A student newscast at Ohio University that reaches a potential 1.4 million viewers a night is in the running for a nationally competitive award next month. Collegiate Broadcasters Inc., an organization that represents students in electronic media, nominated WOUB's Newswatch for a 2005 Collegiate Broadcasters Inc. National Student Production Award in its Best Newscast category.
Newswatch is competing against three other college news programs for the prize. The winner will be announced at a National College Media ceremony Oct. 28 in Kansas City, Mo., said Warren Kozireski, Collegiate Broadcasters Inc. award coordinator.
(This award) signifies them as one of the best (student productions) in the country in whatever category they're a finalist in
Kozireski said.
Newswatch started in the 1970s, and runs on WOUB-TV and WOUC-TV from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and reaches viewers in the Huntington/Charleston, W. Va., market, said Tim Sharp, director of Newswatch and Radio TV News for WOUB. Sharp said Newswatch provides local news to viewers in areas that otherwise would not be served, including those in Athens, Mason, Vinton, Guernsey, Perry, Fairfield and Ross Counties.
The broadcast has a dual mission: to train students professionally and to serve the community, he said. 'Newswatch' is used mainly as a training tool for broadcast journalism. (Students) can really hone and craft their skills to the top levels of broadcasting experience said Michael Rodriguez, student professional development manager for WOUB.
The award also gives students the potential to have something else to put on their demo-reel and resume
he said. The organization is recognized throughout the nation
and potential employers understand what that (award) means.
Senior Larry Shields, interim electronic media videographer for Newswatch
said after receiving awards from similar organizations, he received congratulatory e-mails from employers expressing interest in his employment after graduation. The nomination will help WOUB recruit students to the station and generate interest from others to support the station, Sharp said.
Since 2002, student-run broadcast programs in universities across the country have been able to submit their shows to Collegiate Broadcasting Inc. to be considered for an award.
Judging for the Best Newscast is based on content and service to the community, according to the 2004-2005 Collegiate Broadcasting Inc. call-to-entries form.
We put in a lot of hard work and do what we can to make a good newscast
said senior Jaimie Weiss, mentor coordinator for Newswatch and Ohio University senior.
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