FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications (304) 696-7153
 

WMUL students do well in Communicator Awards Audio Competition

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Students from WMUL-FM, Marshall University’s public radio station, received eight awards in The Communicator Awards 2005 Audio Competition.

The winners were named Friday, Dec. 16 in Arlington, Texas. WMUL students won three Crystal Awards of Excellence, three Awards of Distinction and two honorable mention awards. This is the eighth year for this competition to include an audio component for judging.

The Communicator Awards come from a national awards organization that recognizes outstanding work in the communications field.  Entries are judged by industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. There were 1,369 entries in The Communicator Awards 2005 Audio Competition.

The Communicator’s prestigious Crystal Award of Excellence is presented to those entrants whose ability to communicate makes them the best in their field.  About 13 percent of the entries won this award.  The Crystal Award of Excellence winners are listed on The Communicator’s Web site www.communicator-awards.com.

In addition to the Award of Excellence, The Communicator Awards 2005 Audio Competition also gives The Award of Distinction and Honorable Mention Awards.  The Award of Distinction is awarded for projects that exceed industry standards in production or communication skills.  Approximately 10 percent of the entries won this award.  An Honorable Mention certificate was granted to those entries that meet the high standards of the industry.

Winners of The Communicator Awards come from radio stations, production facilities, advertising and public relations agencies, corporate communications departments, government entities, technicians, narrators, writers, and other professionals associated with the production of audio broadcasts and materials.

“This is an outstanding accomplishment to be recognized as having produced some of the best newscasts, sports programming, PSAs, promo productions and documentaries in the country,” Dr. Chuck G. Bailey, professor of electronic media management in the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University and faculty manager of WMUL-FM, said.

“I am proud of the honor these Awards of Excellence, Awards of Distinction and the honorable mentions awards bestow on WMUL-FM, the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications and Marshall University. This success demonstrates to our student staff that dedication and hard work does pay off in the end.” 

The Crystal Awards of Excellence winning entry by WMUL-FM were in the following categories: 

Newscast

“The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” for Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004.  The students who participated in the newscast were: Jen Smith, senior, Huntington (producer); Alex Reed, senior, Virginia Beach, Va. (news anchor); Melanie Chapman, senior, Stollings, W.Va. (news anchor); Jay Plyburn, junior, Huntington (weather anchor); Matt Bradberry, senior, Huntington (sports anchor); Vince Payne, graduate student, Hansford, W.Va. (reporter); Deven Swartz, freshman, Philippi, W.Va. (reporter); Jeremy Edwards, freshman, Scott Depot, W.Va. (reporter); Kristin Houghton, senior, Inwood, W.Va.  (reporter); Troy Dunn, senior, St. Albans, W.Va. (reporter); Dave Wilson, junior, St. Mary’s, W.Va. (reporter). 

Writing/Documentary Script

The script for the documentary program “To Change or Not to Change Gameday: The Pros and Cons of Weeknight College Football Games” was written by Clark Davis, a graduate student from Huntington. The script was completed Monday, May 9, 2005.

Documentary

“To Change or Not to Change Gameday:  The Pros and Cons of Weeknight College Football Games,” a documentary program written and produced by Clark Davis, a graduate student from Huntington.  The documentary was broadcast during “Aircheck Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005.

The Awards of Distinction winning entries by WMUL-FM were in the following categories. 

Writing/Documentary Script

The script for the documentary program “Take Charge” was written by Kelsey Austin, a recent graduate from Culloden, W.Va. The script was completed Monday, May 9, 2005.

Documentary

“Take Charge,” a documentary program written and produced by Kelsey Austin, a recent graduate from Culloden, W.Va.  The documentary was broadcast during “Aircheck” Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005.

Public Service Announcement

“Listen to Your Car,” an in-house public service announcement broadcast in WMUL-FM’s Public Service Announcement rotation from Wednesday, April 13, 2005 through the present time, written and produced by Brandon Millman, a junior from Huntington.

The honorable mention award winning entries by WMUL-FM were in the following categories. 

Radio Station Promotion

“Live Deejays,” an in-house promotional announcement broadcast in WMUL-FM’s Promotional Announcement rotation from Wednesday, April 13, 2005 through the present time, written and produced by Jen Smith, a senior from Huntington.

Sports Event

WMUL-FM’s live broadcast of the 2005 Capital Classic:  Marshall University versus West Virginia University men’s basketball game played at Charleston Civic Center Coliseum in Charleston, W.Va., Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005.  The students calling the game, which was broadcast over 88.1 in Huntington, were: basketball play-by-play announcer Vince Payne, a graduate student from Hansford, W.Va.; color commentator Alex Reed, a senior from Virginia Beach, Va.; and engineer Scott Hall, a senior from Stephens City, Va.

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