PMJA has chosen Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Reporter Sylvia Goodman as the recipient of the Public Media New Voices Award. Goodman is only the second journalist to receive this national honor.

Goodman is one of the statewide reporters leading coverage for the Kentucky Public Radio network, which includes WKMS in Murray, WKU Public Radio in Bowling Green, WEKU in Richmond, and Louisville Public Media, where she's based.

The New Voices Award is one of three individual awards PMJA bestows each year, alongside the Leo C. Lee Award for a career in public media and the Editor of the Year Award. It recognizes professionals who live the values of public service journalism, excellence, and innovative storytelling.

A Journalist Already Making History

In her first year as Capitol reporter, Goodman broke international news — an extraordinary achievement for any journalist, let alone one learning the ropes of legislative reporting. Her work has been cited on the floor of the Kentucky legislature and in major publications across the country.

She has been a guest on TV and radio programs including Comment on Kentucky, Cincinnati Edition, Here and Now, All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Up First, and the NPR Politics Podcast.

"She excels at producing both the news of the day pieces that Kentucky Public Radio stations rely on, as well as the in-depth feature reporting that public media audiences come to expect from their Capitol team. We're proud to count Sylvia as a colleague and so excited that she's won the much-deserved award." — Kevin Willis, News Director, WKU Public Radio

A Nominee Who Stands Out

LPM Executive Editor Bec Feldhaus Adams, who nominated Goodman for the award, said it's Sylvia's compassion, integrity, and collegiality that made her this year's winner.

"In the last year, Sylvia has continued her dogged commitment to following up, asking the tough questions, advocating for those who have had their agency taken away and telling the truth in all its complexity. She is not only an exemplary young journalist, she is an example of an exceptional colleague." — Bec Feldhaus Adams, Executive Editor, Louisville Public Media

Beyond the Newsroom

When she's not covering the legislative session or traveling to assignment, Goodman can be found greeting adoptable cats and dogs who come in for the weekly Paws Report segment on music station 91.9 WFPK, part of Louisville Public Media.

Goodman is a graduate of Northwestern University. Before joining LPM and KPR, she worked at the Chronicle of Higher Education. She serves on the board of the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and volunteers weekly in her community.

Goodman and the other PMJA individual award winners will be honored at a virtual event this summer. Details to follow.