The ARRL Bill Leonard Award honors three professional journalists or journalistic teams per year whose outstanding coverage highlights the enjoyment, importance and public service value the Amateur Radio Service has to offer. The award was created as a tribute to the late CBS News President Bill Leonard, W2SKE. He was also an avid Amateur Radio operator and advocate.

The Award is divided into three categories, based on format:
a. Audio
b. Visual
c. Print and Text

Nominations are judged by members of the ARRL Public Relations Committee, and the final decision is made by the ARRL Board of Directors at their annual meeting in January. Award winners in each category, either individual or group,will receive an engraved plaque and a $250 contribution will be made in each winning entry's names to the charity of their choice.

1. Each recipient must be a professional journalist or a professional journalistic team in print, electronic media or multimedia. The term "professional" refers to full time, part time, stringers, freelancers and contract journalists. In the case of a group project, the recipient may be the group, but only one prize will be awarded.

2. The recipients will receive the award based on their work which appeared in the English language and covers the topics of Amateur Radio in (a) an audio format such as broadcast radio or podcasting; (b) a visual format such as television, movie and other video media; (c) print and text format such as newspapers, news website, magazine or journal. The scope of the work nominated may be a single story or series.

 

3. The work must have appeared between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 in a commercially-published book, recognized general-circulation (non-trade) daily or weekly newspaper, general or special interest magazine (except publications predominantly about Amateur Radio), commercial or public radio or television broadcast (including services delivered via cable), Internet World Wide Web site operated by a generally-recognized journalistic organization (e.g. newspaper, magazine, broadcast station or network), or multimedia format (e.g. CD-ROM), intended for and readily accessible to the general public within the United States.

4. "Amateur Radio" means the activities of licensees, clubs and other organized groups participating in the activity of licensed Amateur Radio or "ham radio," as governed by Part 97 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

5.  The story must be truthful, clear and accurate, reflecting high journalistic standards. Submission may be by the author of the work, or on his or her behalf by another individual who believes the work merits the award.

6. The winner will be selected by the Public Relations Committee of the American Radio Relay League, and will be granted to the work deemed the best reflection of the enjoyment, importance and public service value of Amateur Radio.  The award will be approved by the ARRL Board of Directors at its January meeting. Individuals on the committee who may be related to or have a professional relationship with any applicant will excuse themselves from the deliberations.

7. Only one submission per entrant will be accepted. If a winning project was a team effort, only one award will be granted to the team.

 

8. Submission:

Submit completed application form with appropriate work sample:

Audio format:
Submit CD with audio file(s) in mp3 format with name of candidate written on each disk.

Visual format:
Submit CD with mp4 file or DVD of the work with name of candidate written on each disk.

Print article:
Submit clear, easily readable copy of printed text, any related Web addresses, and 8.5x11 sheets displaying the writing exactly as it appeared to the public.

9. The ARRL reserves the right to withhold the awards for any reason, to grant duplicate awards, or to disqualify any entry. Incomplete nomination submissions will not be considered. All decisions are final.

10.  The award winner in each category, whether an individual or group, will receive a plaque and a donation in their name of $250 will go to an Internal Revenue Service 501[c](3) recognized non-profit organization of the recipient’s choosing. A winning group entry will receive a single plaque and donation on its behalf.

11. Submit entries to: ARRL PR Committee, c/o Executive Manager, American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.

12.  Entries must be received at ARRL HQ by 5 pm March 31, 2022.

For more information about the award, or to obtain a nomination form,
contact newsmedia@arrl.org or call 860-594-0242.

All entries must be received at ARRL Headquarters by 5PM on March 31, 2022. No late entries will be accepted.

Download the official nomination form.

 

 

1999
Jeff Holland
The Enquirer Journal (Monroe, NC)
“Ham Radio Enthusiasts Believe Hobby will Continue to Cast its Magic Spell”

2000
Marjorie Wertz
The Standard Observer (Irwin, PA)
“There’s More to This Hobby Than Meets The Eye”

2001
Michaelangelo Conte
The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ)
“Radio Operators Took to Air; Aided Rescue at Ground Zero”

2002
Jill Valley (Assistant News Director) & Greg Schieferstein (News Director)
KPAX-TV (Missoula, MT)
High School Senior Jenna Rettenmeyer Makes Moonbounce Contact

2003
Sari Krieger
Potomac News & Manassas Journal Messenger
“Negative Effects of BPL on Amateur Radio”

2004
Randall D. Larson
Homeland Protection Professional magazine
Importance of Amateur Radio in Emergencies (July 2004 issue)

2005
Marilu Lozada
Coordinating Producer, WPBT-TV (South Florida Public Broadcasting - Miami, FL)
Coverage of the Role Amateur Radio operators played during 2004 hurricane season, plus coverage on the 2004 ARRL Toy Drive for kids affected by hurricanes in South Florida

2006
RJ Harris, W3HP
Operations Manager & Morning Host, WHP-AM Radio
Professional coverage of Amateur Radio on WHP

2007
Alyssa Ivanson
WANE-TV (Fort Wayne, IN)
Highlighting Emery McClendon, KB9IBW’s efforts to promote Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day

