Awards & Achievements
Indiana Public Radio has consistently been recognized by journalism associations for its excellence in broadcasting and news reporting. The IPR News Team has garnered awards for overall excellence, public affairs programming, election night coverage, and individual stories. These awards come from organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists, the Indiana Associated Press, Indiana Broadcasters Association, and the Radio Television Digital News Association (formerly RTNDA).
Stan Sollars
Stephanie Wiechmann
2024
Stephanie Wiechmann
Society of Professional Journalists – First Place, Continuing Coverage,
‘Shaken by violence’: Muncie gives update on weekend shooting that killed one, injured 18,
Muncie noise exemptions reviewed after weekend shooting at large party,
Muncie changes noise ordinance exemption after deadly shooting at approved party
Society of Professional Journalists – Third Place, Best Newscast
Cardinal Compass
Society of Professional Journalists – Second Place, Best Radio Public Affairs
2023
Adele Reich (PMX Fellow)
Society of Professional Journalists – First Place, Student Radio News Reporting, This Indiana fall brings dry conditions and dry rivers
Indiana Association of School Broadcasters – First Place, Radio News Report, For Muncie Civic Theatre, bringing reality to Quasimodo means casting a deaf actor
Isreal Hale (PMX Fellow)
Society of Professional Journalists – Third Place, Student Radio Sports Reporting, David Letterman announces partnership with Ball State Esports and racing team
2022
Stephanie Wiechmann
Society of Professional Journalists – Second Place, Best Newscast
Society of Professional Journalists – Second Place, Breaking News, Former Muncie mayor will serve time in federal prison for taking bribe
2021
Stephanie Wiechmann
Indiana Broadcasters Association – First Place, Best General News, Muncie Largely Opposes YMCA Tuhey Park Plan At Community Meeting
Stan Sollars
Society of Professional Journalists – Third Place, Best Newscast
Christine Hatfield
Society of Professional Journalists – Second Place, Student News Reporting, Coronavirus: A Local Coffee Shop Offers Drinks Delivery To Keep Making Profit, Small Businesses Moving Online – With Personality – For Coronavirus, Coronavirus: College-Adjacent Businesses Seeing Summer Slump Months Early
2020
Christine Hatfield
Society of Professional Journalists – Second Place, Student News Reporting
2019
Stephanie Wiechmann
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Local Radio Reporter
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Spot News, Ball State To Remove Papa John’s Name From Business Program
Indiana Associated Press – Second Place, Best Continuing Coverage of a Single Event, Ball State University – Muncie Community Schools Bill (multiple stories) (with former student reporter Tony Sandleben)
Stan Sollars
Indiana Associated Press – Second Place, Best Long-Form Newscast
Zoe Dwiggins
Society of Professional Journalists – First Place, Student News Reporting, Delaware County Commissioners Approve New Jail Plan, Despite Community Opposition; Excel Center Hopes to Increase Muncie’s Education Rate; 6th District To Be Represented By Another Pence, Beating Muncie’s Lake
2018
Stephanie Wiechmann
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Local Radio Reporter
Indiana Associated Press – Second Place, Best Continuing Coverage, Muncie Schools Partial State Takeover (with Tony Sandleben)
Stan Sollars
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Long-Form Newscast
Tony Sandleben
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Student Reporter
Terry Heifetz and Ball State Immersive Learning
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Community Impact, “Unmasked: The Stigma of Meth”
2017
Stephanie Wiechmann
Indiana Associated Press – Second Place, Best Local Radio Reporter
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Feature, “Mastering Tech at Any Age at the Library”
Indiana Broadcasters Association – Second Place, Best Newscast, Jan. 11, 2017
Stan Sollars
Indiana Associated Press – Second Place, Best Long-Form Newscast
Society of Professional Journalists – Second Place, Best Newscast
Indiana Weekend with John Strauss
Indiana Associated Press – Second Place, Best Public Affairs Program, “Madison County Fair”
Tony Sandleben
Indiana Associated Press – Second Place, Best Student Reporter
Society of Professional Journalists – Second Place, Student Sports Reporting, “Hoosiers at the Games” series
2016
Stephanie Wiechmann
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Local Radio Reporter
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Short-Form Newscast
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Enterprise Story, “Ball State employees report tax fraud after Anthem data breach”
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Continuous Coverage of a Single Event, “Voting on a Reservoir” (Anderson, Chesterfield, Daleville, Yorktown)
Society of Professional Journalists – Third Place, Best Radio Newscast
Indiana Weekend with John Strauss
Indiana Associated Press – Second Place, Best Radio Public Affairs, “Putnamville Prison Horses”
“Stan’s Journey” – Stan Sollars and John Strauss
Society of Professional Journalists – Third Place, Best Radio Documentary, “Stan’s Journey”
Zach Huffman
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Use of Radio Sound, “Fighting the Fire”
Society of Professional Journalists – First Place, Student Radio Features Reporting, “Fighting the Fire”
Michael Kuhn
Indiana Associated Press – Second Place, Best Student Reporter (Radio)
2015
Stephanie Wiechmann
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Local Radio Reporter
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Enterprise Story, “To Protect Our Resources, a Reservoir or a Greenway?”
Indiana Weekend with John Strauss
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Public Affairs, “Prison Art Lessons”
Society of Professional Journalists – Third Place, Radio Documentary or Special, “Prison Art Lessons”
Payne Horning
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Student Reporter
Zach Huffman
Society of Professional Journalists – Third Place, Student Radio Features Reporting, “Hoosier at Sochi Olympics” and “Burying Unclaimed Hoosier Military Dead”
2014
Stephanie Wiechmann
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Local Radio Reporter
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Continuing Coverage, “Muncie Schools Consolidation”
Stan Sollars
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Newscast
Society of Professional Journalists – First Place, Best Newscast
Indiana Weekend with John Strauss
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Public Affairs, “Problem Solving Courts”
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Use of Radio Sound, “Knightstown Railroad”
Society of Professional Journalists – First Place, Best Radio Documentary or Special, “Knightstown Railroad”
Jason Puhr
Society of Professional Journalists – First Place, Student Radio Features Reporting, “Hunger in Muncie”
Safar Saydshoev
Society of Professional Journalists – Honorable Mention, Student Radio Features Reporting, “Demolition Derby”
2013
Stan Sollars
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Newscast Long-Form
Stephanie Wiechmann
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Enterprise Story, “Anderson and Connersville Brainstorm How to Market Brownfields”
Indiana Weekend with John Strauss
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Use of Radio Sound “A Night at Muncie Fire Station 2”
Society of Professional Journalists – First Place, Best Radio Documentary or Special “Election and Race”
Sarah Phinney
Indiana Associated Press – First Place, Best Student Reporter
Society of Professional Journalists – Student Journalist of the Year
2012
Stephanie Wiechmann, Marcus Jackman, Brian Eckstein:
Society of Professional Journalists – First Place, Radio Public Affairs “For a Child’s Sake”
Stephanie Wiechmann:
Society of Professional Journalists Third Place, General News “Muncie Honors Fallen Firefighter”
Sarah Phinney:
Society of Professional Journalists – Second Place, Radio Student Feature News “Tea with the Teapot Club“
