WDSU News has been honored with a Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. WDSU News received this national award for its breaking news coverage of Hurricane Ida in the “Breaking Television News – Large Market” category. The Society of Professional Journalists describes the Sigma Delta Chi award as “among the premiere awards given to the profession: a recognition of achievements in professional journalism in its many forms.” This is the second year in a row that WDSU has received the top honors for the “Breaking News – Large Market” category.This year, the honor went to WDSU News for its coverage of Hurricane Ida that made landfall in southeast Louisiana on Aug. 29, 2021. Led by WDSU News anchors Sula Kim, Travers Mackel, Randi Rousseau, Chad Sabadie and Gina Swanson, the coverage consisted of several reporters from across the region providing minute-by-minute updates on conditions as they that the storm was making landfall and the damage left behind.This was in collaboration with New Orleans’ “Most Accurate” certified weather forecast team, WDSU Weather, led by Chief Meteorologist Margaret Orr, along with Met watchmakers Damon Singleton and Lee Southwick. In all, WDSU News and Weather provided 79 continuous hours of coverage before, during and after the hurricane. “WDSU is committed to keeping our communities safe during breaking news and weather events,” said Mike Neelly, WDSU President and CEO. “As broadcast journalists, our charter and mission is to serve Southeast Louisiana. It’s a great honor to be recognized by our peers across the country as the best in class when it comes to providing important information and accurate when lives are at risk.” WDSU News Director Melissa Dart said. “Our primary mission is to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, especially when our residents are in danger. I am honored to work with a team that truly lives our mission every day and steps up when our community needs it most” . Chi Awards.
NEW ORLEANS –
WDSU News has been honored with a Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. WDSU News received this national award for its breaking news coverage of Hurricane Ida in the “Breaking Television News – Large Market” category.
The Society of Professional Journalists describes the Sigma Delta Chi award as “among the premiere awards given to the profession, recognizing the achievements of professional journalism in its many forms“.
This is the second year in a row that WDSU has received top honors for the “Breaking News – Large Market” category.
This year, WDSU News was honored for its coverage of Hurricane Ida that made landfall in southeast Louisiana on August 29, 2021. Led by WDSU News anchors Sula Kim, Travers Mackel, Randi Rousseau, Chad Sabadie and Gina Swanson, coverage consisted of several reporters from across the region providing minute-by-minute updates on conditions as the storm made landfall and the damage left behind.
This was in collaboration with New Orleans’ “Most Accurate” certified weather forecast team, WDSU Weather, led by Chief Meteorologist Margaret Orr, along with meteorologists Damon Singleton and Lee Southwick. In all, WDSU News and Weather provided 79 continuous hours of coverage before, during and after the hurricane.
“WDSU is committed to keeping our communities safe during breaking news and weather events,” said Mike Neelly, WDSU President and CEO. “As broadcast journalists, our charter and mission is to serve Southeast Louisiana. It is a great honor to be recognized by our peers across the country as best in class in providing important and accurate information when the lives are in danger.”
“This national award recognizes the extraordinary work our newsroom does to serve our community,” said WDSU News Director Melissa Dart. “Our primary mission is to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, especially when our residents are in danger. I am honored to work with a team that truly lives our mission every day and steps up when our community needs it most” .
Click here to view the WDSU News awards presentation as well as all category winners for the 2021 SPJ Sigma Delta Chi Awards.
