National Murrow Recognition
National Murrow Awards 2026 Recognize Top Outlets for Investigations and Breaking News
Key Points
News 12 earned two national Murrow Awards: Investigative Reporting for Trafficking in the Tri-State (Rooms Without Rescue) from the Turn to Tara team, which included Audrey Gruber, Tara Rosenblum, Jean Salzarulo, Alan Flamenhaft, Lee Danuff, and Karen Rebecchi; and Sports Reporting for Long Live Marcus Rogers by Marissa Alter and Jim Mennino.
KIRO Newsradio's national Murrow for Breaking News Coverage on Seattle ICE protests highlighted on-scene reporting by James Lynch and Gwen Baumgardner, with Tom Hutyler anchoring; continued coverage by Charlie Harger, Manda Factor, and Luke Duecy on Seattle’s Morning News; Charlie Harger also earned an Excellence in Writing honor.
Atlanta News First's national Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in Large Market Television followed four regional Murrow wins: Digital HOA Nightmares by Anastassia Olmos and Excellence in Video Powerless by Brendan Keefe; the regional wins helped propel the national recognition and highlighted Georgia policy discussions, including HB 641 on medical-need disconnection policies.
WSMV4's Murrow Award for Murders on Main Street recognizes the podcast’s investigative depth, hosted by Jeremy Finley; the series features three episodes—Fear Thy Neighbor, Voice from the Grave, and Secret Under the Stairs—and revisits the Pembroke, Kentucky, murder case, including new details and the revelation that the killer was a pilot for American Airlines.
WCCO earned a national Murrow for continuing coverage of the August 27, 2025 Annunciation mass shooting in south Minneapolis, where two people were killed and many injured; the reporting followed the community’s response, including calls for gun reform and reactions from officials, with 12-year-old Sophia Forchas among those affected; WCCO previously won a Murrow in 2022 for Daunte Wright coverage.
The Radio Television Digital News Association announced the 2026 National Edward R. Murrow Awards, and multiple outlets across the country took home top honors News 12, KIRO Newsradio, WCCO, and others earned recognition for investigations, breaking news, podcasts, and continuing coverage that served communities coast to coast.
The Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious honors in journalism. This year's winners span human trafficking investigations, mass shooting coverage, ICE protest reporting, and a true-crime podcast tied to a Kentucky murder case.
News 12 Wins Two National Murrows for Trafficking and Sports
News 12 earned two national Murrow Awards — one of the biggest hauls in this year's cycle. The first went to Investigative Reporting for "Trafficking in the Tri-State," also called "Rooms Without Rescue." The Turn to Tara team produced the piece, with Audrey Gruber, Tara Rosenblum, Jean Salzarulo, Alan Flamenhaft, Lee Danuff, and Karen Rebecchi all credited.
The second award went to Sports Reporting for "Long Live Marcus Rogers," produced by Marissa Alter and Jim Mennino. The two wins show the station's strength across very different kinds of storytelling — hard-hitting investigations and emotional sports features.
KIRO Newsradio's ICE Protest Coverage Breaks Through Nationally
KIRO Newsradio won a 2026 National Murrow for Breaking News Coverage of Seattle's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests. James Lynch and Gwen Baumgardner reported on the scene. Tom Hutyler anchored the coverage. The station had already collected seven regional Murrow Awards before earning this national recognition.
Charlie Harger, Manda Factor, and Luke Duecy continued coverage on Seattle's Morning News. Harger also earned a separate Excellence in Writing honor. The awards reflect a full newsroom effort, not just one reporter's work.
Nashville Podcast Digs Into a Kentucky Murder Cold Case
WSMV4 in Nashville won a national Murrow for its podcast "Murders on Main Street," hosted by investigative reporter Jeremy Finley. The series has three episodes: "Fear Thy Neighbor," "Voice from the Grave," and "Secret Under the Stairs." It revisits a murder case in Pembroke, Kentucky. This is WSMV4's second Murrow in three years.
One of the podcast's biggest revelations: the killer worked as a pilot for American Airlines. The show mixes new details with a deep look at the original case, showing how podcast formats can push investigative work into new territory.
WCCO and Atlanta News First Round Out National Honors
WCCO won a national Murrow for continuing coverage of the August 27, 2025 Annunciation mass shooting in south Minneapolis. Two people were killed and many were injured. Among those affected was 12-year-old Sophia Forchas. WCCO's reporting tracked community calls for gun reform and reactions from city officials. The station previously won a Murrow in 2022 for its Daunte Wright coverage.
Atlanta News First earned a national Murrow for Overall Excellence in Large Market Television. That win followed four regional Murrow Awards, including Digital recognition for "HOA Nightmares" by Anastassia Olmos and an Excellence in Video win for "Powerless" by Brendan Keefe. The regional momentum helped propel the station to national-level recognition.
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