WVIA to Present Live Debate for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District on October 29 WVIA is proud to announce it will produce a live broadcast of the debate for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District on Thursday, October 29 at 7 PM ET. This event, taking place at WVIA public media studios in Pittston, will feature incumbent Congressman Robert Bresnahan (R) and Paige Cognetti (D). They will discuss critical issues affecting our region and the nation. The debate will air live on WVIA-TV and also be simulcast live on WVIA Radio and live streamed on WVIA’s YouTube channel and at wvia.org. The producer and moderator of the debate will be WVIA’s Tracey Matisak. As the election approaches, this debate provides a crucial platform for both candidates to present their positions on issues including healthcare, the economy, infrastructure, and environmental policy. To attend the live debate, register to secure your spot here. Additional information on Robert Bresnahan can be found here, and Paige Cognetti can be found here. Find more details about the debate from WVIA News here. WVIA News coverage of district 8 can be found here. WVIA Radio can be found at 89.9 FM in northeastern PA, 99.3 FM in Allentown, 105.7 FM in Bethlehem, 90.3 FM in Clarks Summit, 100.1 FM (WVBU) in Lewisburg, 89.7 FM (WVYA) in Williamsport, 89.3 FM in south central PA, 88.3 FM in Mainesburg, 91.5 FM (WPAU) in the Pocono Mountains Lake region, 94.9 FM in Pottsville, 97.5 FM in Selinsgrove, 94.3 FM in Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg, 105.7 FM in Sunbury, and 103.5 FM in Wellsboro. WVIA Radio can also be heard via an online stream at http://www.wvia.org/radio/listen-live/.
WVIA Earns Four NETA Public Media Awards, Including Excellence in Education WVIA has earned four honors in the 58th Annual NETA Public Media Awards, including the award for Excellence in Education. Presented by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA), the awards recognize outstanding work in education, community engagement, marketing and communications, and content. WVIA was recognized in the following categories: ● Excellence in Education ● Education – Learning Events: Youth Voices ● Marketing & Communications – Integrated Media Campaign: Making NEPA Home ● Content – Topical Feature: Making NEPA Home The Excellence in Education award recognizes the broad reach and impact of WVIA Education, which supports students, teachers and families throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. In 2025, the team distributed more than 1,900 educational resources and engaged nearly 6,000 teachers, students and caregivers through 92 in-person sessions. Partnerships with area school districts extended WVIA Education’s reach to more than 106,000 students across the region. Among the programs recognized is Youth Voices, which was honored for its community engagement work. The initiative gives students the opportunity to develop media and storytelling skills while creating content that reflects their experiences and perspectives. In 2025, 100% of 246 student participants reported positive outcomes. WVIA’s original documentary Making NEPA Home earned two awards for its content and integrated marketing campaign. Produced as part of WVIA’s We Stand Against Hate initiative, the documentary tells the stories of refugees and immigrants who have built new lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania, exploring themes of resilience, belonging and community. “These awards are a tremendous reflection of the creativity, dedication and community focus that define WVIA,” said Carla McCabe, WVIA President & CEO. “From empowering young people to tell their own stories to helping our region better understand the experiences of our neighbors, this work demonstrates the many ways public media can educate, connect and inspire. We are especially proud of the Excellence in Education honor and grateful to the educators, students, families and community partners who make this work possible.” Vicki Austin, WVIA’s Chief Development and Education Officer, said the recognition underscores the importance of WVIA’s core educational mission. “Our education team works every day to connect students, educators and families with opportunities and resources that can make a meaningful difference,” Vicki Austin said. “These awards celebrate that work and the many partners who help us reach communities throughout the region.” The NETA Public Media Awards recognize exceptional work by public media stations in education, community engagement, marketing and communications, and content. Stations compete within divisions based on station size, with awards judged by experts from within the public media system and professionals working outside public media. The awards were announced September 14, 2026.
