Thursday, October 19, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.–Students and alumni from Marshall University’s public radio station, WMUL-FM, received four (4) Platinum Awards, five (5) Gold and four (4) Honorable Mention Awards in the MarCom Creative Awards 2023 Competition. The winners were announced in an email received at WMUL-FM on October 9, 2023.
Dr. Chuck G. Bailey, professor of radio–television production and management in the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University and faculty manager of WMUL-FM, said, “This is an outstanding accomplishment to earn a platinum awards for the Newscenter 88 Team for its members having written and produced a stellar weekday thirty-minute newscast, for WMUL-FM News Director Luke Hamilton’ news package about West Virginia’s new campus carry gun law, for the FM 88 Sports Staff to be recognized for having produced its weekly thirty-minute live “Speedzone” program, and for WMUL-FM alumni’s play-by-play announcing of an exciting Thundering Herd men’s basketball game. Gold awards went to Station Manager Makaylah Wheeler’ news reporting about the Memorial Fountain Plane Crash Ceremony, for Abigail Cunningham’s interview with Kindred Valley, as well as her reporting about an abortion protest on campus, and further recognition for the FM 88 Sports Staff’s sports reporting on the men’s soccer’s match with West Virginia University and the hiring of the Herd’s new softball coach. In addition, WMUL-FM student broadcasters were acknowledged as having created more solid news and sports packages, along with worthy public affairs and documentary programs. I am proud and grateful for the honor these MarCom Creative 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 MarCom Awards are a tribute to the continual quality and commitment of the radio station’s student volunteer staff to its public service announcement production, news and sports coverage, by both our Newscenter 88 Team and our FM 88 Sports Staff.”
The MarCom Creative Awards contest is an international competition that recognizes achievement by marketing and communication practitioners. Entries are judged by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. There were more than 6,500 entries in the MarCom Creative Awards 2023 Competition from the United States, Canada and 42 other countries.
The MarCom’s prestigious Platinum Award is presented to those entries judged to be among the most outstanding entries in the competition. Platinum Winners are recognized for their excellence in terms of quality, creativity and resourcefulness. Platinum Winners are listed on the MarCom Creative Awards website at www.marcomawards.com.
The Gold Award is presented to those entries judged to exceed the high standards of the industry. Honorable Mention certificates are granted to those entries that meet the expectations of the judges.
Winners of the MarCom Creative Awards Platinum and Gold Awards come from radio stations, advertising and public relations agencies, corporate communication departments, educational institutions, government entities, designers, writers, video production professionals, broadcast and cable operations and other businesses and individuals.
Platinum Award Winning Entries
Audio / Radio Program – Newscast
The “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88” broadcast Thursday, October 20, 2022. The students who participated in this newscast were:
Morgan Pemberton, a senior from Huntington; (Producer)
Makaylah Wheeler, a recent graduate from Huntington; (Anchor)
Luke Hamilton, a senior from South Point, Ohio: (Anchor)
David Adkins, a graduate student from Huntington; (Weather)
Sean Kelly, a junior from State College, Pennsylvania. (Sports)
Audio / Radio / Single Episode – News Package
“Campus Carry” written and produced by Luke Hamilton, a senior from South Point, Ohio, broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Friday, February 24, 2023, and made available online.
Audio / Radio Sports Program
“SpeedZone,” an hour-long, live, weekly motorsports program, with host Ben Cower, a senior from Purcellville, Virginia, and panelists Sean Kelly, a junior from State College, Pennsylvania, Dale Garrett, a senior from Huntington, and Justin Zimmer, a recent graduate from Bethesda, Maryland. This second episode of “SpeedZone”, featuring Hendrick Motorsports engineer and 2019 Snowball Derby Champion Travis Braden, was broadcast February 22, 2023.
Audio Sports Play-by-Play Programming
WMUL-FM’s broadcast of the Marshall University versus Appalachian State men’s college basketball game played at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington, West Virginia, Thursday, December 29, 2022. 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;
Engineer – Luke Hamilton, a senior from South Point, Ohio
Gold Award Winning Entries
Audio / Radio / Single Episode – News Package
“Marshall Memorial Fountain Package,” written and produced by Makaylah Wheeler, a recent graduate from Huntington, broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Monday, November 14, 2022, and made available online.
Audio / Radio / Single Episode – News Package
“Abortion Protest,” written and produced by Abigail Cunningham, a junior from Charleston, broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Monday, April 17, 2023, and made available online.
Audio / Radio / Single Episode – Sports Package
“Mountain State Derby Recap,” written and produced by Ben Cower, a senior from Purcellville, Virginia, broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Thursday, October 20, 2022, and made available online.
Audio / Radio / Single Episode – Sports Package
“Morgan Zerkle Hiring,” written and produced by Ben Anderson, a sophomore from Ironton, Ohio, broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Thursday, June 30, 2022, and made available online.
Audio / Radio Program
The “Communication Breakdown” program’s special interview segment with Kindred Valley by host Abigail Cunningham, a junior from Charleston. This special program was broadcast Friday, March 3, 2023.
Honorable Mention Award Winning Entries
Audio / Radio / Single Episode – News Package
“Life Bouquet” written and produced by David Adkins, a graduate student from Huntington, broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Tuesday, June 14, 2022, and made available online.
Audio / Radio Public Affairs Program
“Insight into Old Main” featuring Marshall Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies Carl Mummert with hosts John Boggess a senior from St. Albans, and Ray Rynearson, a senior from Deposit, New York. This edition of “Insight into Old Main” was broadcast Monday, April 18, 2022.
Audio / Radio / Single Episode – Sports Package
“Seventeen-Year Record Broken by Autumn Owen,” written and produced by John Boggess, a senior from St. Albans, broadcast during the “5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88,” Friday, March 3, 2023, and made available online.
Audio / Radio / Web Program – Documentary
“Chapters: Chuck Yeager” written and produced by Nick Matawa, a recent graduate from Brick, New Jersey, broadcast on “Aircheck” Monday, December 12, 2022.