Turns out, 13 isn’t such an unlucky number after all. Just ask WFYI Public Broadcasting’s team of radio and television producers, whose program productions recently captured a total of 13 awards in the Society of Professional Journalists’ (SPJ) annual “Best in Indiana” competition. This year’s honors were presented during a special SPJ awards ceremony on Friday, April 24 at the Indianapolis Marriott North.

WFYI Public Radio’s news division earned five SPJ awards, four of which, were first place honors in recognition of 90.1 FM HD 1’s outstanding reporting efforts this past year. In the category of “Best Consumer Reporting,” Sharon Alseth, WFYI’s local Morning Edition news anchor received first place honors for a report she filed on home foreclosures. Marianne Holland, Bureau Chief for Indiana’s Public Broadcasting Stations, was the recipient of two first place SPJ awards in the category of “Best Government Coverage,” for her election analysis of Indiana’s gubernatorial candidates and “Best Environmental Coverage,” for a report she produced on green manufacturing. In the “Best Science Reporting” division, a succession of WFYI Public Radio reports entitled, Caring for Life, Organ Donation, earned first place. The series was produced by Mary Hartnett, WFYI’s News Manager; Marianne Holland, Bureau Chief for Indiana’s Public Broadcasting Stations; Colleen Iudice, WFYI Reporter; and Sandy Roob, WFYI Reporter. Harnett was also honored for her work on a Medicaid segment, which placed second in the “Best Social Justice” category.

Several WFYI Public Television productions also received SPJ awards. The Natural Heritage of Indiana, a documentary series that traces Indiana’s ecological history, was the recipient of two first place awards for “Best Documentary” and “Best Science Reporting.” The four-part series was produced by Samuel Orr, an Emmy award-winning filmmaker and published ecologist.

Judy O’Bannon’s Foreign Exchange: TURKEY Bridge Under Construction captured two SPJ honors, including first place for “Best Videography” and second place for “Best Documentary.” The program, which was produced by Gary Harrison and Judy O’Bannon and filmed by Mike Jensen, documented the experiences of a group of Hoosiers as they traveled to Turkey, to help build bridges of understanding between America and the Islamic world.

Producer Kim Jacobs was awarded second place in the “Best Social Justice Reporting” category for her work on the public television segment A Song for Peace.

In the “Best Television Feature” category, WFYI Public Television earned second place for A Reason to Dance produced by Vincent Manganello and Andy Young, and third place for Thought for Food, which was produced by Aric Hartvig and Brian Paul.