2008
Ted Randall , WB8PUM
Host of “QSO Radio Show” on shortwave & podcast
Long-standing program with interviews with members of the Amateur Radio community

2009
(first year of three separate awards for Audio, Video & Print)
Audio: Ted Randall, WB8PUM
QSO Radio Show
Consistently high-quality interviews and news about Amateur Radio

Video: Kim Byrnes
WDAF-TV (Kansas City, MO)
Coverage of Raytown ARC’s 2009 Field Day effort

Print: Vicky Taylor
“Public Opinion” magazine - Chambersburg, MD
Coverage of two young girls getting their Amateur Radio license

2010
Audio: Bill Colley
WGMD-FM (Rehoboth, DE)
Interview with Bill Duveneck, KB3KYH - Sussex ARA

Video: Jennifer Crompton
“New Hampshire Chronicle” - WMUR-TV (Manchester, NH)
Contoocook Valley Radio Society’s Field Day effort

Print: Phillip Lucas
Washington Post - Loudon, VA
Virginia Amateur Radio Club’s Field Day effort

2011
Audio: Joel Rose
National Public Radio Network
Story on effect of proposed federal legislation’s impact on Amateur Radio’s ability to communicate during emergencies

Video: Ken Grimball
News-12 Long Island (NY)
Hurricane Irene: Local Amateur Radio club featuring youth as net control ops & Amateur Radio’s response to the storm

Print: Brad Barr
“Today in Mississippi” magazine
Article on Billy Beard, K5FUR’s love and commitment to Amateur Radio and his community

2012
Audio: Lucy Ann Lance
WLBY-AM (Ann Arbor, MI)
Interview with 3 ARES/RACES/SKYWARN amateurs that aided in reporting of an EF3 tornado in Dexter, MI.

Video: No award winner

Print: Lynn Anderson
“The Best Times” (Johnson County, KS)
“Johnson County Hams: Cruising the Airwaves for Fun and Services”

2013

Audio: Jim Rash
WGMD-FM  Rehoboth Beach, DE
Interview with Sussex Amateur Radio Association (SARA) about their upcoming Amateur Radio license class

Video: Rich Luterman
Fox-2 Television Detroit MI
SKYWARN Recognition Day

Print: Kim Hoey (writer) and Gary Emeigh (photographer)
The News Journal - Wilmington DE
“Calling Fans Of Hams”

2014

Audio: Steve Kraske and Beth Lipoff
KCUR-FM, Kansas City, MO
"Exploring Ham Radio in a Digital World"

Video: Christine Kim
KSNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV
“Local Heroes” profile of the Nevada Amateur Radio Emergency Service.

Print: Marti Attoun
American Profile magazine (national)
“Radio Active”

2015

Print: Don Keith, N4KC
American Legion magazine (national)
"Wave of Popularity"

Video: Jackie Lukas
News 12 Long Island, New York
Coverage of the Great South Bay ARC's lighthouse activation

Audio: No award winner

2016

Print: Wayne Rash, N4HCR

Yahoo Tech article

"Why Modern Makers Are Bringing Back Ham Radio"

Audio: Jamala Henderson

reporter/producer for National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate KUOW-FM, Seattle

"Ham Radio Operators Could Bew Superheroes When the Earthquake Hits"

Video: Derek Felton

videographer/editor for WGNO-TV, Metairie, LA

Coverage of Jefferson Amateur Radio Club's 2016 Field Day

2017

Print: No award winner

Audio: Producers and Staff of "The Takeaway," a jpoint production of Public Radio International (PRI), WGBH, and WNYC
Coverage of amateur radio's role in Hurricane Maria emergency communications efforts

Video: Jim Cantore and Jen Carfagno (hosts), and the producers of "AMHQ" on The Weather Channel
Coverage of the American Radio Relay League's partnership with the American Red Cross to respond to the emergency communications needs of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria

2018

Print/Digital: Tom Knapp, reporter, Lancaster (PA) Online
Coverage of ARRL Field Day 2018 activities by members of the Red Rose Repeaters, operating in Lancaster County, PA  

Audio: No award winner

Video: Andrew Schmertz, correcpondent, New Jersey Television (NJTV Online)
Coverage of a HamSci conference at the New Jersey Institute of Technology that explored the impace of the 2017 Solar Eclipse on Radio Communication

2019

Print/Digital: Zach Plair, Columbus & Starkville Dispatch, Columbus, MS

Feature story for the paper describing how amateur radio has proven fulfilling to various participants, including new and experienced radio amateurs

Video: Jim Altman, Fox 61 News, Hartford, CT

Feature story on ARRL's demonstration of its preparedness  for assisting the American Red Cross with emergency communications for the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane season

Audio: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland, OR

Feature story produced on amateur radio emergency services in and around the Jefferson Public Radio listening area

2020

Video: Josh B. Nass, KI6NAZ, creator of the popular YouTube channel Ham Radio Crash Course, for producing outstanding media that advances Amateur Radio.