TRENTON — New Jersey 101.5 (WKXW-FM), the state’s most listened to radio station, was recognized this week by the New Jersey Broadcasters Association at its annual conference in Atlantic City where the station earned a Best of the Best award.

The station’s breaking-news coverage of a fatal bus accident in Paramus won in the NJBA’s Breaking Story category.

On the morning of May 17, 2018, a school bus from East Brook Middle School collided with a dump truck on Interstate 80 after the bus driver crossed three lanes of traffic in what prosecutors say was an attempt to make an illegal U-turn.

Teacher Jennifer Williamson and 10-year-old student Miranda Vargas lost their lives.

New Jersey 101.5 New Anchor Jen Ursillo — with online support by Digital Managing Editor Louis Hochman, Deputy Digital Editor Sergio Bichao and journalist and Digital Operations Specialist Dan Alexander — delivered the latest information on the accident through the station’s dayparts.

“For almost 30 years, New Jersey 101.5 has been a voice for the people of the state,” said Ron deCastro, New Jersey 101.5 market president and chief revenue officer. “This award reflects the station’s commitment to its audience.”

The fatal accident has resulted in a number of proposals by federal and state officials to address school bus safety.

“I’m tremendously proud that the station’s news department has been recognized by the NJBA for their exemplary work,” said New Jersey 101.5 News Director Annette Petriccione. “Our team of broadcast and digital journalists work hard to keep the public informed and uphold the core principals of journalism.”


Selected online coverage of Paramus bus tragedy:


Since 1990, New Jersey 101.5 has been reflecting the passions and priorities of its audience, which now numbers 1 million listeners a week and 2 million digital readers a month.

The award was announced June 13 at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Atlantic City during the NJBA’s 71st Annual Conference & Gala saluting The Majesty of Radio. Founded in 1946, the NJBA is the trade association for television and radio stations in New Jersey.

New Jersey 101.5 is owned and operated by Townsquare Media Inc., a media, entertainment and digital marketing solutions company principally focused on small and mid-sized markets across the United States. The company’s assets include 318 radio stations and more than 325 local websites in 67 U.S. markets, approximately 550 live events with nearly 18 million attendees each year in the United States and Canada, a digital marketing solutions company serving more than 11,750 small to medium sized businesses, and one of the largest digital advertising networks focused on music and entertainment reaching more than 50 million unique visitors each month.

The company's other brands include iconic local media assets such as WYRK in Buffalo, New York; KLAQ in El Paso, Texas; and K2 Radio in Wyoming; acclaimed music festivals such as Mountain Jam, WE Fest and the Taste of Country Music Festival; unique touring lifestyle and entertainment events such as the America on Tap craft beer festival series, the Insane Inflatable 5K obstacle race series and North American Midway Entertainment, North America’s largest mobile amusement company; and leading tastemaker music and entertainment owned and affiliated websites such as XXLMag.com, TasteofCountry.com, Loudwire.com and BrooklynVegan.com. Additionally, Townsquare also operates Townsquare Cares, a nonprofit organization that seeks to better the lives of troops and their families.

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