REGINA — Saskatchewan’s media landscape is celebrating a major achievement after 980 CJME and 650 CKOM secured a series of prestigious honors from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). The regional awards, which celebrate excellence in journalism across Canada, recognized the stations for their rapid, accurate reporting on breaking news and their deep commitment to community storytelling.
980 CJME took home the top prize in the Breaking News category for its exhaustive coverage of the industrial explosion at the Regina refinery in March 2025. As the emergency unfolded, the station provided listeners and online readers with real-time updates, coordinating directly with Regina fire officials and Co-op representatives to confirm critical details regarding the two workers injured in the blast. The award highlights the station’s role as a trusted source of information during moments of public uncertainty.
The accolades continued for 980 CJME with a win for individual sports reporting. Reporter Britton Gray was honored for his heartwarming feature on two Saudi Arabian teenagers who discovered a passion for curling after moving to Regina for school. The story, which detailed the unlikely transition of two students who had never heard of the sport to active recreational players, was praised for its unique human interest angle and storytelling craft.
Meanwhile, sister station 650 CKOM earned significant recognition for its own coverage, taking home awards in the Radio Newscast and News – Live Special Event categories.
The station’s newscast award recognized a high-energy broadcast produced in November 2025, the morning after the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ thrilling 112th Grey Cup victory. That broadcast captured the electric atmosphere across the province, featuring live reports from Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and the iconic “Green Mile” in Regina as fans erupted in celebration of the historic win.
Additionally, both stations combined their newsroom resources to secure the Live Special Event award for their massive collaborative effort during a five-hour federal election night broadcast. The coverage provided comprehensive analysis as election results swept across Saskatchewan, marking a significant milestone in collaborative digital and broadcast journalism.
These four regional wins underscore a banner year for the stations, which have long been dedicated to keeping the public informed through meticulous reporting. All four of these award-winning entries are now moving forward as finalists for the RTDNA’s national awards. The national winners will be announced during a ceremony scheduled for this November.
For the news teams at CJME and CKOM, these honors serve as a reminder of the vital connection between journalists and the communities they serve. From the high-stakes pressure of an industrial emergency to the celebratory streets of a championship win, these awards reinforce the importance of local media in documenting the stories that define life on the Prairies.
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