WUOT News Awards

Really, it's an honor just be nominated. WUOT's news department strives to present timely, accurate, interesting features that tell East Tennessee's stories in an engaging manner. At times that work is recognized by our peers in journalism, an honor unto itself. Here are the most recent journalism awards we've received from local and national organizations.

2025 PMJA (Public Media Journalists Association) Awards, Division A

Human Interest - First Place: A Smoky Mountain Christmas - Pierce Gentry

Continuing Coverage - Second Place: Hurricane Helene

2024 East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists Golden Press Cards

Breaking Coverage, Radio - First Place: Record breaking floodwaters impact East Tennessee in wake of Hurricane Helene - Pierce Gentry, Jacqui Sieber, and Jon Knowles

Deadline/Breaking News Reporting, Radio - First Place: Dynamite found at CMC Recycling causes 30-hour evacuation - Pierce Gentry and Jon Knowles

Feature Reporting, Radio - First Place: A Smoky Mountain Christmas - Pierce Gentry

In-Depth Coverage, Radio - First Place: Continuing Coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene - Jon Knowles, Pierce Gentry, Jacqui Sieber, Riley Thompson, Justin Hicks and Ryan Van Velzer

Government & Politics Reporting, Radio - First Place: Knoxville Voter's Faced with 'At-large' Decision - Pierce Gentry

Investigative Reporting, Radio - First Place: As Knoxville College applies for accreditation, viability of finances and campus are uncertain - Jacqui Sieber

General Reporting, Radio - First Place: Celebrating 100 years of the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club - Pierce Gentry

Best of Show, Radio: Continuing Coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene - Jon Knowles, Pierce Gentry, Jacqui Sieber, Riley Thompson, Justin Hicks and Ryan Van Velzer

Feature Reporting, Radio - Second Place: Plein Air painters persist through the rain in Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Pierce Gentry

2024 Edward R. Murrow Awards, Region Eight

Excellence in Sound, Small Market Radio: The magical mating display of a special firefly species - Jacqui Sieber

2023 East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists Golden Press Cards

Feature Reporting, Radio - First Place: The synchronous fireflies of Elkmont Campground - Jacqui Sieber and Maxwell Tsetsakis

General Reporting, Radio - First Place: Tennessee nonprofits proliferate as regulations lag - Melanie Faizer and Eden Bollschweiler

Government & Politics Reporting, Radio - First Place: Tennessee’s relationship with federal funding (series) - Eden Bollschweiler, Alexis Bishop and Jacqui Sieber

• Experts say rejecting education funds would risk safeguards for Tennessee's most vulnerable students
• TN education panel hears from experts and educators on potential effects of rejecting federal funds
• Following Tennessee's loss of Title X funds, undocumented women are denied care

Climate and Environment Reporting, All Media - First Place: Empowering consumers on issues of sustainability (series) - MaryBeth Mahne, Jacqui Sieber, Nick McNeese

• Kudzu: kill it, eat it or use it in soap? You decide.
• Tree planting events begin in December as city planners expand Knoxville's tree canopy
• Roadway trash costs taxpayers millions: 'It's up to Tennessee drivers'
• Residential glass collection program to launch in November, as Knoxville startups tackle sustainability

Climate and Environment Reporting, All Media - Second Place: When extreme weather is a threat, how do forecasters communicate risk? - Melanie Faizer

Student, Best Feature Story, Student Journalism - Second Place: Speed kills: Knoxville faces traffic safety, noise issues - Maxwell Tsetsakis and Eden Bollschweiler

Best Student Journalism, Student Journalism - Second Place: Feature stories by student - Alexis Bishop