Delta Chi Public Service Award for stories from the Lower East Side and Midwood workshops.

Radio Rookies received the Unity Award from the Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) for News Organizations that Celebrate Diversity for stories from the Lower East Side and Midwood workshops.

Radio Rookies received the 2004 South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) Special Project on South Asians in North America Award for stories from the Midwood workshop.

Radio Rookies received a Special Merit Award in the 2004 NFCB Golden Reel Awards and was a runner-up in the 2004 Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism contest for stories from the Lower East Side and Midwood workshops.

2003

Saint George Rookie Jaimita Haskell was the youngest person ever honored by the Newspaper Guild's Heywood Broun Award for her report Tracking.

Saint George Rookie Jaimita Haskell's report Tracking wins Second Place in the News Feature -- Student Division category of the Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI) Award Contest.

Radio Rookies' Flushing and St. George documentaries won a National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) 2003 Golden Reel Award for pre-produced local public affairs programming.

Radio Rookies received the Unity Award from the Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) for stories from the St. George and Flushing workshops.

2002

Radio Rookies was named winner of the 34th Annual Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for stories from the Bushwick and Hunts Point workshops.

Radio Rookies wins the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism for stories from the Flushing and St. George workshops.

Radio Rookies Flushing documentaries won the Asian American Journalism Association Award (AAJA) for covering Asian American issues.

WNYC's Radio Rookies wins a National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) 2002 Golden Reel Award for pre-produced local public affairs programming for stories from the Bushwick and Hunts Point workshops.

Bushwick Rookie Jesus Gonzalez wins the David S. Barr High School Award for his story Guns in Bushwick.

Hunts Point Rookie Janesse Nieves was regional winner of the Hispanic Heritage Youth Award for Literature/Journalism.

2001

Hunts Point Radio Rookie Janesse Nieves' report Heroin wins a silver medal in the first Third Coast International Audio Festival.

Radio Rookies was runner-up for the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism in radio.

2000

The Harlem Radio and Photography Project was awarded first place by the New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association for Best Local Documentary Program or Series.

The Harlem Radio and Photography Project wins the Heart of New York award from the New York Press Club.