Students from WMUL-FM also were honored with awards in the 2023 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence Contest for Region Four. The awards were presented at the SPJ Region FourSpring Conference in April at Northern Kentucky University. Also, WMUL-FM received a first-place award and an Award of Excellence during the 22nd Annual Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts Student Audio Competition ceremony in April in Las Vegas, as part of BEA’s annual convention.
WMUL-FM also received an Award of Excellence and six Awards of Distinction in the 30th Annual Communicator Awards 2024 Audio Competition.
The 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,” said Chuck Bailey, professor of radio–television production and management in the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications and faculty manager of WMUL-FM.
Here’s a rundown of the awards earned:
The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) first-place award-winning entries were:
Best Station Promotional Announcement
This award was presented for “WMUL-FM Witchcraft Promo,” an in-house promotional announcement that was first broadcast Jan. 7, 2023, and is still in rotation. The promo was written and produced by Zane Bowles, a recent graduate from Sandstone.
Best News Promotional Announcement
This award was presented for “School’s Out: Summer News Promo,” an in-house promotional announcement that was broadcast May through August 2023. The promo was written and produced by Luke Hamilton, a senior from South Point, Ohio, and Nate Harrah, a sophomore from Hurricane.
The IBS finalist awards went to:
Best Spot News
This award was presented for “SGA Election Results,” written and produced by Luke Hamilton and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Friday, March 31, 2023, and made available online.
Best News Feature Story
This award was presented for “Title IX Protest,” written and produced by David Adkins, a graduate student from Huntington and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on Nov. 18, 2022, and made available online.
Best Documentary
This award was presented for “Chapters: Chuck Yeager,” written and produced by Nick Matawa, a recent graduate from Brick, New Jersey, and broadcast on “Aircheck” Dec. 12, 2022.
The 2024 MUSE Creative Awards received by WMUL include the following Gold Awards:
Radio Instagram
WMUL’s FM 88 Instagram social media account was recognized for its use during radio station events throughout the 2023 academic year. The WMUL-FM Instagram social media account was overseen by Social Media Team members Samantha Riddle, a junior from Huntington, and Emma Johnson, a junior from Peach Creek.
Radio Sports Instagram
The WMUL-FM 88 Sports Team’s Instagram social media account was recognized for its use during radio athletic events and sports-related programming throughout the 2023 academic year. The WMUL-FM Sports Instagram social media account was overseen by the Sports Social Media Coordinator John Boggess, a senior from St. Albans.
The Silver Award-winning entries by WMUL-FM were in the categories listed under social media and student audio, including:
Radio Station Instagram Page Design
WMUL’s FM 88 Instagram page was redesigned for 2023 by Social Media Team member Samantha Riddle.
Best Audio Newscast
This award was presented for the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” broadcast on Sept. 25, 2023. The students who participated in this newscast were: Nathaniel Harrah (producer); Makaylah Wheeler, a grad student from Huntington (anchor); Luke Hamilton (anchor); Emma Johnson (weather); and John Boggess (sports).
Audio News Package
This award was presented for “WMUL-FM’s Car Bash,” written and produced by Luke Hamilton and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on Sept. 29, 2023, and made available online.
Audio News Package
This award was presented for “Outside Looking In,” written and produced by Nate Harrah and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on Nov. 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 Nov. 14, 2023, Marshall Memorial Fountain Ceremony.
Sports Anchor Montage
This award was presented for a compilation of work written and announced by sports anchor John Boggess and broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” throughout 2023.
Audio Sports Program
This award was presented for “Sportsview,” featuring Marshall Track and Field athletes Micah Alleynne and Ethan Bowen being interviewed by host Ben Anderson, a sophomore from Ironton, Ohio. This edition of “Sportsview” was broadcast Oct. 11, 2023.
Audio Sports Program
This award was presented for “Speedzone,” featuring American professional stock car racing driver Travis Braden being interviewed by host Ben Cower, a senior from Purcellville, Virginia. This edition of “Speedzone” was broadcast Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023.
Audio Sports Play-by-Play Programming
This award was presented for WMUL-FM’s broadcast of the Marshall University v. Old Dominion women’s college basketball game played Feb. 22, 2023, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington. The WMUL-FM alumni calling the men’s basketball broadcast over FM 88.1 were: Play-by-play announcer Ray Rynearson, a senior from Deposit, New York; color commentator Kyle Spaulding, a senior from Logan; and engineers Ben Anderson and Alex Baker, a freshman from Shadyside, Ohio.
