BOSTON -- WCVB-TV/DT Channel 5 has been honored with a national Edward R. Murrow Award for Spot News Coverage. WCVB was the only local broadcast station to receive the accolade on the national level. The station was recognized for exemplary coverage of the devastating floods that hit Massachusetts in the spring of 2006.

WCVB last won a national Murrow in 1997. RTNDA has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the awards since 1971. Murrow’s pursuit of excellence in journalism embodies the spirit of the awards that carry his name.

“NewsCenter 5 has certainly provided distinguished coverage of our New England over the years,” said Bill Fine, President and General Manager of WCVB –TV / DT. “National recognition from our peers is certainly a wonderful endorsement of the way we serve our community”.

The award marks another milestone for WCVB. In addition to being the first television station in the market to launch its newscasts in high definition, WCVB has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards this year including the Associated Press Station of the Year (Massachusetts/Rhode Island), three regional Edward R. Murrow awards, a National Headliner Award for Best Newscast and induction into Boston’s Business Hall of Fame. WCVB also played an instrumental role in the Hearst-Argyle Television station group’s fourth consecutive selection as the Cronkite Award winner for excellence in political journalism.”

News Director Coleen Marren added, “I’m so proud of our entire news team. They worked on this story under extraordinary circumstances during many weeks to give our viewers up-to-the-minute coverage of the catastrophic flooding on the North Shore. They truly deserve this wonderful recognition.”