© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Connecticut Public Earns Coveted Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Video

Hank Bolden sits for a portrait on Jan. 7, 2020 at the Hartt School of Music. Hank Bolden was one of thousands of soldiers exposed to secret nuclear weapons tests during the Cold War. He is one of only a few African Americans still alive to tell the story.
Ryan Caron King
/
Connecticut Public
Hank Bolden sits for a portrait on Jan. 7, 2020 at the Hartt School of Music. Hank Bolden was one of thousands of soldiers exposed to secret nuclear weapons tests during the Cold War. He is one of only a few African Americans still alive to tell the story.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sarah DeFilippis
Connecticut Public
860-275-7290
sdefilippis@ctpublic.org

Atomic Vet Goes Back To Jazz School

HARTFORD, CT – (August 18, 2021) Connecticut Public today announced it won a 2021 Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association for Excellence in Video for its news video featuring “atomic” vet, Hank Bolden, an 83-year-old undergraduate at the Hartt School of Music, and one of thousands of soldiers present at secret U.S. nuclear weapons tests during the Cold War. You can view the video story and read more here.

Among the most prestigious in news, the Edward R. Murrow Awards recognize local and national news stories that uphold the RTDNA Code of Ethics, demonstrate technical expertise and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community. The winners of the 2021 Edward R. Murrow Awards were selected from a record of more than 5,000 entries. “Atomic Vet Goes Back to Jazz School” was produced by:

Deputy News Editor Diane Orson;

  • Julianne Varacchi, Senior Director, Visuals & Television;
  • Joe Amon, Visuals Editor;
  • Visuals Journalist Ryan Caron King.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by RTDNA,” said Julianne Varacchi, Senior Director, Visuals & Television, of Connecticut Public, “Through this one man’s powerful story we gain a greater understanding of what he and other Black soldiers went through during a terrible time in U.S. history. His story and his determination to persevere is an inspiration and we are honored to tell his story.”

About Connecticut Public

Connecticut Public is home to Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) and Connecticut Public Radio (WNPR). Together, Connecticut Public serves nearly one million citizens each month through Connecticut Public Radio and Connecticut Public Television, as well as through our many digital and online platforms. Through our mission to inform, educate and inspire the people of Connecticut, we connect people of all ages to high quality journalism, storytelling, education and experiences, and amplify the voices of our diverse communities.  Connecticut Public is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with an $22 million annual budget, funded primarily through community support from individuals, foundations and corporate sponsors.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.