Elon Local News is named the Best Student Newscast in the Carolinas, and three Communications alumni are also recognized for their journalism and production efforts.
“Elon Local News” won first place for Best Student Newscast Nov. 15 at the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas awards luncheon. Three School of Communications alumni were also honored for their work.
ELN won for its Sept. 30, 2013 show, which featured segments on an Elon student who was hit by a drunken driver, the U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit against North Carolina for its voter ID laws and a student with family ties to Elon’s beginning as a university 125 years ago.
Joe Bruno ’14, a reporter at FOX46 in Charlotte, took first in the D. Haney Howell Student Journalist of the Year competition. Bruno is the third Elon student to win this award. David Hodges ’12 (a reporter at WFFF in Burlington, Vermont) won in 2011 and Drew Smith ’11 (a reporter at WSPA TV 7 in Spartanburg, South Carolina) won in 2010.
Jeff Ackermann ’14 won second place in the Best Student News Producing competition for his work on ELN’s Feb. 17, 2014 show. He now works as a producer at KOAA in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Steve Roth ’13 was awarded first place in the TV News Producer of the Year competition for his work at WECT in Wilmington, North Carolina. He won for A-blocks from three morning shows he produced.
The Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas helps you improve communications with your colleagues in North and South Carolina at local radio and television stations, networks, cable and news services by sharing the latest technology, news practices and news management.
Sixteen students and Communiations associate professor and ELN adviser Rich Landesberg traveled to Charlotte for the conference.
About the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas
RTDNAC sponsors professional development meetings and seminars for journalists in North and South Carolina. It holds an annual fall meeting, which offers training for professionals and honors winners of the awards comptition. The annual spring workshop is geared toward helping students hone their skills, as they prepare to enter the job market.