Tackling COVID misinformation daily on Kimberley radio sees a small team win a big award

Stephen Donnett-Jones and Geoff Davis are part of a radio station that "punches above its weight". (Supplied: Indi Wood)

Move over Norman Swan, the Kimberley's answer to Coronacast has been recognised as one of the best community radio shows in the country.

COVID Report from Fitzroy Crossing's Wangki Yupurnanupurru Radio has landed the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) Award for Excellence in News and Current Affairs Programming.

Self-described "trainee broadcaster" Geoff Davis co-presented the daily program when the pandemic first hit.

Mr Davis says the award-winning COVID Report is a response to a lack of information. (ABC Kimberley: Eddie Williams)

He said it was all about keeping the local community informed.

"So we came up with the idea of this COVID Report and we did it for half an hour a day, five days a week."

The program involved interviews with health experts and locals about the impacts of the pandemic.

Coronacast and the ABC's Norman Swan provided some inspiration.

"Quite often I'd listen to [Coronacast] as I was driving into the studio," Mr Davis said.

The program was a team effort with contributions from other Wangki staff including Natalie Davey, who helped name the show.

"They had a different name, and it was much longer," she said.

"I was like 'I'm not saying this long name, so it should just be COVID Report'.

Natalie Davey came up with the program's concise name. (ABC Kimberley: Eddie Williams)

COVID Report was a partnership between Wangki Radio and Gurama Yani U, a local men's shed in the Fitzroy Valley which Mr Davis chairs.

It has now evolved into a weekly program called In The Valley which continues to shine a light on local news and issues.

Wangki station manager Indi Wood said Wangki "very much punches above [its] weight".

"We've been selected as finalists numerous times," he said.

As well as having won this year's current affairs award, the small central Kimberley station was also a finalist for Excellence in Indigenous Broadcasting.

Previous manager and COVID Report co-host Wayne Bynder took out a leadership award last year.

Mr Davis spreads the news — and reliable information — on the daily COVID Report. (Supplied: Indi Wood)

For Mr Davis, the station's success is a point of pride for the community.

"Good little Wangki Radio in Fitzroy Crossing, competing with all of the independent radio stations in Sydney or Melbourne," he said.

You can tune into Wangki Radio on 936AM or visit wangki.org.au