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Pulse Feature 'Chaos in the ER' Wins National Award

 

 

PULSE FEATURE WINS SECOND PLACE IN NATIONAL CONTEST

WMFE REPORTER ABE ABORAYA'S WINNING DOCUMENTARY FOCUSES ON HOSPITAL THAT TOOK IN 36 GUNSHOT VICTIMS IN 36 MINUTES

ORLANDO — “Chaos In The ER: How A Mass Shooting Floods Trauma Centers," by 90.7 WMFE reporter Abe Aboraya earned second place in the long documentary category at the national Public Radio News Directors Inc.'s (PRNDI) 2018 awards competition on Saturday, June 23.

“Abe’s documentary is a compelling piece of journalism that puts listeners inside the emergency room after the Pulse nightclub shooting,” WMFE News Director Catherine Welch said.

"Chaos In The ER" brings the unvarnished story of what happened and what can be learned from one of the worst mass shootings in modern U.S. history. The documentary centers on Orlando Health's Orlando Regional Medical Center in the morning hours of June 12, when a gunman killed 49 and injured more than 50 others at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

Aboraya writes:

"The Pulse shooting highlights a flaw in the U.S. health care system: The closest hospital gets the most patients in a mass casualty incident.

It’s been documented in research looking at other disasters. And it’s something hospitals have to be prepared for.

“Well, I think you hit the nail on the head,” said Eric Alberts, the director of emergency preparedness for Orlando Health.

Hospitals, Albert said, can no longer think, I’m a general care hospital. I don’t have to worry about events like this.

Listen/read the story here.

The PRNDI awards is the only national contest recognizing outstanding public radio news reporting at local stations.  The contest covers work produced in 2017.  A total of 193 awards were presented to local stations at the PRNDI Awards Banquet at the DoubleTree Center City in Philadelphia, PA.  The full list of winners is available here.

About PRNDI
Public Radio News Directors Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional development of public radio journalists. For more information, contact PRNDI Business Manager Christine Paige Diers at (605) 490-3033.

About Community Communications Inc.:
Community Communications Inc. is a non-profit, member-supported, community-based public broadcasting company that operates 90.7 WMFE-FM, metro Orlando’s primary provider of NPR programming; 90.7-2 Classical; and since March 2018, 89.5 WMFV, public radio for The Villages, Leesburg and The Golden Triangle. Part of the community since 1980, Community Communications focuses on providing quality national and local news and programming. Visit  wmfe.org and  wmfv.org for more information.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES: Please contact Communications & Marketing Specialist Jenny Babcock at jbabcock@wmfe.org or 407-273-2300 ext. 112.