2025 Golden Press Card: Radio - East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists

Here are the 2025 Golden Press Card winners in the Radio category. The entries were judged by the San Diego SPJ Pro Chapter.

GENERAL REPORTING (Radio)

First Place
Contestant Name: WUOT
Entry Title: In rural Tennessee, Crypto miners try to ‘sweet talk’ locals into bitcoin mine development
Entry Credit: Pierce Gentry
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: The kind of vital reporting about significant impacts of development on a rural community that didn’t ask for them, nor were their considerations taken into account. A classic example of shining a spotlight where it was sorely needed. Even handed and fair considering the lack of comment from project reps.

Second Place
Contestant Name: WUOT
Entry Title: Campus firings over Charlie Kirk comments chill free speech in Appalachia
Entry Credit: Pierce Gentry
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: A highly emotional subject addressed with civility and fairness.

STUDENT – BEST FEATURE STORY (Radio)

First Place
Contestant Name: WUOT
Entry Title: ‘Home Runs and Home Teams’ at East TN History Center captures state’s baseball past
Entry Credit: Luke Lamoree
Links: See entry

Category Comments: This entry gives listeners a glimpse of an engaging exhibit that helps tell Tennessee’s intriguing baseball history. The reporter’s track has a nice cadence and I appreciated how the reporter included cheeky lines like the gallery covers all the bases.

CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING (Radio)

First Place
Contestant Name: WUOT
Entry Title: Inside the race to restore Tennessee’s native grasslands, before it’s too late
Entry Credit: Pierce Gentry
Links: See entry

Category Comments: The winner included important historical context that gave depth to the story. Informative, clearly written, well researched.

Second Place
Contestant Name: WUOT
Entry Title: The climate of Christmas tree farming in Appalachia
Entry Credit: Heather Haley
Links: See entry

FEATURE REPORTING (Radio)

First Place
Contestant Name: WUOT
Entry Title: Santa swaps his sleigh for a train to spread Christmas cheer along the rails in Appalachia
Entry Credit: Jacqui Sieber
Links: See entry

Category Comments: The context of this story made what would have been a simply holiday report a deeper and more grounded story about impacted communities. Playful and serious at the same time.

Second Place
Contestant Name: WUOT
Entry Title: Museum of Appalachia draws students, families with sheep shearing event
Entry Credit: Pierce Gentry
Links: See entry

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (Radio)

First Place
Contestant Name: WUOT
Entry Title: My skin is itching off of me:’ US Nitrogen downplays harm of chemical leaks, spills in Tennessee
Entry Credit: Pierce Gentry
Links: See entry

Category Comments: This reporter’s ability to weave the narrative together through the main source, experts and voicemails made this story incredibly strong. It shows the direct impact and the need for change.

Second Place
Contestant Name: WUOT
Entry Title: Tennessee can charge people for crimes they didn’t commit, advocates want reform
Entry Credit: Pierce Gentry
Links: See entry

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS REPORTING (Radio)

First Place
Contestant Name: WUOT
Entry Title: Knoxville City Council slated to vote on controversial sale at Chilhowee Park, Here’s everything you need to know
Entry Credit: Jacqui Sieber
Links: See entry

HURRICANE HELENE ONE YEAR LATER (Radio)

First Place
Contestant Name: WUOT
Entry Title: Healing After Helene: One year after the storm that changed East Tennessee
Entry Credit: Pierce Gentry
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry