A multimedia Web site developed by West Virginia University’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism documenting the stories of those displaced by Hurricane Katrina continues to receive national recognition.
Three SOJ faculty members were awarded a combined “Best of Festival Award” in the Broadcast Education Association’s (BEA) annual Festival of Media Arts competition. They were recognized for their roles in the production of the interactive Web site, “Starting Over: Loss and Renewal in Katrina’s Aftermath,” and its “Dialogues on Race and Poverty” segment.
While portions of the site were reviewed individually in the main competition, judges decided that the “Best of Festival Award” for Faculty Interactive Multimedia should be shared by the three faculty members who co-directed the project: assistant professors Joel Beeson, Dana Coester and Bonnie Stewart.
In addition, Beeson received first-place honors and Stewart an “Award of Excellence” in the Educational sub-category for their individual contributions to the site.
“The Katrina Project represents not only a creative, team-driven, online multi-media presentation, it showcases the in-depth reporting of our students,” said Stewart. “Using writing, audio, videography and photography, the students immersed themselves in the lives of the victims, uncovering details that could have been lost in the storm.”
“Starting Over” (available at http://katrinaproject.journalism.wvu.edu/) follows the stories of Hurricane Katrina survivors who were temporarily relocated to Camp Dawson in Preston County, W.Va. Through photo essays, written stories, multimedia pieces and documentary footage, the site explores the tragic impact of the storm and how those affected are rebuilding their lives.
The BEA Festival of Media Arts competition is the one of the top academic, juried competitions in the country for university faculty and students. The “Best of Festival” is the highest honor awarded within each major category of the competition.
“We are so proud of our faculty and students for this accomplishment,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism. “This was a labor of love for everyone involved, but it’s a wonderful affirmation to receive this national recognition. The faculty award is also a testament to the quality of the students’ work and their engagement in this meaningful project.”
In 2006, the student-produced site placed as a top-three finalist in the online in-depth reporting category of the Society of Professional Journalists’ national “Mark of Excellence Awards” competition. This followed their first-place honor at the regional level.
The three School of Journalism faculty members will be recognized at BEA’s annual convention in Las Vegas in April 2007.