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"WVU News" producer places in top national competitions

Corey Sanchez

A special edition of the WVU Reed College of Media’s student-produced newscast, WVU News, recently earned national recognition for excellence in television production.

All Things Social Media,” which aired during the Spring 2014 semester, was produced by Corey Sanchez of Sissonville, West Virginia, and focused on the Craigslist killer, cyber bullying, cyber stalking and Snapchat advertising.

The newscast recently was selected as a top-three finalist in the Television Academy Foundation’s College Television Awards. Sanchez, who graduated in December 2014, won an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles, California, next month to learn if he’ll receive a first, second or third place Emmy at the 36th Annual College Television Awards Gala.

The College Television Awards, formerly known as the Student Television Awards, was started in 1978 by a partnership between Foundation Board members Lynne Gross and Frank O’Connor, and oil man Herbert Schmertz, to recognize excellence in student work. Designed to emulate the Primetime Emmy judging process, entries are reviewed by active Television Academy members.

Winners also are invited to participate in a Nominee Summit at the Television Academy, where they are exposed to industry professionals and undergo development workshops. Students also become part of the Television Academy Foundation alumni network, which provides access to year-round networking opportunities and events.

“To be called a national winner, I can’t help but feel thankful to have been surrounded by such amazing people who made it possible,” Sanchez said. “Professor Dahlia and my news team constantly pushed each another to succeed, so it’s gratifying to know that our hard work and creativity is being recognized and given value by leaders in the industry.”

The same newscast earned second place in the category of Television Newscast (airing three days per week or less) in the Broadcast Education Association’s (BEA) Festival of Media Arts. The BEA Festival of Media Arts is an international refereed exhibition of faculty creative activities and a national showcase for student works.

Teaching Associate Professor Gina Dahlia, who oversees production of the newscast, will attend the BEA convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, next month to accept the award on behalf of Sanchez and WVU News. This is the fifth year in a row that the newscast has placed in the top four weekly college newscasts in the country at BEA.

“It’s such an honor to have our newscast recognized on a national level by two prestigious organizations,” said Dahlia. “I believe these awards speak volumes to the high quality of our students, our facilities and our program.”

WVU News is a television newscast produced by journalism students at the Reed College of Media at West Virginia University Students, report, write, shoot and edit television news stories for the program. They also serve as on-air anchors, producers, directors and technical crew during newscast tapings at WVU’s professional television studio.

WVU News airs statewide on West Virginia Public Television and on Time Warner Cable in North Central West Virginia. The production is also available for download on WVU’s iTunesU and YouTube.