VAB Honors WEHC Football Broadcasting
A WEHC football broadcasting duo was honored recently by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters (VAB) for outstanding sports coverage in small media markets.
Gary Lester and Josh Floyd received second place for their 2019 coverage of the Emory & Henry football season, which consisted of numerous memorable highlights and a winning-season comeback after opening the season with two losses.
The category in which the two were honored is considered highly competitive, given the large number of small market stations in Virginia. “I was floored,” said Floyd, upon receiving news of the award. “To do that well against a large competition pool, that speaks volumes.”
The VAB award represents the third time that WEHC has been honored for its football coverage. In 2011 and 2017, the station was honored with first place in the category of Outstanding Sports Coverage for a non-commercial or public radio station.
Lester praised the cooperation that WEHC receives from the Emory & Henry Athletic Department, including E&H head football coach Curt Newsome. “We enjoy open access to meetings, practices and staff planning sessions,” Lester said. “Curt and his staff dodge no questions, and they help make our broadcast so much more informative.”
During the 2019 season, the football team won seven of its last eight games, including a dramatic win over Washington & Lee University with a Hail Mary pass on the game’s final play.
The broadcasters praised the E&H student workers and WEHC programmer Bill McKee, who manage the live studio during E&H football broadcast. They also gave credit to Joe Matthews, Emory & Henry’s sports information director.
The broadcast is an exercise in teamwork, Floyd said, which helps deliver objective, exciting and thorough coverage. “We try to give listeners a fair broadcast without being partial. We believe in excellence in broadcasting, and our commitment to it has been recognized by fans from opposing teams and now the Virginia Association of Broadcasters.”
Dirk Moore, the interim general manager of WEHC, credited Floyd and Lester for helping to set high standards for quality at the station. “Gary and Josh have been among our most dedicated programmers and are admired by other show hosts for their professionalism and their relentless pursuit of excellence. They are a great asset to the station, to our community of listeners and to college football.”
WEHC 90.7 is operated by Emory & Henry College. Its 9,000-watt, solar-powered signal reaches five counties in Southwest Virginia.
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Gary and Josh have been among our most dedicated programmers and are admired by other show hosts for their professionalism and their relentless pursuit of excellence. They are a great asset to the station, to our community of listeners and to college football.
- Dirk Moore