Featured Image: Teen Scientist host Rayna Malhotra in the WDIY studios after winning her first Excellence in Broadcasting Award in 2021 (Photo provided courtesy of WDIY)

(Lehigh Valley, PA) – The Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters (PAB) has announced that WDIY 88.1 FM, Lehigh Valley Public Radio, has won two 2023 Excellence in Broadcasting awards.

Outstanding Radio Public Affairs/Program Series
Teen Scientist

Outstanding Use of Digital Media
WDIY app and digital strategy

The announcement came in late February as the PAB named winners in several different categories for radio and television stations in the Commonwealth.

Both of this year’s awards are repeat wins for WDIY. Teen Scientist last picked up an Excellence in Broadcasting award in the “Outstanding Radio Public Affairs/Program Series” category in 2021, and the station’s app also won in the “Outstanding Use of Digital Media” category in 2022.

The PAB’s award ceremony will be held in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Ballroom at the Harrisburg Hilton on Friday, May 5.

A full list of the 2023 radio and television winners is available at the PAB website.

More Info About Teen Scientist
Teen Scientist is a monthly 30-minute public affairs program hosted by Moravian Academy student Rayna Malhotra (’24). Teen Scientist features one-on-one interviews focused on groundbreaking innovation in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines—entirely from a teenage perspective.

Recent episodes of Teen Scientist have featured former NASA astronaut and fighter pilot Terry Hart, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital President and CEO Dr. James Downing, and the Coriell Institute for Medical Research President and CEO Dr. Jean-Pierre Issa. Teen Scientist began in 2019 hosted by Rayna’s sister, Rhea Malhotra. Rayna took over hosting duties in 2020 when her sister graduated from Moravian Academy.

More Info About WDIY’s Digital Strategy
WDIY’s digital strategy was recognized by the PAB for its multi-pronged and multi-year approach to growing the station’s listeners outside of the traditional FM broadcast audience.

• 2020 – New WDIY app for smartphones and tablets launched.
• 2020 – Revamped line-up of public affairs programs launched, adding 14 locally-produced programs hosted by community members which included collaborations with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, and the Leonard Parker Pool Institute for Health.
• 2021 – All of WDIY’s public affairs programs made available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and NPR.
• 2021-2022 – Social media, community partners, and word of mouth used to build up audience using these new digital channels.

WDIY Membership and Development Director Shamus McGroggan, who manages the station’s online activities, implemented the strategy with assistance from fellow staff and board members.

More Info About WDIY
WDIY is a listener-supported public radio station and NPR station based in the Lehigh Valley which first began broadcasting in 1995. WDIY serves the community of eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey with NPR programs such as Morning Edition and All Things Considered along with locally-produced news reporting, public affairs programs and an eclectic mix of music programs hosted by over 90 volunteers from the community.

WDIY broadcasts on 88.1 FM to the Lehigh Valley and beyond with a translator on 93.9 FM in the Easton-Phillipsburg area. WDIY streams on the web at wdiy.org, on its app and through smart speakers.