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KUT's "On My Block" project a finalist for 2014 Online Journalism Award

AUSTIN, Texas — Aug. 26, 2014 — “On My Block,” an online project aimed at amplifying citizen voices in Austin's new City Council District 1, is a finalist for a 2014 Online Journalism Award from the Online News Association.

“On My Block” is one of four finalists in the “small feature” category.

Created in advance of November’s Austin City Council 10 single-member district elections to create geographic representation, “On My Block” focuses on District 1, which was designed as an African-American opportunity district, and asks citizens “What’s the one thing that would make life better on your block?”

The Tumblr-based site features videos and photos, tweets, e-mails, sound clips from voicemail messages and interviews with citizens living in the district. The information illustrates questions and concerns shared by the entire district, as well as what makes each block in the district unique. This information is helping to inform KUT News coverage of the District 1 candidate race.

Finalists for the 2014 Online Journalism Awards represent a wide range of nonprofit, public, academic, major media and emerging technology organizations from around the globe.

Over the past decade, the OJAs have recognized major media, international and independent sites and individuals producing innovative work in multimedia storytelling. The OJA Committee and judges place special emphasis on entries that demonstrate mastery of the special characteristics and emerging technology of digital journalism. Winners will be announced Sept. 27.

About KUT News
KUT News, Austin’s NPR station, uses the highest editorial standards to shed light on Central Texas’ civic challenges and opportunities. A founding member of NPR, KUT 90.5 established a news department in 2002. Since then, KUT News has won more than 100 state, national and international awards for journalistic excellence. Texas Standard, KUT’s one-hour daily news program launching this fall and produced in partnership with news organizations across Texas, Mexico and the U.S., offers crisp, up-to-the-moment coverage of politics, lifestyle, the environment, technology, innovation and business—uncovering stories as they happen and spotting trends that will shape tomorrow’s headlines, from a Texas perspective.

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Media contact: Erin Geisler (512) 475-8071