Urban Chickens, and the Sounds that Tell Their Story, Earn Associated Press Honors for Colorado Public Radio
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – June 17, 2010 – Colorado Public Radio (CPR) Reporter Megan Verlee recently received the second-place award for “Use of Sound” from the 2010 Colorado Associated Press Broadcasters Association Contest. Verlee's story, featuring sounds mixed by CPR Audio Producer David Fender, covered the changing nature of municipal ordinances for livestock in urban areas, with a special focus on her neighbor's chickens living on a converted sun porch in northeast Denver.
The story, titled “Raising a Flap Over Urban Chickens,” included rooster calls, chicken chatter, and in-person interviews. It originally aired on Colorado Public Radio on Jan. 9, 2009 and was featured on NPR's “All Things Considered” the following day.
“Urban animal husbandry is increasingly popular, and is part of the larger discussion around local food and environmental concerns,” said Megan Verlee. “In our news room, we place a real emphasis on reporting stories in a way that's insightful and entertaining for our listeners, and finding interesting audio is a big part of that.”
Entries in the radio sound category were rated based on use of “natural” and “wild” audio, as well as scripted material and production techniques. AP-member broadcasters in Connecticut judged entries from Colorado stations for stories aired between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2009.
Verlee, a six-time recipient of the regional Edward R. Murrow Award, joined Colorado Public Radio in the spring of 2008, just in time to cover the Democratic National Convention and the state's role in the presidential election. She started her career in journalism at NPR as a producer for “Morning Edition” and “Talk of the Nation,” and her work has been featured on numerous national radio programs and in several food and culture publications. As a general assignment reporter for CPR, she has covered topics ranging from conservation programs on the eastern plains to natural gas development on the western slope.
Listen to the award-winning story, “Raising a Flap Over Urban Chickens,” or learn more about CPR's in-depth coverage of local news and events at CPR.org.
Colorado Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides 24-hour, in-depth news and classical music to nearly 480,000 listeners each week (Source: Arbitron, Fall 2009). More than 90 percent of CPR's funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses and foundations.
Colorado Public Radio News: Denver 90.1 FM & 1340 AM, Boulder 1490 AM, Pueblo 1230 AM, Grand Junction 89.5 FM, Montrose & Craig 88.3 FM, Vail 89.9 FM, and online at CPR.org.
Colorado Public Radio Classical Music: Denver 88.1 FM, Boulder 99.9 FM, Pueblo 91.9 FM, Colorado Springs 94.7 FM, Glenwood Springs 90.5 FM, Western Slope 103.3 FM, and online at CPR.org.
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