Northwest Student Media’s four student media outlets – KNWT Television Channel 8, KZLX LP-FM 106.7, The Northwest Missourian and Tower Yearbook – have each been named a finalist in at least one category in the College Media Association National Pinnacle Awards.
KNWT leads the way with two finalist appearances. The station has been named a finalist in the TV Station of the Year Award category for the second consecutive year, along with Kent State University and Quinnipiac University, and a finalist for Best TV Newscast, along with Quinnipiac and the University of Kansas.
“I am really happy that everyone’s hard work is being recognized. The KNWT staff works so many hours to learn and make the station better,” said Catie Drummund, the student general manager for KNWT for the 2014-2015 academic year. “I get to work on something I love everyday. KNWT is a huge part of my life, and being nominated just reaffirms my decision of choosing Mass Media as a major. I am so proud of what we have accomplished.”
The Channel 8 newscast that earned the finalist award was produced by Drummond, the reporter behind the package is Adam Bochart. Chance Parsons, who graduated in May, was general manager of the station last year.
KZLX is finalist for Radio Station of the Year for the second consecutive year (it won the award last year), along with California State University-Long Beach and Vanderbilt University. Danielle Mullens, who graduated in May, served as station manager of KZLX in 2014; Chris Roush, this year’s student general manager, served as Sports Director last year.
“It’s an incredible honor to be a Pinnacle finalist, and I am very proud of this station’s continuous work,” Roush said. “Every individual at this station strives to be better, but while doing so, we make each other and the station better. A lot of us have been at this station for multiple semesters and that shows in the quality of programming we produce.”
Will Murphy, adviser to KNWT, said that for both stations to be station of the year finalists two consecutive years speaks to the hard work of the faculty, staff and students in Mass Media.
“Being a Pinnacle finalist for the second year in a row is a very gratifying reminder that our department and our students are in the right place, both physically and mentally,” Murphy said. “Our students do not produce content to win awards; they produce content because they want to hone their craft and share it with their friends, family, and community.”
The Northwest Missourian is a finalist for Best Display Ad, along with the University of Kansas and Missouri State University. Tower is a finalist for Best Yearbook Feature Page Design, along with Baylor University and the University of Miami. Trey Williams, who graduated in May, was editor of the Missourian. Kelsey Schriver is in her second year as editor of Tower.
The newspaper advertisement and the yearbook pages were designed by Caitlyn Burkemper, a sophomore IDM: Visual Imaging major, who is graphics director for advertising for the Missourian this year and is a designer for Tower.
“Design is my life and my passion, and the opportunity to work for the Missourian and Tower has been amazing, and I’m glad I’ve been able to do it since I was a freshman and hope to keep doing it until I graduate,” Burkemper said.
In addition to these two finalists awards, earlier this semester Burkemper was named the winning designer of the new logo for CMBAM: The national College Media Business and Advertising Managers organization. Her logo is now the face of the organization online and in print.
Steven Chappell, who serves as director of Student Publications and adviser to the Missourian and Tower, and was interim adviser of KZLX over the summer, said the students’ accomplishments speak to their education and hands-on training.
“I’ve served as a faculty media manager at six different colleges and universities, and I’ve never had the pleasure of working with more talented colleagues and students than here at Northwest,” Chappell said. “To have all four student media outlets be finalists in at least one category says a lot about the strength of our media program. No other college or university can make that claim.”
Leslie Murphy is the business and underwriting manager for Northwest Student Media. Jonathan Pluskota was adviser to KZLX in 2013-2014.
Winners will be announced at the Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Association Fall National College Media Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oct. 29-Nov. 2.
A full list of all finalists and their work can be seen at http://www.collegemedia.org/contests/pinnacle_awards/2014_pinnacle_finalists/.
Department of Communication and Mass Media 