OVERALL EXCELLENCE
WKYT News
Running Time | 29:57
2021 was another unprecedented year.
As the virus outbreak that started on the other side of the world continued to impact everyday life in the Bluegrass State, WKYT faced new challenges in how to best serve its community.
Severe weather left its mark on Kentucky devastating communities . Rainfall exceeding 6 inches led more than 50 cities and counties to declare states of emergency on March 1. In December, five tornadoes hit Kentucky including one with an extraordinarily long path of about 200 miles.
In addition to its investigative work, WKYT’s year-long project “Bridging the Great Health Divide” took an in-depth look at the disparities in health care that still exist between the state’s rural areas and the rest of the country.
Helping a community in need.
Working with AppHarvest, WKYT helped to raise more than $1.3 million to support flood relief efforts in Kentucky’s Appalachian counties.
These funds have supported more than 540 families, 202 small farms and 33 regional non-profits across 35 Eastern Kentucky counties.
Bridging a health divide.
WKYT and its parent company 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 is a 2021 plan to use the power of journalism—primarily local journalism—to expose the health gaps that exist between the Appalachian regions and the rest of nation.
Excelling in coverage.
While it’s important to excel every day, some moments in time stand out.
From the moment Kentucky registered its first confirmed case of COVID-19 to surges in cases because of new variants, WKYT focused on the pandemic’s impact on the state and its citizens.
To mark the year anniversary of the pandemic’s arrival in Kentucky, WKYT produced a community conversation special that strived to answer people’s questions and spotlight how the pandemic changed life in Kentucky.
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.
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.