At the annual Montana Broadcaster's Association banquet Saturday night in Big Sky, KGVO Radio news anchor and reporter Peter Christian took home an 'E.B. Craney Award' for Best News Story for his compilation of stories covering the recent rape trial of University of Montana football player Jordan Johnson.

The compilation began with the first story when Johnson was originally charged in 2012, through the trial and the dramatic final verdict in Missoula County District Court that found Johnson not guilty of sexual intercourse without consent.

Johnson is now vying for the starting role he held in 2011 as quarterback for the Montana Grizzly football team.

Also in the running for the statewide award was Orlinda Worthington from KMTX Radio in Helena.

Other broadcasters picking up awards from the the Greater Montana Foundation from Missoula were NBC Montana's chief weather forecaster Mark Heyka from KECI-TV, the team of Brian Lee and Chris Wolfe on Z-100, and Ray Fanning of KUFM, Montana Public Radio.

The awards are presented each year by the Greater Montana Foundation and the Montana Broadcaster's Association in honor of pioneer Montana broadcaster E. B. Craney.

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