WBHM 90.3 FM and the Gulf States Newsroom are Regional Edward R. Murrow Award winners for 2026, with WBHM again recognized with Overall Excellence, the highest award.
The Radio Television Digital News Association has honored outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Murrow set as a standard for the profession of broadcast and digital journalism.
Regional Murrow Awards are presented to radio, television and digital outlets in small and large markets based on 14 geographic regions. Winners were announced May 28. Region 9 covers Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The Region 9: Radio division features 17 categories.
For Radio: Small Market, WBHM won:
- Hard News: Islamic school’s effort to expand draws anti-Muslim backlash
- Newscast: WBHM Newscast from May 2, 2025
- Sports Reporting: In a big step for Alabama, youth cricket comes to Pelham
- Overall Excellence
For Radio: Large Market, Gulf States Newsroom won:
- Excellence in Sound: New Orleans musicians feel the heat of rising temperatures
Regional winners automatically advance to the national round of the competition. National winners will be announced in August and celebrated at the Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala in New York City on Oct. 12.
WBHM 90.3 FM is “Public Radio for the Heart of Alabama.” More than a radio station, WBHM is an essential public resource through journalism that is fair, credible, accurate and honest. The WBHM newsroom makes its decisions independently from WBHM’s business and fundraising operations. Free from commercial and political influence, WBHM seeks to make Birmingham and Alabama a better place to live by educating, engaging and entertaining the people of the Birmingham Metro area and the state. WBHM is dedicated to the idea that an informed citizenry is vital to democracy and a thriving economy, and it celebrates diversity, innovation and lifelong learning. For more news, follow the station on Facebook and @WBHM903 on Instagram.
Gulf States Newsroom is a joint regional collaboration between National Public Radio and stations WBHM in Alabama, WWNO and WRKF in Louisiana and Mississippi Public Radio. Through the Gulf States Newsroom, NPR and the participating stations in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana share resources, plan together and deliver more reporting in areas with widening gaps in local news coverage. The collaboration aims to better serve the existing public media audience while also making a multi-platform push to reach new, diverse groups throughout the Gulf region. Gulf States Newsroom’s work is made possible through the support of NPR, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Commonwealth Fund, Moises Itzkowich Foundation, Theresa McDonald, Advancing Democracy and the Haberman Foundation.