University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

NEWS RELEASE

Edward R. Murrow Awards Given to KCSN-FM 88.5

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., April 20, 2007) — Cal State Northridge’s acclaimed public radio station, KCSN-FM 88.5, continues to receive recognition for excellence in news reporting with three new Edward R. Murrow Awards.

The regional awards—best feature, best news writing and best newscast—were given to the station and its staff by the Radio and Television News Directors Association for work done during 2006. Murrow was an award-winning journalist and the award in his name recognizes those who embody the same spirit and potential.

Under the supervision of news director Keith Goldstein, KCSN News is entirely anchored, reported, produced and written by CSUN journalism students.

Northridge broadcast journalism senior Angelle Tymon won best feature reporting for her work on "Dimples Karaoke Bar."

"I worked at KCSN for one semester as a field reporter," Tymon said. "I covered press conferences with Gov. Schwarzenegger, Mayor Villaraigosa, and many other council members and city officials."

Tymon said she wrote about Dimples Karaoke bar because she worked there upon her move to Los Angeles and "it just so happens that it was the first karaoke bar in the U.S."

Raising awareness about autism and addressing questions about life with autistic people, such as funding and care for autistic adults, inspired Natascha Crouch, a broadcast journalism senior, to create her award-winning report, "Autism."

"The incidence of the disorder is rising dramatically, and because of that, many new studies are being funded and completed all the time," Crouch said. "I also wanted to raise awareness of serious deficiencies in funding for caring for adults with autism."

The station’s Evening Update received an award for best radio newscast. Some of the subjects covered in 2006 were the extension of the Red Line subway along Wilshire Boulevard, the increasing likelihood of a major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault, water quality in the Santa Monica Bay, plunging enrollment in the Los Angeles Unified School District and growth of the aerospace industry in Southern California. The Evening Update airs weekdays at 6 p.m.

The Radio and Television News Directors Association and Foundation have been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism since 1971. RTNDA is the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. The organization represents local and network news executives in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries.

KCSN-FM 88.5, billed as ÚArts and Roots Radio", now has a total of 22 Edward R. Murrow Awards received by the RTNDA through the work of the students and the staff. CSUN’s radio station falls into RTNDA’s Region 2 radio small market, which covers California, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam.

KCSN-FM 88.5 was recognized in los angeles magazine’s The Best of L.A. 2006 as the best university-sponsored public radio station. The station is also one of the last few to include classical music among their playlist. KCSN-FM 88.5 is a non-profit, member-supported public radio station broadcasting live from the campus of California State University, Northridge. Since 1987, the station has won more than 400 awards in national, state and regional competitions against professional broadcasters and other university students.

To learn more about KCSN-FM 88.5, go to the website: http://www.kcsn.org.