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Broadcast Students Receive First-Place Award

By Christine Duellman
UW-RF News Bureau

MAY 26, 2005--The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association named four University of Wisconsin- River Falls students winners in its first annual Student Awards for Excellence competition at the WBA Student Seminar Luncheon at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, in April.

Out of 73 entries, a WRFW-FM News Special Report received first place in the long-form radio program category. "Special Report: Death of the Chancellor" aired at 5:30 p.m. on March 25, 2004, and focused on the death of Chancellor Ann Lydecker.

WRFW is the UW-RF student-operated radio station and campus affiliate of Wisconsin Public Radio.

"I'm very proud of how the students responded to a challenging news story when it was about a person they deeply cared about," said UW-RF journalism Professor Sandy Ellis. "I think Ann (Lydecker) would have been proud of how they handled that journalistic challenge."

The WRFW reporters spoke with some friends and colleagues of Lydecker and provided coverage of the University press conference held earlier that day. They wanted to tell the community about Lydecker and her impact on the community, said Ellis.

The entries had to be produced in their entirety by full-time students enrolled in any WBA member college or university for the 2004 calendar year. The students had to produce original material using University equipment. A panel of professional broadcasters judged each entry.

Students were presented with a plaque to be displayed in the WRFW lobby and received individual Award for Excellence certificates. The students included: Amanda Granger of River Falls, a graduating senior in journalism; Bryan Harmelink of River Falls, a graduating senior in journalism; Jason Hausler of Wausau, a senior majoring in sociology; and Jessica Wolf of Duluth, Minn., a former UW-RF student and journalism major.

This was the first year the WBA gave Student Awards for Excellence. Since 1951, the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, based in Madison, is the only trade association that supports, promotes and represents all radio and television broadcasters in Wisconsin. Membership is comprised of 90% of all radio and televisions stations in Wisconsin, as well as associate member companies who provide services to the state's broadcasting industry.

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Last updated: Tuesday, 31-May-2005 09:32:39 CDT