WMUL’s first place honors from the “The Virginias” Associated Press Broadcasters awards ceremony included the following:
Outstanding Sports Operation for the Virginias
This award went to the FM 88 sports staff, led by the 2023 WMUL-FM Sports Director Ben Cower.
Best Sports Anchor
This award was presented for a compilation of work that was written and announced by sports anchor John Boggess and broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” throughout 2023.
The two second-place award-winning entries are:
Outstanding News Operation for the Virginias
This award was presented to the Newscenter 88 Team, led during the 2023 calendar year by WMUL-FM News Directors Makaylah Wheeler (for the spring semester), and Luke Hamilton (for the fall semester) and News Assignment Editor Emma Johnson.
Best Station Promo
This award was presented for “WMUL-FM Witchcraft Promo,” an in-house promotional announcement that was first broadcast Jan. 7, 2023, and is still in rotation. The promo was written and produced by Zane Bowles.
In the International AVA Digital Awards 2024 Competition, the Platinum award-winning entries by WMUL-FM were in the following categories:
Best Audio/Radio News Package/Podcast
This award was presented for “Solidarity Rally,” written and produced by John Boggess and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” on Sept. 11, 2023, and made available online.
Audio/Radio/Web Program – Documentary
This award was presented for “Chapters: Chuck Yeager,” written and produced by Nick Matawa and broadcast on “Aircheck” on December 12, 2022.
Audio/Radio/Single Episode – Sports Package
This award was presented for “Abby Herring, the First Female Runner to Qualify for Nationals” written and produced by Ben Anderson and broadcast during “Herd Roundup,” on Nov. 17, 2023, and made available online.
Audio Sports Play-by-Play Programming
This award was presented for WMUL-FM’s broadcast of the Marshall University versus Appalachian State men’s college basketball game played at the Cam Henderson Center Dec. 29, 2022, in Huntington. The WMUL-FM alumni calling the men’s basketball broadcast over FM 88.1 were: Play-by-play announcer Jason Philyaw, an alumnus from Ironton, Ohio; color commentator Ryan Epling, an alumnus from Wayne; and engineer Luke Hamilton, a senior from South Point, Ohio.
Audio Sports Play-by-Play Programming
This award was presented for WMUL-FM’s broadcast of the Marshall University versus Arkansas State football contest played Nov. 25, 2023, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington. The students calling the football broadcast over FM 88.1 were: Play-by-play announcer Ben Cower, color commentator John Boggess, spotter Ben Anderson, and engineer Luke Hamilton.
Social Media/Instagram
This award went to WMUL’s FM 88 Instagram social media account for its use during radio station events throughout the 2023 academic year. The WMUL-FM Instagram social media account was overseen by Social Media Team members Samantha Riddle, a junior from Huntington, and Emma Johnson.
The Gold award-winning entries at the International AVA Digital Awards 2024 Competition were in the following categories:
Best Audio/Radio News Package/Podcast
This award was presented for “Localization in Huntington,” written and produced by David Adkins and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” on Oct. 14, 2022, and made available online.
Best Audio/Radio News Package/Podcast
This award was presented for “Title IX Protest,” written and produced by David Adkins and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on Nov. 18, 2022, and made available online.
Best Audio/Radio News Package/Podcast
This award was presented for “Campus Carry,” written and produced by Luke Hamilton and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on Feb. 24, 2023, and made available online.
Audio/Radio/Single Episode – Sports Package
This award was presented for “Seventeen-Year Record Broken by Autumn Owen,” written and produced by John Boggess and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on March 3, 2023, and made available online.
Audio/Radio Promotional Announcement
This award was presented for the “End of the Semester” promotional announcement, written and produced by Nate Harrah and broadcast starting Nov. 29, 2023, through Dec. 8, 2023.
Long-Form Video/Student Production
This award was presented for WMUL-FM’s Classroom Concert Series, featuring the solo artist “Corduroy Brown.” The live interview was conducted by the host of the program, Abigail Cunningham, a senior from Charleston. The producers of the playing and singing recording session were Emma Gallus, a sophomore from North Dinwiddie, Virginia, and Michael Stanley, WMUL-FM’s operations manager from West Hamlin. The program was broadcast over YouTube, WMUL-FM and posted online Oct. 4, 2023.
The Honorable Mention award-winning entries received by WMUL-FM at the International AVA Digital Awards 2024 Competition were in the following categories:
Best Audio Newscast
This award was presented for the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” broadcast on Sept. 25, 2023. The students who participated in this newscast were: Nathaniel Harrah (producer); Makaylah Wheeler (anchor); Luke Hamilton (anchor); Emma Johnson (weather); John Boggess (sports).
