SPOKANE PUBLIC RADIO
CORRESPONDENT AMANDA LODER WINS REGIONAL EDWARD R. MURROW AWARD FOR NATIVE NEWS SERIES

Loder in the KSFC studio

April 10, 2009 - Spokane Public Radio is proud to announce that correspondent Amanda Loder has been named the recipient of the RTNDA Region I Edward R. Murrow Award in the category of News Series, for her 3-part report on Native American Health Care, which aired November 12 to 14, 2008 on KPBX 91.1 and KSFC 91.9fm.

The series focused on the shortage of Native doctors, chronic underfunding from the federal government for reservation clinics, and an even more dire funding situation for Native clinics in cities, where most American Indians now live. It also profiled the creative solutions coming from concerned citizens of Indian Country, including a summer camp for Native high school students where they get firsthand experience of healthcare fields, a reservation clinic that receives more funding by opening its doors to non-Native patients, and a city clinic that's stretching its funding farther by focusing on preventive diabetes education. SPR and Loder were the only radio recipients in the small market area, which includes commercial and non-commercial stations from Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon.

RTNDA, the Association of Electronic Journalists, has honored outstanding achievements in journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. "For a radio journalist, the Murrow Award means a lot. Just being connected to Murrow is amazing," says Loder who received news of her achievement on April 9. "I am so lucky to have the opportunity through public radio to dig deep and put information in context," she says, "and because I'm not as limited, I can take the time with my reporting to make people care…and, I'm glad the station is being recognized for covering an issue that may go under-reported."

Loder, SPR's youngest correspondent, began her journalism career just two years ago when she was hired by the station fresh from graduate school at Syracuse University. Her parents, who live in Newton, Iowa, are "super thrilled," she says, and have already called the local newspaper about her achievement. "That's how small towns in America work. Even though I live in Spokane, I'm still one of theirs," she laughs. Loder also had a news piece about the Spokane Valley fire picked up and aired by National Public Radio, and is currently working on an in-depth series about the new YMCA/YWCA. "This is a different kind of story for me," she says. "I love the creative leeway I am afforded to report stories in ways that matter." Loder's report will go on to be judged for the national Murrow Awards, which are announced in October.

The Edward R. Murrow Awards
Murrow's pursuit of excellence in journalism embodies the spirit of the awards that carry his name. Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Murrow made a standard for the broadcast news profession. Radio and television station entries are judged first by geographic region by a diverse panel of judges from around the country. Awards are given in each category unless, in the opinion of the judges, no award is warranted. The decision of the judges is final. Entries that win regional awards are automatically submitted for consideration of the national Edward R. Murrow Award. The RTNDA Board of Directors will select the national Edward R. Murrow Award winners from among the regional finalists. For a complete list of Region I winners and for more information about the awards, go to: www.rtnda.org