UNIQUELY KENTUCKY
WKYT
Running Time | 29:28
From around-the-clock breaking news and severe weather coverage to investigating important issues facing Kentuckians, it has been another unprecedented year.
In the year since heavy rains shattered records as disastrous flash floods swept through Eastern Kentucky, we took an in-depth look at the monumental task of rebuilding.
In today’s world, people are bombarded with misinformation, fake images, and partial truths sometimes initially presented to mislead. With our commitment to the Fact✓Check brand, we tackle misinformation head on through transparency and focus on where key pieces of information originated and the source.
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 who continued to be impacted by the summer flooding.
Pack the Lobby for Mission of Hope.
It’s a new holiday tradition to help to spread Christmas cheer to children in one of the most impoverished parts of the country.
By encouraging viewers to help WKYT “pack the lobby” of its landmark building, thousands of toys, clothing items, hygiene products, and other items for the Mission of Hope.
Since 1996, the non-profit has ministered to the people of various counties in Kentucky and Tennessee, from which 80 percent of the region’s residents no longer have jobs in the coal mining industry.
Addressing trust in journalism.
Recognizing that we must proactively address concerns about trust, we reinforce to viewers that WKYT is their trusted news source. The Fact✓Check brand is our way of reinforcing this.
While a Fact✓Check can be a package, it can also be a producer-driven VO or full screen story that helps bring context to a bigger story which allows us to more consistently use the brand across all dayparts and more frequently.
Leading in digital content.
WKYT took major steps to broaden its digital coverage, as the station brought viewers a more in-depth look at stories with interactive charts and graphics to help readers better understand a story.
Tackling a political divide.
In another year marked by divisiveness in Washington and Kentucky’s state capital, politics took center stage. In addition to coverage of issues most important to each generation of Kentuckians and the long-running weekly public affair program “Kentucky Newsmakers,” WKYT hosted statewide televised debates in the Kentucky governor’s race.