Station group Hearst Television Inc. was recently named to win the Walter Cronkite Award for Political Journalism from the USC Annenberg School of Journalism.
The award acknowledges excellence in television-based coverage of politics and political issues. Named after legendary CBS newsman Walter Cronkite, the awards were established following the 2000 election season. Issued after each successive election – 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 – the Hearst station group has received the Cronkite for the Station Group category each time.
Hearst was chosen for its "clear, well-edited and comprehensive" reporting, according to panel judges. The issues, which included bipartisanship, campaign expenditures and the accuracy of campaign ads, were clearly discussed and audience-friendly.
Additional honors will go to Milwaukee, Wis.-based ABC affiliate WISN-TV for their “town hall” coverage.
Award nominations were screened by Annenberg faculty and alumni; the panel of judges was led by the school’s director, Geneva Overholser.
Awards will be presented at USC’s Los Angeles campus on Apr. 26.