Audio/Radio/Single Episode – News Package
This award was presented for “Marshall Memorial Fountain Package,” written and produced by Makaylah Wheeler and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on Nov. 14, 2022, and made available online.
Audio/Radio/Single Episode – Sports Package
This award was presented for “Mountain State Derby Recap,” written and produced by Ben Cower and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on Oct. 20, 2022, and made available online.
Audio/Radio/Single Episode – Sports Package
This award was presented for “Morgan Zerkle Hiring,” written and produced by Ben Anderson and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on June 30, 2022, and made available online.
Audio/Radio Sports Program
This award was presented for a special edition of “Sportsview” featuring new Marshall Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kim Stephens (now Caldwell) with hosts Luke Hamilton and Victoria LaVonne Wilburn, a community volunteer from Huntington. This special edition of “Sportsview” was broadcast on April 19, 2023.
Audio/Radio Public Affairs Program Promotional Announcement
This award was presented for the “Insight into Old Main” promotional announcement featuring Carl Mummert, Marshall’s assistant provost for Graduate Studies. It was written and produced by John Boggess and broadcast on April 18, 2022.
The first place SPJ award-winning entries by WMUL-FM were in the following categories:
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
This award was presented for the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” broadcast on Sept. 25, 2023. The students who participated in this newscast were: Nathaniel Harrah (producer); Makaylah Wheeler, a grad student from Huntington (anchor); Luke Hamilton (anchor); Emma Johnson (weather); and John Boggess (sports).
Radio Sports Reporting
This award was presented for “The FM 88 Sports Segment,” written and announced by sports anchor John Boggess and broadcast Nov. 27, 2023, during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88.”
Radio Feature
This award was presented for “The Pumpkin House,” written and produced by Luke Hamilton and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” Oct. 31, 2023, and made available online.
The finalist SPJ award-winning entries by WMUL-FM are in the following categories:
Radio News Reporting
This award was presented for “Solidarity Rally,” written and produced by John Boggess and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” Sept. 11, 2023, and made available online.
Radio News Reporting
This award was presented for “Abby Herring, the First Female Runner to Qualify for Nationals,” written and produced by Ben Anderson and broadcast during “Herd Roundup,” Nov. 17, 2023, and made available online.
Radio Feature
This award was presented for “Outside Looking In,” written and produced by Nate Harrah and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Nov. 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 Nov. 14, 2023, Marshall Memorial Fountain Ceremony.
The first-place award-winning entry in audio received in the Broadcast Education Association competition was for:
Specialty Program & Podcast Category
This award was presented for “Outside Looking In,” written and produced by Natel Harrah.
The BEA Award of Excellence winning entry in audio was in the:
Specialty Program & Podcasts Category
This award was presented for the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” broadcast on Sept. 25, 2023. The students who participated in this newscast were: Nathaniel Harrah (producer); Makaylah Wheeler (anchor); Luke Hamilton (anchor); Emma Johnson (weather); and John Boggess (sports).
In the Communicator Awards, the Award of Excellence-winning entry by WMUL-FM was for:
Audio/Radio/Single Episode – Sports Package
The award was presented for “Mountain State Derby Recap,” written and produced by Ben Cower and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on Oct. 20, 2022, and made available online.
The Award of Distinction-winning entries by WMUL-FM in the Communicator Awards were in the following categories:
Audio Spot News Package
This award was presented for “Abortion Protest,” written and produced by Abigail Cunningham and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on April 17, 2023, and made available online.
Audio Spot News Package
This award was presented for “Campus Carry,” written and produced by Luke Hamilton and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on Feb. 24, 2023, and made available online.
Audio Feature News Package
This award was presented for “Marshall Memorial Fountain Package,” written and produced by Makaylah Wheeler and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” on Nov. 14, 2022, and made available online.
Long-Form Audio Interview
This award was presented for WMUL-FM’s “Communication Breakdown,” featuring “Kindred Valley” band members. The interview was conducted by the program’s host, Abigail Cunningham, and was broadcast and posted online on March 3, 2023.
Audio Sports Package
This award was presented for “Morgan Zerkle Hiring,” written and produced by Ben Anderson and broadcast during “The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” on June 30, 2022, and made available online.
Audio Sports Play-by-Play Programming
This award was presented for WMUL-FM’s broadcast of the Marshall University versus Appalachian State men’s college basketball game played Dec. 29, 2022, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington. The WMUL-FM alumni calling the men’s basketball broadcast over FM 88.1 were: Play-by-play announcer Jason Philyaw, color commentator Ryan Epling and engineer Luke Hamilton.
For more information about Marshall’s W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications, visit www.marshall.edu/jmc.
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