WVIA nominated for six Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards WVIA has announced that it has received six nominations for the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards. The nominations are as follows: Overall Excellence (#101) WVIA General Manager: Carla McCabe Documentary (#503) Making NEPA Home Producer/Director: Kara Washington Historical/Cultural – Short Form Content (#405) VIA Short Takes: The Day Carbondale Director: Alexander Monelli | Reporter: Kat Bolus Historical/Cultural – Short Form Content (#405) VIA Short Takes: The Lattimer Massacre Producer/Director: Timothy Novotney Societal Concerns – Short Form Content (#408) Aging Together in PA Producer/Director: Timothy Novotney Editor – Content (#701) Making NEPA Home Editor: Kara Washington
WVIA Earns W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award WVIA has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award, one of Little League International’s highest honors, recognizing the organization’s longstanding commitment to the Little League community and its dedication to sharing the stories of Challenger Division athletes with audiences nationwide. The honor comes as WVIA prepares to produce the 25th Little League Challenger Division Exhibition Game, Presented by Eggland’s Best, a beloved tradition of the Little League Baseball World Series that celebrates inclusion, perseverance, teamwork, and the joy of playing the game. WVIA will be recognized for the award during an on-field ceremony at Howard J. Lamade Stadium on Saturday, August 29, prior to the International Championship Game. Established in 1988 in memory of W. Howard Hartman, one of Little League’s most devoted supporters, the Friendship Award is presented annually to individuals and organizations whose service embodies the spirit of friendship and commitment that defined Hartman’s legacy. For fifteen years, WVIA has produced and nationally distributed the Challenger Division Exhibition Game, bringing the inspiring athletes, families, coaches, and volunteers of Little League’s Challenger Division into homes across America. This year’s broadcast will once again be shared by more than 28 public media stations nationwide, in addition to digital streaming platforms. “This recognition is deeply meaningful because it celebrates something much larger than a television broadcast,” said Carla McCabe, President & CEO of WVIA. “Every year, we have the privilege of sharing stories that remind us what sports, and public media, are truly about: inclusion, community, perseverance, and belonging. We are incredibly honored that Little League has entrusted WVIA with helping bring these remarkable athletes and their families into homes across America.” The 2026 Challenger Division Exhibition Game will feature the Berwyn-Paoli Area Little League Challenger Division of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and the East County Little League Challenger Division of Oakley, California. The teams will take the field at Volunteer Stadium in Williamsport on Saturday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m. ET, celebrating the athletes and communities who make Challenger Division baseball possible.
WVIA announces the establishment of The Tassadduk and Anneliese Moghul Charitable Fund The Tassadduk and Anneliese Moghul Charitable Fund has been established to support programming at WVIA Radio. The new fund honors the memory of Dr. Tassadduk Moghul and his wife, Anneliese Moghul, immigrants who carved out a life for themselves in the United States. The establishment of the fund, together with the naming of the Tassadduk and Anneliese Moghul FM Center through WVIA’s Building the Future Capital Campaign, honors the couple’s extraordinary commitment to public media and their belief that trusted news, classical music, arts, culture and educational programming enrich communities. “We are deeply honored to be able to memorialize Tassadduk and Anneliese Moghul in such a meaningful way,” said Carla McCabe, WVIA President & CEO. “A fitting tribute to their love of the arts, classical music and community. This gift will help ensure WVIA continues to educate, inspire and serve our community for generations to come.” The tributes will support public radio programming throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania while celebrating a legacy of service, philanthropy and civic engagement for generations to come.
