CANTON -- North Country Public Radio has been honored with two major journalism awards for its reporting over the past year.

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) announced Thursday that NCPR is the recipient of Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards in the Excellence Diversity, Equity and Inclusion coverage and Sports categories. The Murrow Awards are among the oldest and most prestigious honoring broadcast journalists.

The full news team, including former reporters Julia Ritchey and Natasha Haverty, was recognized for its ongoing coverage, “Reckoning on Race in the North Country.” It included numerous radio and digital stories, special features, and outreach produced over months, as the region dealt with challenging, complex, and emotional issues of race following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Emily Russell was honored for her story, “Fastest Known Time,” which focused on competitive runners in the Adirondacks and their pivot to setting speed records when the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of organized races.

"Our news team leaned in for deep and subtle reporting about race and policing in the North Country immediately after the protests surrounding George Floyd's death began last summer,” said David Sommerstein, NCPR’s Director of News and Local Content. “And Emily Russell continues to explore sports and outdoor recreation in the Adirondacks in unique and subtle ways. These competitive awards are a tribute to the incredibly hard work of our news team during this unprecedented year."

The stories were honored in RTDNA’s Region 11, which includes radio and TV stations in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. They are now under consideration for National Murrow Awards, which will be announced later this year.

“This past year has probably been the most difficult and complicated year our reporters will ever know – both for the stories they covered and the circumstances in which they worked,” said Mitch Teich, NCPR Station Manager. “I’m so glad their stellar work was recognized and honored.”