WRHU at Hofstra University on Long Island has been chosen by the Academy of Radio Arts and Sciences of America to receive the 2021 World Radio Day Award.
“The honor commemorates World Radio Day, established by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) and celebrated annually on Feb. 13,” the organization said in a press release.
“For this year’s award, the jury has highlighted the work done during the coronavirus pandemic, in light of UNESCO’s theme for the World Radio Day 2021 celebration, which is ‘New World, New Radio,’ in the sense that radio is a medium for resilience of our society.”
The award honors a U.S. station that exemplifies the best attributes of the radio industry. Recipients may be large or small, commercial or noncommercial, located in any market, and broadcasting in any language. The jury looks for stations that demonstrate ideals of localism, audience reach, community service, effective use of new digital platforms, diversity in program content and staffing, and financial and ratings success.
Jurors included representatives of Fletcher Heald & Hildreth, Radio Ink, The Weiss Agency, Talkers magazine, the New Jersey Broadcasters Association, McVay Media Consulting, Entercom and Radio World, which was represented by Editor in Chief Paul McLane.
WRHU is the first student-run station to receive this honor. The award was conceived by the Spanish Radio Academy to spread awareness of World Radio Day globally. Last year’s U.S. recipient was WTOP in Washington.
Mark Lukasiewicz, dean of the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, saluted WRHU and its managers and staff “for carrying on their work throughout the pandemic and providing vital information to the community.” The station’s past honors have included three Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters.
