For the sixth year in a row, KMBC 9 News has been recognized as the top television news organization in Kansas and Missouri by the Radio Television Digital News Association. Thursday, the RTDNA announced KMBC 9 News the winner of three regional Edward R. Murrow awards — including the prestigious Overall Excellence Award. The station also received the award for Best Newscast and the award for Excellence in Sound. “Our KMBC 9 News team continues to prove its commitment to our communities,” said KMBC and KCWE President and General Manager Sarah Smith. “Day after day and story after story, our local reporters and meteorologists put in the work to earn the trust of Kansas City viewers. The challenging conditions of the past year haven’t altered the dedication to fact-based reporting shared by our team. I’m proud to see them recognized for the sixth straight year with one of the top honors in journalism.” According to the RTDNA website, the Overall Excellence award was established to spotlight stations that “best exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community.” KMBC 9 News now advances to the National Murrow Award competition in the categories of Overall Excellence, Newscast and Excellence in Sound. “Service to the community is in the DNA of KMBC 9 News,” said KMBC 9 News Director Dan O’Donnell. “The big stories of 2020 proved the importance of trusted sources for news and information. Our mission is to serve coverage worthy of our viewers’ trust every day in every newscast. Awards and recognition are great, but earning the trust of our communities is imperative.”