WBEN was awarded three regional Edward R. Murrow journalism awards for their exceptional reporting, including their coverage of the Buffalo blizzard.
They also received the Best Newscast award for their program A New Morning featuring Susan Rose and Brian Mazurowski. WBEN’s comprehensive coverage of the Tops attack and the blizzard earned them the Overall Excellence award.
WBEN emerged as the only media organization in Western New York to provide uninterrupted on-air coverage throughout the storm. Their remarkable dedication resulted in WBEN being honored with the first-place award for their exceptional Breaking News coverage during the blizzard.
In a heartfelt account shared on Tim Wenger’s Facebook page, the Operations Manager/Brand Manager of WBEN recollects a poignant moment during the Christmas Blizzard.
“I remember when ‘James called into WBEN for the 3rd time during the Christmas Blizzard,” he said. “It was Christmas morning, and I got a chill when he told Susan Rose he was still stuck in his vehicle, losing feeling in his legs, a diabetic without insulin. In the end, James would be ok. But so many others would not.
“WBEN made a difference by simply making a decision and a commitment to ‘be there’ when the community was in need. And I’m proud the station and staff has been recognized by the judges and received a rare 3 Edward R. Murrow journalism awards for its continuous coverage,” he added.
