“WVU News,” the Reed College of Media’s student-produced television newscast, has been awarded a 2023 Platinum AVA Digital Award for the special edition episode “Mental Health in America, a Growing Crisis.”
This international creative competition is judged by members of the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals and recognizes outstanding achievement in the concept, direction, design and production of digital media and communication.
The “WVU News” special edition episode was produced in spring 2022 and won in the Video Production TV Broadcast & Cable category. Chloe Snodgrass of North Canton, Ohio, was the producer; John Keehan of Cincinnati, Ohio, was the assistant producer and director; and Daniel Woods of Morgantown, West Virginia and Ali McDaniel of St. Augustine, Florida, were the main anchors for the episode.
“I am so honored to be recognized for this award and it is great seeing our hard work recognized in a professional setting,” said McDaniel, a current law student at George Mason University. “Being a part of ‘WVU News’ was one of my favorite memories from college, and the skills I learned from studying broadcast journalism have helped me immensely.”
“WVU News” is part of the Advanced Television Reporting and Producing course co-taught by Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Teaching Professor Gina Dahlia and Teaching Assistant Professor Ashton Marra. who serves as the program’s executive producer. The newscast streams on Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV's website (a top 25 TV market) streams on the HD Media website and airs statewide on West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) and the City of Morgantown’s Public Access Channel.
“WVU News” reporters cover events on the University campus and in the Morgantown community. 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.
Main "WVU News" anchors for the spring 2023 semester are Kat Bruch from Warrenton, Virginia, and Maggie Oliverio from Morgantown, West Virginia.
“Ever since I was a freshman in high school, I’ve had a passion for journalism,” said Bruch. “Being chosen as a main anchor for an award-winning newscast is a big responsibility, but it will teach me so much. I am so thankful for this opportunity to make meaningful connections both personally and professionally. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.”
In addition to “WVU News,” the Reed College of Media offers the “Mountaineer Playbook” capstone course for Sports and Adventure Media majors. Launched in 2021 under the direction of Shott Teaching Assistant Professor and Executive Producer Chuck Scatterday, the show focuses on sports video reporting and production and includes in-the-field reporting, in-the-studio camera operations, live directing and producing to cover all 17 Division I WVU athletic teams.
This semester’s main anchors for “Mountaineer Playbook” are Daniel Schuster from Cape May, New Jersey, and Ethan Krauss from Richmond, Virginia.
“I'm very excited to be working as one of the anchors for Playbook this semester,” said Krauss. “The show was initially one of the reasons I chose to come to WVU, and to get to be a part of it is truly special. I'm hoping my time on the show will give me the experience necessary to work in live sports production, and I have no doubt that the crew I'm working with will help me get there.”
“Mountaineer Playbook” has a working relationship with ESPNU as well as a partnership with WVU Athletics and the Big 12 Conference, including Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Through an agreement between the City of Morgantown and the College of Media, Morgantown residents can watch “Mountaineer Playbook” on Comcast Channel 15 and 1084 on Mondays and Fridays at 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Past episodes of “WVU News” and “Mountaineer Playbook” can be viewed at mediacollegenewscast.wvu.edu and mediacollegenewscast.wvu.edu/mountaineer-playbook, respectively.
The full list of student assignments for spring 2023 includes:
“WVU News” Full Newscast
Kat Bruch – Main Anchor - Warrenton, VA
Maggie Oliverio – Main Anchor - Morgantown, WV
Kaeli Ricottilli – Social Square Anchor - Coalton, WV
Lara Bonatesta -Data Visualization Anchor - Branchburg, NJ
Aaron Dickens – Legislative Anchor/Reporter- Parkersburg, WV
Sean Lowdermilk – Sports Anchor - Kingwood, WV
Makenna Leisifer -Producer - Pittsburgh, PA
“Mountaineer Playbook” Full Newscast
Ethan Krauss – Main Anchor – Richmond, VA
Daniel Schuster – Main Anchor – Cape May, NJ
David Roe – Producer – Sacramento, CA
Teran Malone – Director – New Martinsville, WV
Lauren O’Brien – Associate Producer – Bucks County, PA
Ceili McCabe – Technical Director & Wrestling Beat – Vancouver, BC, Canada
Jordan Gillis – Audio/Sound/Mics & Rifle Beat – Philadelphia, PA
Adam See – Graphics & Women’s Basketball Beat – Moorefield, WV
Trevor Pincavitch – Digital Playback & Golf Beat – Waynesburg, PA
Matt Natriello – Robo Camera Operator & Baseball Beat – Hamilton, NJ