Arizona Public Media (AZPM) and its flagship television program Arizona Illustrated have been honored with seven Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). Seven awards is the most Arizona Illustrated has ever received in a single year, and the second-highest total for AZPM as an organization.

The prestigious awards recognize AZPM’s exceptional storytelling, investigative reporting, and innovative community collaborations and span across a range of categories, from hard news and feature reporting to excellence in writing and innovation.

One standout honor came in the Excellence in Innovation category for Spanish Language Episode/Effort - Arizona Illustrated en español, a collaborative project that exemplifies the power of cross-disciplinary partnerships. This recognition highlights not only the creative work of AZPM’s producers but also the vital contribution of the University of Arizona's Department of Spanish and Portuguese and translation student Daniela Gonzalez, whose efforts brought culturally relevant stories to broader audiences.

“This is an extraordinary moment for AZPM,” said Jack Gibson, AZPM CEO. “To receive seven Regional Murrow Awards is a testament to the dedication and creativity of our team and to the value of community partnerships that deepen our impact.”

AZPM 2025 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards

Small Market Television

Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Art is Vital Borderlands Theater fosters equitable, community-driven arts that reflect the Sonoran Desert's heritage, and through the "One Nation One Project," highlights the vital link between arts and wellness.

By: Özlem Ayşe Özgür, Cáit NíSíomón, Diana Cadena, Danny Sax, Nathan Huffman, Emmanuel Joubeaud, Jim Blackwood

Investigative Reporting

Housing Crisis: Amphi Panteras The Amphi Panteras advocate for residents of the Malibu Apartments in Tucson who are fighting for their tenants' rights.

By: Cáit NíSíomón, Danny Sax, Robert Lindberg, Nate Huffman, Diana Cadena, Emmanuel Joubeaud, Jim Blackwood, Christopher Conover

Excellence in Writing

Bobcats Among Us Bobcats are thriving in metropolitan Tucson in spite of the community's growth in the Sonoran Desert.

By: Tony Paniagua, Nathan Huffman, Emmanuel Joubeaud, Jim Blackwood

Excellence in Innovation

Spanish Language Episode/Effort - Arizona Illustrated en español A collaboration with the University of Arizona's Department of Spanish and Portuguese to provide Spanish-language translations for select Arizona Illustrated segments.

By: Andrew Brown, Daniela Gonzalez, Tony Paniagua, John DeSoto, Diana Cadena, Özlem Özgür, Dennis Fitzgerald, Emmanuel Joubeaud, Jim Blackwood

Excellence in Video

Bass Whisperer - The Art of Being No One Ed Friedland: Bassist, author, educator, industry influencer, ex-Mavericks member, with a career spanning four decades.

By: Dennis W. Fitzgerald, Danny Sax, Samantha Kanter, Emmanuel Joubeaud, Jim Blackwood

Hard News

Finding Hope at Sister José Women’s Center Sister José Women’s Center, a Tucson-based nonprofit, is committed to the mission of aiding and uplifting women experiencing homelessness.

By: Özlem Ayşe Özgür, Nate Huffman, Danny Sax, Andrew Brown, Emmanuel Joubeaud, Jim Blackwood

Feature Reporting

Atascosa Borderlands Photographer Luke Takata and naturalist Jack Dash have documented the Arizona-Sonora Borderlands since 2017, working with diverse communities to create an archive of the remote 42-mile section of the US-Mexico border known as the Atascosa Borderlands.

By: David Fenster, Emmanuel Joubeaud, Jim Blackwood

In 2023, AZPM received its third National Murrow Award in the category of Small Market Television News Documentary for Water Harvester: An Invitation to Abundance. AZPM received its second National Murrow Award in 2019 in the feature reporting category for Where Dreams Die. The radio news documentary Divided by Law won a National Murrow Award in 2016. Since 2016, AZPM has been honored with 49 Regional Murrow Awards for news stories focused on issues specific to the southwest region. AZPM is part of Region 3 which includes Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

The Edward R. Murrow Awards are among the most respected in the industry, recognizing outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism. Regional winners are automatically entered into the national competition, to be announced later this year. For more on the awards and a full list of winners, visit RTDNA’s official announcement.