WNIJ is the recipient of the 2015 Excellence in Media Award, given annually by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Northern Illinois.

This annual award recognizes the contributions of a print or broadcast journalism organization whose work provides accurate information about mental illness and reflects a realistic, compassionate view of the difficulties faced by consumers, family members and other caregivers as well as identifying the experiences and possibilities of recovery for people living with a severe mental illness.

Representatives from Northern Public Radio, the parent organization of WNIJ, accepted the award March 10 at the sixth annual Get to Know NAMI open house in Rockford.

WNIJ was recognized alongside 15 individuals who received “Star of NAMI” awards.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. Northern Public Radio is home to 89.5 WNIJ, classical WNIU and Northern Illinois Radio Information Service.