SPJ Awards An Excellent Adventure For UA
By Meagan Abell
Lemke Ledger Staff
The University of Arkansas collected multiple honors at the annual Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards.
UATV, The Traveler and individual students brought home a combined 14 awards, including first place in news broadcast for UATV, which qualifies the station for the national competition this August.
From left, Prof. Gerald Jordan, Daniel Phillips, Tina Korbe, Kimber
Wenzelburger, Marci Manley, Bart Pohlman, Ana Aguayo and Prof.
Katherine Shurlds at the annual Society of Professional Journalists
Mark of Excellence Awards. — Photo provided
Two students also did well enough to attend the national competition in Indianapolis. Marci Manley received first place for TV In-Depth Reporting and Daniel Phillips took first for TV Feature Photography and Radio Feature. Also receiving top honors was managing editor of The Traveler, Tina Korbe, for Editorial Writing.
Phillips, a senior broadcast journalism major, started volunteering at UATV in 2005 as a freshman. He spent his senior year as station manager.
“I can remember what the place was like in 2005, and back then we were nowhere close to the quality that we are today," Phillips said. "The last time UATV advanced to national competition was back in 2002. The success of the station can be attributed to dedicated senior staff and tireless volunteers."
Awards of this caliber are not only exciting for the individuals, but for the station as a whole. Senior broadcast major Adam Roberts won an award for his column “Notes from the Underground" and is also very involved at the UATV Station. Roberts produces the movie review show “Razorback Reels," where he discusses new films and classics, is a member of the “Campus Crossfire” panel and is part of UATV News on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
“I was happy to see UATV News win first place because it was a great group effort,” Roberts said.
Other TV winners included: Kate Luck, third place for TV Feature & TV General News Reporting; Marci Manley, second place for TV Feature; Daniel Phillips, second place for TV General News Reporting.
The Traveler brought home five awards: third place in Sports Writing, Bart Pohlman; third place in Sports Column Writing, Bart Pohlman; third place in In-Depth Reporting, Kimber Wenzelburger; second place in General Column Writing, Adam Roberts; first place in Editorial Writing, Tina Korbe.