WKU News

The local news team at WKU Public Media and college journalists at Western Kentucky University have been named finalists in several categories in the 2025 Kentucky Broadcasters Association Excellence in Broadcasting competition. 

The prestigious awards are open to all professional broadcast stations that are KBA members as well as college broadcasting and journalism departments.  

WKU Public Media was named one of three finalists in the radio categories of Station of the Year and Best Overall Newscast/News Coverage.

In addition, three WKU Public Media team members are finalists in different KBA radio categories: Lisa Autry for News Reporter of the Year; Derek Parham, for Rookie of the Year; and Michael Collins, for Special Program or Feature. 

In the College TV awards, Western Kentucky University is the lone finalist in the categories of College Program of the Year and Newscast/Coverage.

WKU’s Adi Schanie and Ree Kirksey are the two finalists in News Reporter of the Year. 

In the category of Student Broadcaster of the Year, WKU’s Ryan Murphy and Cole McIntire are the two finalists. 

WKU is also a finalist in the TV categories of Overall Digital Presence and Special Program or Feature. 

In the College Radio awards, WKU’s Cole McIntire is a finalist in the category of Special Program or Feature. 

Winners will be announced at the annual KBA Conference on Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Owensboro Convention Center.

Contact: WKU Public Media, (270) 745-2400

-WKU-

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.