Media College News

Billy Wolfe’s subjects typically include student life, campus speakers and Morgantown events, so when a newspaper comes calling for images of students, it’s not that unusual – unless, of course, it’s The New York Times.

A multimedia website put together by a team of West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism students placed in the top three of a national student journalism competition.

“Starting Over: Loss and Renewal in Katrina’s Aftermath,” a website that documents the stories of Hurricane Katrina evacuees, was named one of three finalists in the online in-depth reporting category in the Society of Professional Journalists’ (SPJ) national “Mark of Excellence Awards” competition.

The WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism will receive up to $17,000 in New Voices funding to create a news operation at a rural Monroe County radio station.

The Monroe County Radio Project will create regular news programming at WHFI-FM, a radio station licensed to the Monroe County School Board. Journalism students and faculty will train student and adult volunteer reporters to report and produce local news stories for a 15-minute daily newscast, monthly public affairs programming and a Web site with news and streaming audio. 
“This project is a wonderful service-learning opportunity for our students,” said School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed, who wrote the winning grant proposal. “In the age of media consolidation, small communities are often overlooked by corporate radio. With the New Voices funding, our students will help Monroe County residents tell their own story.”