Student Newspaper, TV and Radio Win 49 Awards in State College Media Contest
ARKADELPHIA – Students from Arkansas State University’s School of Media and Journalism earned 49 awards for work produced in 2023 as part of the Arkansas College Media Association’s annual contest and spring conference.
The Herald, A-State’s campus newspaper and online news outlet, won 42 awards while the student radio station, Red Wolf Radio, won two awards. ASU-TV won five awards, including the General Excellence Television Producer/Director of the Year for Easton John of Kansas City, Mo., station manager.
“I am so proud of our media and journalism students for the recognition of their stellar work. The student media outlets, such as The Herald, ASU-TV and Red Wolf Radio are an essential part of their experience,” said Dr. Brad Rawlins, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Communication. “This multitude of awards is the outcome of many hours of hard work and dedication by the students and the faculty who teach and advise them.”
Students attending the conference held at Ouachita Baptist University listened to media professionals discuss multiple opportunities in the media industry, including niche publications, podcasting, digital marketing, freelancing, magazine writing, and television news reporting. The Society of Professional Journalists Arkansas Pro chapter and Gray Media critiqued resumes, portfolios and sizzle reels, while also offering students opportunities to discuss internships.
Student media advisers indicated their pride in student accomplishments.
“The 42 print, online, photography and broadcast awards won recently by The Herald staffers is proof that the practice of journalism at A-State is of value and recognized for great reporting, writing, photography and more,” Herald adviser Sandra Combs said.
ASU-TV adviser Dustin Sullivan also praised the student work.
“ASU-TV and Red Wolf Radio are honored to be recognized by ACMA in receiving several awards at their convention this year. This is a testament to the hard work and passion that all our students show on a regular basis in providing our viewers and listeners with the highest quality of content. We thank the ACMA for all they do for our organizations,” he said.
General Excellence Award winners included:
Television Producer/Director of the Year – ASU-TV Station Manager Easton John
Website of the Year runner-up – The Herald
Designer of the Year runner-up – former Herald editor-in-chief Rebecca Robinson of Sheridan
Newspaper of the Year, third place – The Herald
Editor of the Year, third place – Herald editor-in-chief Rachel Rudd of Searcy
Reporter of the Year, third place – Caroline Averitt of Jonesboro
First place award winners included:
Newspaper Headlines – Caroline Averitt
In-Depth News – Rachel Rudd
Personality Profile – Caroline Averitt
Newspaper Review Writing – Rebecca Robinson
Newspaper Front Page Layout – Rachel Rudd & Rebecca Robinson
Newspaper Sports Page Layout – Rebecca Robinson
Online News Writing – Rachel Rudd
Online News Photo – Rachel Rudd
Online Feature Writing – Rachel Rudd
Online Arts & Entertainment Review – Rebecca Robinson
Online Topical Reporting/Blogs – Rebecca Robinson and Rachel Rudd
Online Social Media Promotion – ASU-TV (Colby Thompson of Conway, Jarida Hess of Jonesboro, Mehr Aslam of Pakistan, and Easton John)
Television Computer Graphics – Colby Thompson
Television News Script – ASU-TV (Tristan Harlen of Cabot, Krystal Smith of Jonesboro, Brady Michael of Malvern, and Jarida Hess)
Second place award winners included:
Newspaper Election/Political coverage – Caroline Averitt
Newspaper Spot News Photo – Rachel Rudd
Newspaper Personality Profile – Rachel Rudd
Newspaper General Column – Rachel Rudd
Newspaper Review Writing – Caroline Averitt
Newspaper Editorial Page Layout – Caroline Averitt
Audio Podcast – Caroline Averitt, Laila Casiano of Paragould and Shelby Russom of Paragould
Online Arts & Entertainment Article – Jerry Don Burton of Wynne
Online Headlines – Caroline Averitt
Third place award winners included:
Newspaper In-Depth News – Rachel Rudd
Newspaper Feature Writing – Caroline Averitt
Newspaper Sports Story – Caroline Averitt
Newspaper Spot News Photo – Shelby Russom
Newspaper Feature Photo – Shelby Russom
Audio Podcast – Rachel Rudd (for Red Wolf Radio)
Online Newswriting – Caroline Averitt
Online In-Depth Reporting – Rachel Rudd
Online Multimedia Package – Rachel Rudd
Online Personality Profile – Caroline Averitt
Online Topical Reporting/Blog – Rachel Rudd
Online Editorials/Commentary/Blogs – Caroline Averitt
Online Arts & Entertainment Articles – Caroline Averitt
Online Sports Photo – Rachel Rudd
Honorable Mention award winners included:
Newspaper Feature Writing – Rachel Rudd
Newspaper Editorial Writing – Elijah Templeton of Jonesboro
Audio Podcast – Quentin Takacs of Bristow, Okla. (for Red Wolf Radio)
Online Feature Photo – Caroline Averitt
Online Arts & Entertainment Review – Rebecca Robinson
Television Sports Feature – Easton John, Tristan Harlan, Cooper Melder, and Ty Phillips of Harrison
Covering 88 categories, ACMA’s contest produced 715 entries from the following Arkansas colleges and universities: Arkansas State, Arkansas Tech, Central Baptist College, Harding University, John Brown University, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Ouachita Baptist University, University of Central Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. ACMA will hold its next conference April 11, 2025, in Conway.
