NewsChannel 7 has won the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Web site.

It's the first time in the station's 53-year history that it's won a Murrow.

The award for Best Broadcast-Affiliated Web Site (Small Market, Region 4) was given by the Radio Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) Friday, April 11.

Region 4 is made up of Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

WSAW.com has now won six awards in 2008 - the previous five were awarded April 5 by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association.

"We are proud and excited to be recognized with an Edward R. Murrow Award," says General Manager Al Lancaster. "We have a dedicated staff that understands the importance of our Web channel and the delivery of compelling local content."

"To be judged the best in an industry that's growing amazingly fast is what we work so hard for every day," says Web Producer Bill Martens. "I really think it shows how powerful a station we are. It's not just our newscasts that people rely on; we give them the information they need at any time, day or night."

With the win, WSAW.com is eligible for the national awards competition, which will be judged in early June. Winners will be presented in October at the RTNDA Awards Dinner in New York.

The Edward R. Murrow Awards are given annually by the RTNDA. This year, the RTNDA received 3459 regional entries.

Radio and television news managers from markets nationwide judged the entries in March. Judges gave awards in 14 categories, including overall excellence, spot news, continuing coverage and investigative reporting, among others.

NewsChannel 7 was honored with 14 total awards from the WBA, including Best Weathercast by Chief Meterologist Mike Breunling.

NewsChannel 7 is a finalist in several categories for awards from the Wisconsin Associated Press. Winners will be announced April 19.

WSAW-TV NewsChannel 7 is the CBS affiliate for the Wausau-Rhinelander market. It is owned by Gray Television, Inc., a Delaware Corporation.