NPC strikes gold at New York Festivals radio awards

"The Kalb Report" and "This Just In!" -- two of the National Press Club’s premier programs produced in partnership with The George Washington University Global Media Institute -- won top honors with Gold World Medals at the 2012 New York Festivals International Radio Awards competition.

In addition, "The Kalb Report" program commemorating the 10th anniversary of September 11 received an overall Grand Award at the gala held in Manhattan on June 18.

The two shows competed with hundreds of radio broadcast entries submitted from 28 countries to win the top honors.

"Our goal is to bridge generations in helping students, professionals and the general public appreciate the craft and lasting impact of good journalism,” Michael Freedman, professor and executive producer of both projects, said in accepting the honors.

“And what better medium to bridge generations than the most enduring and endearing of all - radio!” he said. “Add to this the wisdom of the legendary Marvin Kalb and the wit of the remarkable Sam Litzinger, and you have programming that we hope both teaches and inspires.

“We are deeply appreciative of our partnership with the National Press Club and the support of Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation, which underwrites both projects. We are truly touched to be recognized by The New York Festivals. This is a very special moment for all of us and one we shall never forget."

"The Kalb Report," moderated by journalist Marvin Kalb and produced in partnership with the Shorenstein Center at Harvard University, has been a staple of NPC for 18 years.

The series airs nationally on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio, locally on Federal News Radio in Washington, D.C. and on more than 275 public television stations across the country.

The award winning program, entitled "Anchoring 9-11: The Day and the Decade," took place at the Press Club Sept. 9, 2011, before a standing-room only audience of more than 500 NPC members and college students.

Guests Charles Gibson (ABC News),Dan Rather (CBS News), Brit Hume (FOX News) and Frank Sesno (CNN) offered candid reflections of the events of the day that changed America, their roles as "first responders" for television viewers and how journalism has changed over the course of the decade.

"This Just In!," hosted by CBS Radio News Correspondent Sam Litzinger and airing on Sirius-XM and Federal News Radio, tells the story of journalism and the people behind the headlines. It is produced in association with The Newseum.

The winning entry comprised three programs. They were: The National Press Club Journalism Institute's commemoration of the 50th anniversary of former FCC Chairman Newton Minow's famous address in which he referred to television as "a vast wasteland;" a master class conducted by Professor Freedman with legendary "Murrow Boy" Richard C. Hottelet; and a Sam Litzinger episode, produced at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington,entitled "Selling Evil" about Nazi propaganda.