WTVR CBS 6 NEWS: Your Voice, Your Community, Your Story

Edward R. Murrow Overall Excellence Award Entry From heartbreaking tragedies to incredible accomplishments. CBS 6 covered a wide range of stories in 2023. It was a year that left many with mixed emotions, but while we had to devote resources to the events that had a negative impact on our community, we also strived to tell uplifting stories, and give a voice to our viewers. The summer got off to a tragic start, when gunfire erupted moments after a Richmond high school’s graduation ceremony, sending 3,600 people running for their lives. When the scene cleared, two people had been shot and killed, including a graduate, and several more were wounded. We also returned to the grounds of the University of Virginia, to provide in-depth coverage of the one-year anniversary of a deadly shooting that claimed the lives of three football players. CBS 6 broke the news that an inmate at a state psychiatric hospital had died while in custody, a story that would soon receive national attention when seven sheriff’s deputies were charged with murder in the case. Our investigative team went behind bars to get an exclusive interview with a man who was wrongfully accused of plotting a 4th of July mass shooting. And to get answers for another community, we produced a special documentary on a series of suspicious deaths in one small town. While not as famous as the Little Rock Nine, our story on the Brunswick 15 shined a light on what had been, for many, a previously unheard tale of the struggle for civil rights. Our cameras were also there for one of the more inspirational moments of the year, when a young man who once thought he would never walk again, was able to stroll across the stage and receive his college degree, thanks to a medical marvel. And we took the court with a former basketball star, who opened up about his struggle with mental health, and how it took him to a dark place before he found the light. As a station that prides itself on its storytelling abilities, we introduced our viewers to the stableman of the legendary Secretariat; a local football player who cares more about raising money for charity than winning games; and we caught up with the journalists and first responders who helped guide Richmond through one of the worst natural disasters we’ve ever seen. Speaking of weather, our chief meteorologist utilized drones and other modern technology to prepare our viewers for the hurricane season. This entry also includes portions of the philanthropic endeavors our station has undertaken, like our efforts to raise money to combat childhood cancer. And we close with a look at the RVA Sports Awards show we produce, and the annual Christmas parade that we broadcast.