WDET nabs 12 Society of Professional Journalists awards, including five first-place wins
WDET’s Pat Batcheller, Nargis Rahman and Alex McLenon were among the station’s newsroom staff who won SPJ awards.
From left: WDET "Morning Edition" host Pat Batcheller and WDET reporters Nargis Rahman and Alex McLenon received awards at the annual Society of Professional Journalists Detroit awards ceremony on May 15, 2024, at the San Marino Club in Troy, Michigan.
Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET won several awards at the Society of Professional Journalism Detroit’s annual ceremony on Wednesday, earning first-place finishes in best newscast, general news reporting, environmental reporting and more.
WDET Morning Edition host Pat Batcheller won first-place in best newscast in radio broadcasting, while WDET All Things Considered host Russ McNamara was the runner-up.
WDET reporter and anchor Quinn Klinefelter won first-place for general news reporting, while former WDET news intern Solina Robles took home top honors for environmental reporting.
See the full list of WDET winners below:
Community/Local News Reporting
WDET News – First Place
Newscast
Pat Batcheller – First Place
WDET 5 a.m. newscast for Sept. 15, 2023
Russ McNamara – Second Place
WDET 4:30 p.m. newscast for Oct. 6, 2023
General News Reporting
Quinn Klinefelter – First Place
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s polarizing legacy lingers 10 years after conviction
Environment Reporting
Solina Robles – First Place
Project aims to restore wildlife habitats at Palmer Park
Laura Herberg – Second Place
CuriosiD: How do you catch fish in the Detroit River? And are they safe to eat?
News/Public Affairs (regular scheduled programs)
Stephen Henderson, Sam Corey, Nick Austin, Maddie Boyer, Adam Fox, David Leins – First Place
Detroit Today: Reckoning with the construction and rebuild of I-375
Breaking News/Spot News Reporting
Nargis Rahman – Third Place
Whitmer asks Biden administration for update on Michigan residents stuck in Gaza
Feature Reporting
Nargis Rahman – Third Place
Thabaat in Warren creating alternative spaces for young professionals to network
Sports Reporting
Quinn Klinefelter – Second Place
The Detroit Lions have struggled years. Fans now have something to be thankful for
Alex McLenon – Third Place
Detroit Grand Prix’s return to downtown draws new fans, but drivers have concerns
Ryan Patrick Hooper – Fourth Place
Miguel Cabrera steps up to bat one last time
SPJ Detroit’s Excellence in Journalism banquet honors the best journalists in Southeast Michigan working in radio, television, print and digital news.
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