Troy Public Radio Host Carolyn Hutcheson earns broadcasting award

Troy Public Radio (TPR) Host Carolyn Hutcheson is was recently recognized on the airwaves with a prestigious award. 

University Relations photo

Gassiott (left) presents Hutcheson (right) with her ABBY Award.

Hutcheson is now the proud recipient of one of the highest honors a broadcaster can receive. The award is called the Best Public Affairs Program, awarded by the Alabama Broadcasters Association. 

 Hutcheson gives credit to her guests and listeners and said the award isn’t just about her. 

“This award means I have great guests,” Hutcheson said. “I’m able to follow my curiosity into a lot of avenues. 

“I’m always thinking about the listeners. They’re facing an economy that’s uncertain, along with many other uncertainties.  

I like to program for my listeners to help them. I also like to explore the arts.  

We’ve been able to do that under the public affairs umbrella.”  

Although Hutcheson is unwilling to take the credit, TPR Director Kyle Gassiott said he owes his start at TPR to her. 

“As somebody who represents Troy Public Radio, there’s nobody better,” Gassiott said. “She’s part of the reason I joined Troy Public Radio because she interviewed me when I moved to the area.” 

Hutcheson’s colleagues, such as TPR Host Ann Kenda, also believe that she has earned the Best Public Affairs Program Award. 

“I'm really excited for her because she really deserves this honor,” Kenda said. “She's on the air every day with an interesting topic, so I think the Alabama Broadcasters Association really saw how valuable her work is.” 

Hutcheson said she’s learned to pursue her curiosity and wants her listeners to do the same.  

“I hope that my listeners are learning along with me,” Hutcheson said. “To me, it’s all about education, and I hope that my listeners are being educated. 

“Troy University is about education; I consider my program an educational type of program. So, to me, it all goes together.” 

This isn’t the first time Hutcheson's program has received an award. Her program has also won awards from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Public Safety.  

“In Focus with Carolyn Hutcheson” airs on Troy Public Radio at 12:40 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 12:45 p.m. on Friday. Readers can also listen to “In Focus” anywhere podcasts are available.