NSMA's Alabama Student Chapter Elects New Officers; Marshall Students Recognized

The NSMA's student chapter at the University of Alabama has elected officers for the 2024-2025 school year. They are:

• President: Alex Chasen
• Vice President: Will Mauro
• Treasurer: Jacob Reichert
• Secretary: Summer Saunders*
• Membership Director: Grace Elliott

* - re-elected for a second term.

The NSMA congratulates and welcomes the new officers.

We would also like to thank the following outgoing officers for their service:

• Founding President Spencer Tomsett
• Founding Vice President: Bella Martina
• Founding Treasurer: Gabby Meuse
• Interim Treasurer: Ava Heeren
• Founding Membership Director: Gianna Lorito

Tomsett wrote, "I thank our founding board members... for helping lay the foundation for our chapter over the past year and serving our members through the experiences we've been able to create. I also congratulate Summer Saunders on her re-election as our Founding Secretary for her continued service to the Chapter, and our newly-elected officers taking the reins!

"On a personal note, it has been an honor to serve as your Founding President over the last year and a half. While I still plan to attend every meeting next year, I am definitely going to enjoy seeing the direction the new officers take us in. Please congratulate our officers (outgoing and incoming) the next time you see them in the halls or on campus. Roll Tide!"

Meanwhile Marshall University students, under the leadership of NSMA lifetime member, Dr. Chuck Bailey, have been bringing home the hardware to Huntington.

On April 15, – Students from Marshall University's public radio station, WMUL-FM, received one First-Place award and one Award of Excellence during the Twenty-Second Annual Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts Student Audio Competition ceremony at the Las Vegas Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Monday, April 15, 2024, as part of BEA’s annual convention. The 2024 Festival of Media Arts winners were selected from more than 1,885 entries, representing more than 300 colleges and universities.

The first-place award-winning entry in audio was:

Specialty Program & Podcast Category

“Outside Looking In” written and produced by Nathaniel Harrah, a sophomore from Hurricane, was broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Friday, November 17, 2023, and made available online.

“Outside Looking In” is a Special Feature on Craig T. Greenlee, the main speaker, and other visitors who attended the Tuesday, November 14, 2023 "Marshall Memorial Fountain Ceremony."

On April 2, Bailey, who is a professor of radio–television production and management at the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University and faculty manager of WMUL-FM, said, "All eighteen of WMUL-FM’s entries won awards in the International AVA Digital Awards. This is an outstanding accomplishment to be recognized with six platinum awards for producing an exceptional news package, having created a worthy historical documentary, a revealing sports package, splendid play-by-play coverage of both Thundering Herd football and men’s basketball games, and the radio station’s engaging Instagram social media presence. In addition, WMUL-FM’s Newscenter 88 Team was acknowledged with three gold awards for its compelling news packages, the FM 88 Sports Staff with a gold award for an intriguing sports package, other gold awards for a convincing station promo, and a fascinating video production featuring a local musical artist. Plus, other WMUL-FM student broadcasters received six honorable mention awards for their notable efforts. I am proud and grateful for the honor these AVA Platinum, Gold, and Honorable Mention Awards bestow on WMUL-FM, the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications, the College of Arts and Media, and Marshall University. These AVA Awards are a tribute to the continual quality and commitment to the news and sports coverage, creative in-depth programming, and the online presence that our broadcast students exhibit in direct competition with professional practitioners."

The AVA Digital Awards contest is an international competition that recognizes outstanding creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design, and production of media that is part of the evolution of digital communication. Work ranges from audio and video productions – to websites that present interactive components such as animation, blogs, and podcasts – to interactive social media sites – to other forms of user-generated communication. Entries are judged by members of the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). There were approximately 2,700 entries from throughout the United States, Canada, and 28 other countries in the International AVA Digital Awards 2024 Competition.

The AVA's prestigious Platinum Award is presented to those entries judged to be among the most outstanding submissions in the competition. Platinum Winners are recognized for their excellence in terms of quality, creativity, and resourcefulness. About 16 percent of the entries won this award with a score between 90-100. Platinum and Gold Winners are listed on the International AVA Awards website at www.avaawards.com.

The Gold Award is presented to those entries judged to exceed the high standards of the industry. Approximately 21 percent of the entries received this award with a score between 80-89. Honorable Mention certificates are granted to those entries that meet the expectations of the judges. About eight percent of the entries received this award with scores between 70-79.

And on March 28, Bailey sent this:

Students from Marshall's University's public radio station, WMUL-FM, received two (2) first-place awards and two (2) second-place awards in the metropolitan classification during the eleventh annual “The Virginias” Associated Press Broadcasters awards ceremony Saturday, March 23, 2024, at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Both first-place awards were in sports categories.

The two (2) first-place station and individual award-winning entries in the eleventh annual “The Virginias” Associated Press Broadcasters awards contest are:

OUTSTANDING SPORTS OPERATION FOR THE VIRGINIAS****

The FM 88 Sports Staff, led by the 2023 WMUL-FM Sports Director Ben Cower, a senior from Purcellville, Virginia.

Judges’ Comments:

“WMUL-FM has a strong commitment to cover local and regional sports. WMUL-FM gets the First-Place award because the judges heard a broader range of work, from reporting about Marshall University sports from play-by-play to sports talk.”

BEST SPORTS ANCHOR ****

"A Compilation of Work” written and announced by sports anchor John Boggess, a senior from St. Albans, broadcast during the "5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” throughout 2023.

Judges’ Comments:

“The reporter should keep refining the storytelling. He has a passion for his craft!”