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MISSOULA – Two ³Ô¹ÏÍøPBS television programs and two ³Ô¹ÏÍø Public Radio programs received E.B. Craney Awards from the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Broadcasters Association and the Greater ³Ô¹ÏÍø Foundation.

The E.B. Craney Awards recognize excellence in local news, production, promotion, programs and public service in both radio and television stations across the state. The awards were presented this past weekend during an online presentation from the MBA.

“Keeping the Barn,” produced by John Twiggs, was named Television Non-Commercial Program of the Year. The program celebrated the rich heritage and stories connected to the barns of ³Ô¹ÏÍø. Twiggs also was a finalist for Television Broadcaster of the Year.

Paul Zalis, co-producer and writer of “Charlie Russell’s Old West,” received the E.B. Craney Award for Television Writer: News and Long Form Programming. The program explored Russell’s art and life as he witnessed and documented the end of the Wild West open range and America entered the 20th century. “Charlie Russell’s Old West” also was named runner-up for Program of the Year.

For Radio Non-Commercial Program of the Year, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Public Radio took the prize for the program “Shared State.” The program co-produced by MTPR, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Free Press and Yellowstone Public Radio gave listeners a deeper look at the most important issues on the 2020 ballot.

MTPR news reporter Edward O’Brien took home the E.B. Craney Award in the Radio News Story category for his story, “New Mental Health Emphasis a Lifeline for National Guard Soldiers.” O’Brien introduced listeners to a career ³Ô¹ÏÍø military officer who, during one of her life’s darkest chapters, reached out for help and was thrown a lifeline. MTPR’s Nick Mott was runner-up in the category for his story on mine waste cleanup on the Clark Fork River.

Additionally, the MTPR podcast “Richest Hill” was named runner-up in the Podcast category.

³Ô¹ÏÍø Public Radio and ³Ô¹ÏÍøPBS are part of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Broadcast Media Center.

³Ô¹ÏÍø Public Radio airs across much of western and central ³Ô¹ÏÍø at 89.1 and 91.5 in Missoula, 91.9 in Hamilton, 89.5 in Polson, 90.1 in Kalispell, Whitefish and North Valley, 90.5 in Libby, 91.7 in Kalispell, 101.3 in Swan Lake, 91.3 in Butte, 91.7 in Helena, 89.9 in Great Falls, 91.7 in Dillon and online at .

³Ô¹ÏÍøPBS (KUFM-TV in Missoula, KUSM-TV in Bozeman, KUKL-TV in Kalispell, KBGS-TV in Billings, KUGF-TV in Great Falls and KUHM-TV in Helena) is a service of UM and ³Ô¹ÏÍø State University. For more information visit . 

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Clips:

Keeping the Barn:

Charlie Russell’s Old West:

Shared State:

New Mental Health Emphasis Provides a Lifeline for National Guard Soldiers:

³Ô¹ÏÍø Begins New Round Of Clark Fork Mine Waste Cleanup:

Richest Hill:

Contact: Ray Ekness, director, UM Broadcast Media Center, 406-243-4154, ray.ekness@umontana.edu.