News Release

July 10, 2006

Boise State Radio Wins Excellence in Journalism Award

Boise State Radio’s special projects director, Jyl Hoyt, and her editor, Peter Thomson, won first place in the documentary category from the Society of Professional Journalists Western Chapter Pro Chapter in the Pacific Northwest, representing journalists from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

Hoyt and Thomson were recognized for the “Excellence in Journalism Competition 2005” for their hour-long radio documentary, “Legacy and Lessons of Lewis & Clark.”

Hoyt and Thomson worked two years on the documentary that was made up of four stand-alone stories that could also be broadcast individually. At least 16 public radio stations across the country aired the full documentary and/or the individual stories. Listeners have hailed the program as “excellent work, educational.”

Hoyt’s former journalism professor at the University of Montana and frequent contributor to the Washington Post, Robert McGiffert, praised the work saying, “I just listened in fascination to your four-part Lewis and Clark piece. It’s a remarkable job of weaving together many different strands of the story, and placing the expedition in the history of both Europeans and Indians. The interviews and the writing are just wonderful. A truly major accomplishment.”

Hoyt previously worked with Thomson for a decade while filing stories for National Public Radio’s Living on Earth.

This is the fourth Excellence in Journalism award for Hoyt, who earned a master’s in journalism from the University of Montana. Over the past 18 years she has also collected 48 first place awards from the Idaho Press Club.

“The Lessons and Legacy of Lewis and Clark” was made possible by a grant from the Idaho Governor’s Lewis & Clark Trail Committee.

Information on the Boise State Radio network, including KBSU–Arts and Cultural Programming, Idaho Jazz Station and NPR News 91, is available at http://radio.boisestate.edu.

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Contacts: John Hess, General Manager, Boise State Radio, (208) 426-1984, johnhess@boisestate.edu;  Jim East, Associate General Manager, Programming , (208) 947-5659, jeast@boisestate.edu
Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Communications, (208) 426-3275, kraven@boisestate.edu

Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and public service.

 

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Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007