Bob Beck
Wyoming Public Media (WPM) News Director Bob Beck has been awarded a distinguished regional Edward R. Murrow award for best audio feature reporting.
Beck received the coveted honor for a story called "Goat Silk." It is about the efforts of University of Wyoming Professor Randy Lewis to use goats as a way to manufacture spider silk, so that it can be used by doctors as succors or in other medical applications. Lewis placed spider silk genes in goats in an effort to manufacture more spider silk than spiders can produce. It comes out in the goat's milk.
"When I first heard about Randy's research, it sounded crazy and I wanted to learn more about it. It was a fascinating story to report on. I thank Dr. Lewis for being a great interview and for being willing to spend the time with me to make this story come to light. I really enjoyed putting this story together," Beck says.
The Murrow awards honor outstanding achievements in electronic journalism. The Radio-Television Digital News Association, the world's largest electronic news organization, has been home of the awards since 1971.
RTNDA states that "Murrow's pursuit of excellence in journalism embodies the spirit of the awards that carry his name." This is the second straight year WPM has won a Murrow and the third time since 2007.
"These awards are among the most difficult for broadcasters to win, and so for our little station to be so successful in recent years is a tribute to the great staff we have been able to put together. It is truly a team effort," Beck says.
Beck won for a region that includes all radio stations in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. He will now compete against other award winners for a national Murrow award, which will be announced this fall.
WPM is a service of the University of Wyoming.
