CANTON — The North Country Public Radio news team has earned nine statewide awards from the Journalists Association of New York. The awards were presented at a ceremony in Saratoga Springs on Saturday.

Headlining the recognition, NCPR Adirondack reporter and assistant news director Emily Russell was awarded first place in the Art Athens General Excellence of Individual Reporting category for her body of work in 2021.

“It was a real honor to receive these awards on behalf of NCPR,” said Russell, who attended the ceremony in Saratoga Springs. “Our newsroom has such deep and dedicated talent, and these awards reflect that talent. They also reflect the leadership we receive every day from our News Director, David Sommerstein - who pushes us to tell creative, in-depth stories about the North Country - and the support the news team receives from everyone at NCPR.”

Russell and education/childcare reporter Amy Feiereisel also won first-place awards in investigative/enterprise, continuing coverage, and feature reporting. NCPR digital director Bill Haenel and the whole NCPR team earned a first-place win for the station’s digital presence at ncpr.org and on social media.

“The reporting recognized with these awards runs the gamut of critical North Country issues,” said NCPR News Director David Sommerstein. “From police reform to the effect of COVID-19 on school children to diversity in the Adirondacks, NCPR’s reporters are seeking out the stories, trials, and victories of people across the region every day. It feels great to have those efforts on behalf of our listeners applauded by our colleagues in journalism.”

The Journalists Association of New York, formerly the New York State Associated Press Association, is focused on journalism training and advocacy statewide.

This year alone, NCPR’s newsroom has won more than two dozen prestigious awards for its reporting from statewide and national journalism organizations, including RTDNA’s Edward R. Murrow awards, the Public Media Journalists Association, and JANY.

“I’m so proud of the whole news team for all of these honors,” said NCPR Station Manager Mitch Teich. “It’s more evidence that in-depth local news is a wise investment. They’re big wins for our reporters – but also for our audience.”