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WGTE’s 'Rethinking Jails and Justice' wins awards; commissioners cite community impact
Summary
WGTE was presented awards for the 'Rethinking Jails and Justice' podcast, a collaboration supported by Lucas County and foundations. County officials credited the program with helping prompt a conviction-integrity review and pointed to a drop in regional jail population.
The Board recognized WGTE for its podcast series “Rethinking Jails and Justice,” a public-media collaboration supported by Lucas County and philanthropic partners.
Dale Thornton, interim president and CEO of WGTE, described the series as part of the station’s public-education mission and noted two honors: a public media award from the National Educational Telecommunications Association and a Touchstone Award from the Press Club of Toledo. Thornton thanked the commissioners for their support and said the program was created to spark discussion about incarceration and its effects.
Presenters and commissioners cited concrete local impacts. A commissioner noted that the regional jail population decreased from 482 in 2015 to 167 last month, and a panelist described a case highlighted in the series that led to creation of a conviction-integrity unit and a new trial for an individual who was released pending retrial. WGTE staff stressed the ongoing nature of the work and the station’s intent to sustain coverage and community conversations beyond the original grant period.
The board accepted the awards and thanked WGTE staff. Commissioners urged continued collaboration between county government and public media to amplify stories that prompt local action.
