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SALISBURY, MD---When Delmarva Public Media (DPM) news director Don Rush covered calls to ban LGBTQIA+ books like George Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue from area school libraries last summer, he approached the story the same way he always does: with a goal of doing the best reporting possible.

According to the Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association (CAPBA), he met that objective and then some. Rush took home the organization’s top prize for radio news, Best in Show, in the non-metro radio category of this year’s CAPBA awards competition.

“This series presented stories that highlighted the growing pains of a community claiming their identity in line with their self-image,” judges said. “The reporter didn’t shy away from presenting some community leaders’ concerns about the book for other children [but] what made this series stand out was the compelling tape of the brave people who shared their stories with us.”

The Best in Show Award was one of a record 13 presented this year to DPM, a three-station public radio partnership between Salisbury University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. It also received the award for Outstanding News Series.

The award-winning coverage aired on stations WSCL 89.5 FM and WSDL 90.7 FM in Salisbury and WESM 91.3 FM in Princess Anne, MD.

Additional honors included:

• Outstanding Editorial or Commentary, first place – Dr. Michael O’Loughlin, “Pelosi”
• Outstanding Editorial or Commentary, second place – Dr. Michael O’Loughlin, “Buffalo Shooting”
• Best Specialty Reporting, first place – Peter Solomon, “National Folk Festival”
• Best Specialty Reporting, second place – Bryan Russo, “Talking Books”
• Best Enterprise Reporting, first place – Don Rush, “Sussex Development”
• Outstanding Serious Feature, first place – Don Rush, “Harriet Tubman Legacy”
• Outstanding Serious Feature, second place – Don Rush, “Gay Pride Festival”
• Outstanding Light Feature, first place – Brian Shane, “Teaching to Surf”
• Outstanding Documentary/In-Depth Reporting, second place – Don Rush, “Black History Walk in Salisbury”
• Outstanding Use of Sound, first place – Don Rush, “Ocean City”
• Outstanding Use of Sound, second place – Don Rush, “National Folk Festival”

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