A number of AU journalism and digital media students honored as national awards finalists

ASHLAND, Ohio – Several students in Ashland University’s Journalism and Digital Media (JDM) Department were national finalists in the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Media Awards competition for their work with the university radio station WRDL 88.9 FM and television station AUTV.

The radio finalists were:

• Best Morning Show (Top 5) – The Early Bird’s Word – Nick Stupka, Sean Repuyan and Anthony Marchetta
• Best Newscast (Top 7) – News in 90 Seconds – Sean Repuyan
• Best Liner/Sweeper (Top 10) – Morning Show Worm – Nick Stupka

The television finalists were:

• Best College/University Television Station (Top 5) – AUTV
• Best Newscast (Top 9) – Good Afternoon Ashland – Ethan Jenkins, Cade Cracas, Kyle Doershuk, Brynn Meisse, Gage Eldridge, William Currier, Lauren Gulden, Katelyn Meeks, Sean Repuyan and Ella Cummins
• Best Sports Report (Top 5) – Sports Break – Cade Cracas, Eleanor Lohr, Sean Repuyan and Jordan Hiles

The finalist trophies and the first-place awards were presented during the annual IBS Conference, held earlier this month in New York City. IBS, founded in 1940, is an organization with a membership of more than 1,000 non-profit, education-affiliated radio stations, television stations and webcasters.

“JDM provides students with an award-winning, hands-on learning experience that is designed to prepare and train students for a 21st century media landscape,” said Derek Wood, faculty advisor and general manager of WRDL. “Being honored by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System continues to bring national recognition to the program.”

AU, which has received annual recognition from IBS since 2016, was one of three Ohio colleges and universities with students among this year’s finalists. AU’s JDM program of radio, television and print journalism was created when the department integrated its curriculum in 2010 in an effort to meet the challenges graduates will face upon entering an ever-converging media world.

“Ashland’s JDM program was indeed on the forefront of new media education regionally and nationally in 2010,” said David McCoy, Ph.D., who serves as faculty advisor for AUTV and chairs the JDM department. “Our program continues to be a model of rigorous academics reinforced by professional learning opportunities for 21st century journalists.”

The JDM program was recognized in 2012 as one of 47 journalism programs in the country that fully converged its print and broadcast curriculum. AU was the only program in Ohio that received this distinction.

Ashland University is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.