Eight Media General TV Stations, Web Sites Earn Regional Murrow Awards, Including Two for Overall Excellence

Eight Media General TV Stations, Web Sites Earn Regional Murrow Awards, Including Two for Overall Excellence

RICHMOND, Va., April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Media General, Inc. (NYSE:MEG) announced today that eight of its broadcast operations have won a total of 17 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for outstanding achievements in electronic journalism. Two television stations, WJAR-TV in Providence, R.I., and WSAV-TV Savannah, Ga., won for Overall Excellence, the most prestigious category.

"We are delighted that seven of our stations were recognized with regional Edward R. Murrow awards for providing excellent and compelling local news reporting to our communities," said James A. Zimmerman, president of Media General's Broadcast Division. "Our news teams' commitment to journalistic excellence was showcased in the high-profile local stories they covered so well."

Television stations in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia earned the annual awards of the Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA). Seven stations won in the categories of Newscast, Feature Reporting, Spot News Coverage, Investigative Reporting, Continuing Coverage, News Documentary and Videography. Two stations were recognized for Best Web site and four operations received multiple awards. Regional award winners automatically compete for the national Edward R. Murrow Awards. National winners will be selected in June.

The 2008 regional awards went to the following Media General television stations:

    Overall Excellence:    WJAR, Providence, R.I.    WSAV, Savannah, Ga.    Other Categories:    WCBD, Charleston, S.C.:      Continuing Coverage: "Fallen Heroes," about a fire at a furniture store     that killed nine firefighters, and the subsequent issues the tragedy     raised.      Feature Reporting: "Out of this World Attraction," about a resident who     built his own UFO that became the main attraction in his town.      Best Regional Web site, www.counton2.com    WJBF, Augusta, Ga.:      News Documentary: "Augusta to Nicaragua," an in-depth report on the     local citizens, medical personnel and city leaders who travel to     Nicaragua each year, showcasing how the generosity of area residents     improves the lives of many.    WKRG, Mobile, Ala.:      Continuing Coverage: "Mobile's Makeover," an hour-long documentary on     the new multi-billion dollar industries moving to Mobile.      Spot News Coverage:  "Perfect Murder," the station's coverage of a     murder investigation in Citronelle, Ala.      Best Regional Web site, www.wkrg.com    WSAV, Savannah, Ga.:      Continuing Coverage: "Troy Davis," which followed the story of a death     row inmate whose case went before the Georgia Supreme Court after his     family fought for a stay of execution.      Newscast: "News 3 at 11"    WSLS, Roanoke, Va.:      Continuing Coverage: "Virginia Tech Massacre: The First Two Days," the     station's reporting during the aftermath of the worst mass shooting in     U.S. history.      Investigative Reporting: "Botetourt Travel"      Spot News Coverage: "Virginia Tech Massacre Day 1," about the mass     shooting at Virginia Tech.    WTVQ, Lexington, Ky.:      Investigative Reporting: "Knott County," a year-long investigation into     the activities of a judge executive in Knott County. Several indictments     resulted after WTVQ learned that private drives were being paved with     county equipment in direct violation of the law.      Videography. The compilation included Photojournalist Steve Kaufmann's     best work of the year.    WVTM, Birmingham, Ala.:      News Documentary: "Black History"     About Media General  

Media General is a leading provider of local news, information and entertainment over multiple media platforms. The company serves markets primarily in the Southeastern United States. Media General publishes 25 daily newspapers, including The Tampa Tribune, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Winston- Salem Journal; and community newspapers in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina; plus approximately 275 weekly newspapers and other targeted publications. The company owns and operates 23 network-affiliated television stations that reach more than 32 percent of the television households in the Southeast and nearly 9.5 percent of those in the United States. The company's interactive media operations include Web sites and portals that are associated with each of its newspapers and television stations as well as with many specialty publications, and two growing interactive advertising services companies, Blockdot, Inc. and DealTaker.com.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: mgoodhead@mediageneral.com

Source: Media General, Inc.

CONTACT: Media, Liz Cleal of Media General, +1-804-649-6869,
lcleal@mediageneral.com

Web site: http://www.mediageneral.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment