Sunday Special: Revisit WRAL's award-winning reporting on Durham explosion, racial justice in Apex and how police use Google to track criminals

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has honored Capitol Broadcasting Company's WRAL-TV with three regional Edward R. Murrow awards. The Murrow awards recognize the best electronic journalism produced by radio, television and online news organizations around the world. WRAL was honored in the Breaking News Coverage, Continuing Coverage, and Excellence in Innovation categories.

Posted 10:00 a.m. May 17, 2020 — Updated 10:00 a.m. May 17, 2020

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has honored Capitol Broadcasting Company’s WRAL-TV with three regional Edward R. Murrow awards. The Murrow awards recognize the best electronic journalism produced by radio, television and online news organizations around the world.

WRAL was honored in the Breaking News Coverage, Continuing Coverage, and Excellence in Innovation categories:

Breaking News Coverage

Durham building explosion Coverage

On April 10, 2019 around 10 a.m., a gas leak led to a deadly explosion in downtown Durham. At least 25 people were injured in the explosion, and one died. The blast was felt for miles and left the Durham community shaken on the city's 150th birthday.

WRAL's coverage includes the live, day-long developments immediately after the blast and the year-long reporting on the victims, the causes and the long-term recovery in the neighborhood.

Continuing Coverage

Justice was six decades in the making for Lynn Council, and WRAL's Gerald Owens was there to tell his story.

'Jesus stepped in:' Man recounts horror of hanging attempt

Council says two Wake County sheriff's deputies hanged him from a tree in 1952 to scare him into confessions to a crime he didn't commit.

After Council told his story on WRAL, Apex Police Chief John Letteney not only listened to his memory of the event but removed an honor from one of the officers involved.

Excellence in Innovation

To find suspects, Raleigh police quietly turn to Google

In at least four investigations over the course of a year – cases of murder, sexual battery and even possible arson at the massive downtown fire in March 2017 – Raleigh police used search warrants to demand Google accounts not of specific suspects, but from any mobile devices that veered too close to the scene of a crime. These warrants often prevent the technology giant for months from disclosing information about the searches not just to potential suspects, but to any users swept up in the search.

WRAL-TV News Director Rick Gall said, “This is well-earned recognition for the whole news team. WRAL News is committed to serving our community through outstanding journalism each and every day. I’m very proud of our team, whose drive and talent are exemplary.”

RTDNA has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Murrow Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the broadcast news profession.

“This acknowledgement of our commitment to breaking news, storytelling and innovation speaks to the outstanding skill of the WRAL News team,” said WRAL-TV Vice President and General Manager Joel Davis.

WRAL competes in Region 8, which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. Regional winners are automatically entered in the national Murrow awards competition. National winners will be announced later this year.

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