MOLINE, ILLINOIS (May 18, 2021) — May was an exciting month for WQPT winning a Communicator Award “Award of Excellence” in the Writing-Column/Editorial category for an article Director of Education Michael Carton wrote for Quad City Family Focus Magazine titled “Advice from Elmo,” which had been published in June 2020.
The award was announced by The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA). “With over 6,000 entries received from across the US and around the world, the Communicator Awards is the largest and most-competitive awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals. Winners who received the competition’s highest honor, the Award of Excellence include UFC, PepsiCo, Forbes, BoxMedia, WWE, Microsoft, Code Red, GmbH, Comcast, Disney Creative Studios… and WQPT!,” said Mr Carton.
In addition, WQPT received a second-place award from the Iowa Broadcast News Association (IBNA) for their production “Snapshots — Steeplejack,” which told the story of a steeplejack from Galesburg, Illinois named Daniel Billings. “Snapshots” are short-form documentaries that WQPT has been producing for seven years, which tell little-known stories of the people, places, and events of the Quad Cities and surrounding counties.
“We are always thrilled when WQPT’s work is acknowledged by organizations that recognize excellence in media,” said Interim General Manager Dawn Schmitt.
WQPT is a public media service of Western Illinois University.