WVIA News wins six Professional Keystone Media Awards WVIA News won six Professional Keystone Media Awards from the Pennsylvania Newsmedia Association (PNA) for its 2025 journalism. The honorees are: ● Sarah Hofius Hall — First Place, Sports Beat Reporting, Beyond the Scoreboard● Borys Krawczeniuk — Honorable mention, News Beat Reporting, politics and gov’t● Lydia McFarlane — Honorable mention, Feature Story, Clarks Summit memory cafe● Haley O’Brien — 2nd place, lifestyle & entertainment beat, 1st & 2nd for features videos “When we made the commitment to expand local journalism, we did so because we believed our communities deserved trusted, in-depth reporting that informs, connects, and serves the public. We never imagined our newsroom would achieve so much in such a short time,” WVIA President & CEO Carla McCabe said. “These awards are a reflection of the dedication of our journalists and the power of public media to tell the stories that matter to the communities we serve.” The Harrisburg-based PNA organizes the annual awards contest to recognize “journalism that consistently provides relevance, integrity, and initiative in serving readers and audiences, and faithfully fulfills its First Amendment rights/responsibilities.” The awards will be presented October 8 at the Keystone Media Awards Luncheon in Harrisburg.
WVIA Honored with Five Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters (PAB) Awards Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters (PAB) recognized WVIA with five Excellence in Broadcasting Awards. The honors underscore WVIA’s ongoing commitment to producing high-quality local programming that informs, educates and reflects the communities it serves. WVIA received awards spanning documentary, public affairs, feature storytelling, marketing, and public service campaigns, highlighting the breadth of the station’s work and its investment in meaningful local content. The winning programs explored themes ranging from refugee and immigrant experiences and belonging, to access to resources for older adults and aging in place, aviation history, and the importance of judicial independence, and all topics with deep relevance to local audiences. President and CEO of WVIA, Carla McCabe said these projects highlight real people and experiences in the area. “We’re honored that the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters recognizes the value of this work. These awards belong to our viewers, listeners, members, and community partners who make this storytelling possible,” McCabe said. 2026 PAB Award Wins Outstanding Documentary ProgramMaking NEPA Home Contributors: Kara Washington, Al Monelli, Ron Andruscavage, Ben Payavis Outstanding Television Station Marketing & PromosMaking NEPA Home — Official Trailer Contributors: Kara Washington, Holly Biondo, Chris Zellers, Caitlin Mackiewicz, Jim Jennings, Ben Payavis II, Carla McCabe Outstanding Television Public Service Announcement/CampaignAging Together in PA Contributors: Kara Washington, Holly Biondo, Chris Zellers, Caitlin Mackiewicz, Jim Jennings, Ben Payavis II, Carla McCabe Outstanding Television Feature Story/Report/SeriesWings of the Past: Discovering the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum Contributors: John Alaimo, Kris Hendrickson Outstanding Television Public Affairs Program/Program SeriesWVIA Conversations for the Common Good: Safeguarding Justice Through Judicial Independence Contributors: Tracy Matisak, Ben Payavis II Chief Content Officer at WVIA, Ben Payavis II, talked about how the awards reflect on WVIA. “These awards reflect the care our team puts into telling stories that matter locally… From in-depth documentaries to public affairs discussions and community-centered campaigns, our focus is always on creating content that informs and connects people across our region,” Payavis II said. Kara Washington, producer, director and editor of Making NEPA Home, expressed gratitude because of the award. “This acknowledgment means so much to our team and affirms the power of telling meaningful, local stories,” Washington said. Winners will be recognized at the 2026 PAB Excellence in Broadcasting Awards Luncheon at the Sheraton Harrisburg/Hershey Hotel in Harrisburg on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 11:30 AM. A full list of winners will be available on the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters website.
