STATION OF THE YEAR
Helping an area in need.
After devastating flooding, WKYT worked with community partners to raise money to support flood relief efforts in Kentucky’s Appalachian counties.
"Appalachia Rises” supported the ARH Foundation Fund for Flood Relief and the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Crisis Fund.
These funds directly supported the families impacted by the flooding.
A community partner.
Throughout the year, WKYT partners with numerous organizations dedicated to helping others and making Kentucky a better place to live.
Efforts include the St. Jude Dream Home to benefit life-saving medical assistance and research for children; the Mission of Hope’s annual drive to ensure children in Appalachia have a Merry Christmas; drives for back-to-school necessities; the annual “Race for the Cure” to support global breast cancer awareness; and other events and organizations ranging from supporting local business to arts education.
Bridging a health divide.
WKYT remains committed to investigating the significant gap that exists between the health outcomes of people living in one region versus those living in another.
Bridging the Great Health Divide uses the power of journalism—primarily local journalism—to expose the health gaps that exist between the Appalachian regions and the rest of nation.
Tackling a political divide.
In a year marked by divisiveness in Washington and Kentucky’s state capital, politics took center stage. In addition coverage of issues most important to each generation of Kentuckians and the long-running weekly public affair program “Kentucky Newsmakers,” WKYT hosted the only televised debates in the Lexington mayoral race.
Investigating important issues.
In addition to regular news coverage and quarterly 30-minute specials created by its investigative team, WKYT spotlighted a wide array of issues and concerns impacting Kentuckians.