TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama Public Radio, which broadcasts from studios in the College of Communication and Information Sciences at The University of Alabama, received four awards presented by the Radio-Television News Directors Association.

APR news director Butler Cain and staff were recognized with four Edward R. Murrow Awards in the 2005 Region 9: Small Market competition. The winners were recently announced at an awards ceremony in Washington D.C.

"The Alabama Report" was named best Small Market Radio Newscast for Region 9, which includes Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

APR's coverage of Hurricane Ivan won the award for Best Spot News Coverage. A progression of stories on former Gov. Don Siegelman's indictment on allegations of bid-rigging won for Best Continuing Coverage. And, the series "Alabama's Rural Health Care Challenge" won the fourth award for Best News Series.

“These awards are clear evidence Alabama Public Radio continues to be an example of the best in broadcast journalism and provides a top-notch learning experience for our students,” said Dr. Culpepper E. Clark, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences.

“APR is a community service of UA and the Center for Public Television and Radio,” said Roger Duvall, station manager. “The University administration believes strongly in independent journalism, and APR operates under its own editorial and managerial control. The radio station is staffed largely by professionals with assistance from students, and students can earn academic credit through working at APR.”

The Radio-Television News Directors Association is the largest organization of electronic news media professionals, students and educators in the nation. The organization has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971.

Murrow Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the broadcast news profession, according to the association.

Regional winners automatically become eligible for the national awards competition, which will be judged in early June. The national Edward R. Murrow Awards will be presented on Oct. 17 at a gala dinner in New York.