Award Entries

Six people were killed, including 3 children, when a former student opened fire inside the Covenant School in Nashville’s Green Hills neighborhood on March 27, 2023. City police fatally shot the assailant. The deadly attack caused grief, spurred troubling questions, and set in motion many ripple effects — for schools, for policymakers, and for elected […]

The forecast was not foreboding for Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. But by noon, our on-call weekend staffers were charging their equipment as the unseasonably warm weather grew more ominous. As night fell, seven tornadoes touched down across Middle Tennessee, killing seven people and injuring more than 80 others, as well as destroying 342 homes and […]

Restricting transgender care and expressions of gender identity isn’t just a political issue. These proposals and laws have had a deep impact on people in Tennessee’s LGBTQ+ community. The sheer volume of legislation, legal challenges and superseding court rulings could make it difficult for anyone to keep up — but WPLN News closely covered the […]

The election of new Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell made the morning of Sept. 15, 2023, the dawning of a new era for Nashville. This morning newscast captures the culmination of months of coverage and a robust plan for Election Night that drew on the talents of about a dozen staffers. Nashville’s next mayor will be […]

This Is Nashville launched less than a year ago, but already Khalil Ekulona has established himself as a beloved voice in Middle Tennessee. Khalil is an engaging, empathetic and insightful interviewer, and a vibrant personality. In this reel, you’ll hear these highlights from his first 10 months as our host: A “shotgun” ride with an […]

This Is Nashville debuted on March 1, 2022, with the goal of being a different type of midday talk show — one that centers the voices and lived experiences of everyday Middle Tennesseans. In this reel, you’ll hear highlights from our first 10 months on the air, including: Our debut episode (March 1) The history […]

East Tennessee native Dr. Stephen Loyd once had a 100-pill-a-day addiction and even stole pain pills from his own patients. Years after he first sought help for his substance abuse disorder, Loyd in now the vice president of the state board medical examiners as well as the medical director of multiple service organizations. Loyd’s says he […]

Tornadoes are a part of life for Middle Tennessee. While tornado season runs from March to June officially, there is also a secondary season in the fall. Additionally, the traditional “tornado alley” appears to be moving closer to the region. While we can’t prevent tornadoes or other severe storms, being prepared can help us keep […]