Blizzard? What blizzard?
I journeyed to Atlantic City in New Jersey at the end of February to judge the National Headliner Awards.
The contest, around more than 90 years now, has honored many of my heroes over the decades, including Edward R. Murrow, Ernie Pyle and David Brinkley. So it’s a thrill to serve as a judge.
Quality journalism isn’t dead, my friends. It’s just harder to find.
Blame the messy media universe, our tribal society, or all the mindless distractions on our phones.
It’s clear ESPN, ABC News, Bloomberg, and NBC News are committed to the podcast space. Despite losing the funding battle on Capitol Hill last year, NPR also continues to churn out important audio journalism.
Strong podcasts are also flourishing at local stations like WUNC, WWNO, WBEZ, WBUR and GBH in Boston.
Recipe for Success
Banana cream pie from the Knife and Fork restaurant in Atlantic City
Think your work has what it takes to stand out and win? Your presentation should ooze goodness like this slice of banana cream pie from the historic Knife & Fork Inn in Atlantic City.
Your podcast entry should have the following ingredients:
Top: Sweet and tempting start (a catchy letter and key content in the first minute)
Middle: Natural goodness and value in the middle (represented by real banana slices in this pie)
Bottom: Foundation of strong storytelling, real voices, and fact-based reporting
If you’re on a diet, and counting your calories, then follow these best practices when submitting for future contests:
— Make your presentation easy to follow
— Submit a well-polished letter for the judges
— Include relevant website stories and social media links
— Demonstrate a clear benefit to the public
— Illustrate why your work is unique and above all others
Finally… Why You Should Pursue Awards
At a time many media organizations are cutting back, you should seek recognition and prove your worth through award contests.
Are the bean counters eyeing you? Could your show face the budget axe? Need to prove your value to management? If so, then craft a podcast plan, define your mission, and create a show that will make a difference.
In podcasting since 2006, John Wordock served as Executive Editor & SVP for Podcasting at Westwood One from 2019 to 2024 and helped build Cumulus Podcast Network into a top ten network. He also served as Executive Producer for Podcasts at The Wall Street Journal until 2019. He now works at WTOP in Washington, D.C. as a business reporter and multimedia journalist.