By Annalisa Burgos, RTDNA Awards Coverage Team

More than 450 of America's most talented journalists saw first hand the power of original, in-depth reporting at the 2010 RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards dinner in New York on Monday night .

The Radio Television Digital News Association celebrated the best in radio, television and online journalism as it presented 89 Edward R. Murrow Awards to 59 news organizations at a black tie dinner. Winners were honored for thought-provoking investigative pieces and compelling, personal stories as well as coverage of major news events, including President Barack Obama's inauguration and the Hudson River plane crash that made pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger a national hero.

"We face troubled times as citizens and as journalists," said NBC News President Steve Capus, who accepted the Overall Excellence Award on behalf of his organization. "Companies are strained in their ability to innovate and are asked to take short cuts at the expense of quality."



Capus said that while he too has felt the pressure from smaller budgets and even smaller newsrooms, NBC is investing in news and asked his colleagues to do so as well.



"It's more important now than ever to strive for the journalistic excellence embodied by the Murrow awards. ... This unique, quality journalism is what will make us stand out in this super saturated communication world," he said.

CBS News correspondent Cami McCormick, who received a standing ovation when accepting the Overall Excellence Award for CBS Radio News, congratulated her colleagues for continuing to strive for excellence in journalism "in a day and age where the news cycle seems to spin out of control and leave you dazed."



When asked how journalists can survive today's challenges, she advised: "Remain committed to the stories you believe in."

McCormick, who has won numerous awards for her work, ranging from coverage of the September 11 attacks to Iraq war, survived an explosion last year while on assignment in Afghanistan.

"It's tougher with today's tighter budgetary concerns, but you really have to fight for it," she said.

McCormick went on to say that while many journalists have lost their jobs in television and radio, there are many opportunities online.

For the first time, RTDNA opened the awards to online news operations, to truly reflect the way people are consuming news, said RTDNA Chairman Mark Kraham. The Associated Press won all six awards for a national audience.

RTDNA and UNITY: Journalists of Color also honored five news organizations for outstanding diversity coverage. The winners were CNN, CTV News-Prince George’s Community Television, Alabama Public Radio, American Public Media and WBEZ-FM.



The dinner at the Grand Hyatt was a star-studded event of notable journalists, including NBC's Brian Williams, CBS' Harry Smith, ABC's Jim Sciutto and MSNBC's Keith Obermann.

But perhaps one of the most comforting speeches came from a 23-year-old reporter/anchor from WATD-FM in Marshfield, MA, who told the audience he was confident in the future of small market news organizations like his.



"Small markets are valuable and viable," said Steve Dodrill, who accepted the Overall Excellence Award in the small market radio category for WATD-FM. "Young folks are the future of the industry."

Click here for full coverage of the dinner

For a complete look at the 2010 Edward R. Murrow National Award Winners, click here.

For a complete look at the 2010 RTDNA/UNITY National Award Winners, click here.

About RTDNA

RTNDA is the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTNDA represents local and network news executives in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries.