The Public Media Awards honor their member's work in the highest caliber of community engagement, content, education, and marketing and communications. The awards represent a mosaic of relevant content that reflects both creativity and diversity that paint rich stories of truth and consequence. Piece-by-piece and member-by-member, public media stations come together as choreographers of the public good, to spark more imagination and inspiration than they ever could have alone.
The winners were announced at the 58th Annual Public Media Awards Gala on September 13 at the NETA Conference and CPB Public Media Thought Leader Forum. Awards are judged by a group of expert panelists from within the public media system, as well as industry professionals working outside of public media.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community Initiative - WHRO The Voice
The WHRO Voice is a streaming radio service for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have other conditions preventing them from reading standard printed material. Among its many broadcast services, WHRO Public Media has been providing this service for more than 40 years with an emphasis on connecting listeners with their local newspapers. As WHRO has expanded its coverage of local news, so has The WHRO Voice by adding more community newspaper readings from additional weekly or bi-weekly editions in its broadcast area. As a result, our programming now includes virtually every major daily and weekly newspaper in southeastern Virginia.
You can find a full schedule of The Voice’s programs here.
Listen to programs in real time by going to whro.org/voice.
RADIO
Radio – Society & Culture - Christmas in Colonial Virginia
Christmas in Colonial Virginia takes listeners back to the Tidewater of the 1700s, when the holiday looked and felt very different from today. From candlelit homes and twelve days of Christmastide to taverns, plantation gatherings, and wartime upheaval, the program explores how Christmas was observed across colonial Virginia--and how the coming Revolution reshaped the season in Hampton Roads, including the burning of Norfolk. Produced by WHRO Public Media in Norfolk, Virginia, as part of Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, this episode traces the traditions and tensions of a Virginia Christmas along America's road to independence.
OVERALL EXCELLENCE
Excellence in Engagement Campaigns (New category for 2026) - Making History Where History Was Made
Colonial National Historical Park, in partnership with WHRO Public Media, York County Economic & Tourism Development, and the VA250 Commission, held a special screening of Ken Burns’ documentary, The American Revolution, set against the historic backdrop of the Yorktown Battlefield.
Attendees enjoyed seeing never-before-seen excerpts from the film prior to its release. These excerpts were created specifically for this premiere, offering an exclusive look at the pivotal moments of the Siege of Yorktown, a defining moment in America’s fight for independence.
Prior to the film screening, attendees explored a Revolutionary Festival, where they participated in a variety of engaging activities and enjoyed live music.
WHRO President & CEO Bert Schmidt said he is proud of WHRO staff members and the local supporters who make the station's work possible.
"We are honored to receive this recognition from the National Educational Telecommunications Association. The great work we do at WHRO is only possible because of the tremendous support of our community," he said.
View all the awards WHRO has received so far this year.