WVIA Awarded Grant to Expand Local Environmental Journalism WVIA was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, to support expanded environmental journalism, strengthening local reporting on critical issues affecting Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. The funding will allow WVIA News to deepen coverage of environmental topics, including water use, energy demand, land impact, and community concerns related to proposed data centers in the region. The grant marks WVIA’s first funding specifically dedicated to environmental journalism and will support reporting by WVIA journalists Kat Bolus and Isabela Weiss, who are embedded in the communities they cover and respond directly to issues raised by local residents. WVIA has also identified a growing need for sustained environmental reporting based on community feedback gathered at community events, and, especially, through its News Listening Tours across 22 counties. “WVIA plays an essential role in helping our region stay informed and connected to the issues shaping daily life in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “Through the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, we are proud to support environmental journalism that helps ensure communities have access to clear, reliable information about topics that matter.” As part of this initiative, WVIA News will produce a series of in-depth stories examining the effects of data centers on water resources, power infrastructure, and surrounding communities, with additional investigative reporting to follow. These stories will be featured across WVIA’s platforms, including radio, digital, and video, and collected on a dedicated landing page to serve as an ongoing public resource. WVIA has already begun reporting on data center proposals in the region, with multiple stories by reporter Kat Bolus available at wvia.org. “For many, data centers are shrouded in uncertainty despite how much they’re demanding from communities where they will coexist,” said Faith Golay, WVIA News Managing Editor. “By providing in-depth coverage on the subject, our reporting raises awareness, educates residents and property owners, promoting dialogue between parties to address challenges and explore areas of opportunity.” In addition to expanded reporting, WVIA will further explore the topic through its flagship public affairs program, Keystone Edition. The episode titled Data Centers: Deal or Dilemma? examines what data centers are, how they are used and why they have become a point of debate locally. Through this grant-funded initiative, WVIA continues its mission to provide trusted, in-depth local journalism that equips residents with the information they need to understand complex issues and participate meaningfully in civic life. For existing and upcoming WVIA News coverage of data centers, visit this page.
WVIA Hosts Keystone Edition – Data Centers: Deal of Dilemma Event How often have you heard the phrase “data center” lately? They are being talked about in all corners of our area. Data centers are a hot topic right now, but many people don’t know exactly what they are, how they’re used, and why there is opposition to them. We’ll wade through it all on the next edition of Keystone Edition: Data Centers: Deal or Dilemma? WVIA Public Media Studios Free Event 07:00 PM – 08:00 PM on Wed, 11 Feb 2026 By registering for any event, you agree to be added to WVIA’s email list to receive updates, news, and event information. You may unsubscribe at any time. Learn more at the link.
WVIA’s Keystone Edition Returns WVIA’s flagship public affairs program, Keystone Edition, returns for a new season beginning January 19, featuring a refreshed format designed to deepen community conversation around the most timely and impactful issues facing Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Now airing as one new episode per month, the reimagined Keystone Edition will focus exclusively on in-depth reporting from the WVIA News team and discussion of a single, highly relevant topic each episode. Episodes will be moderated by WVIA’s Director of Journalism, Julie Sidoni, and feature the WVIA News team to provide deeper insights and context for the show. Each episode will serve as a live, town-hall-style forum, recorded in front of a studio audience at WVIA Studios and later broadcast on television and available on-demand. Each episode will tackle an issue that matters right now — from education to economic challenges, public safety, healthcare, and other urgent regional concerns. Topics will be selected based on timeliness and community relevance, allowing Keystone Edition to respond quickly to what’s happening across the region. To kickoff the season, WVIA will celebrate the inspiring life and career of legendary Lackawanna College football Coach Mark Duda, who has helped produce more than 450 NCAA Division I athletes, and more than 25 players who went on to sign NFL contracts. After his recent Parkinson’s diagnosis, Duda retired at the end of the 2025 season. His work on and off the field has encouraged countless young men to become the best versions of themselves at home, in the classroom and out in the community. A Trusted Space for Informed Conversation At a time when information can be overwhelming — or difficult to find — Keystone Edition offers viewers something increasingly rare: local, relevant news they can trust. Each episode presents multiple perspectives, encourages civil discourse, and provides context to help viewers make informed decisions about the issues that affect their families and communities. Keystone Edition is more than a television program: it’s a monthly community forum where complex topics are unpacked together, helping viewers stay informed and engaged with what matters most. In addition to watching on television or on-demand, community members will have the opportunity to attend each live taping as part of the studio audience. Click here for more information regarding the Keystone Edition.
