Radio-television students in the School of Journalism at The University of Montana recently earned four student Emmy awards.
The National Association of Television Arts and Sciences’ Northwest Chapter presented the awards at the Snoqualmie Resort and Casino on June 2. UM students took top honors in the news, sports, cultural affairs and long-form nonfiction categories.
Stories produced as part of “UM News,” a weekly news short aired on Missoula’s KPAX-TV, won in the news, sports and cultural affairs categories. The entries were compilations of stories aired during autumn semester and featured news involving UM students, faculty and staff.
The winning news entry included stories on coal trains, UM’s new veteran memorial and a magazine produced by homeless people. The winning sports entry featured cross-country runner Ani Haas’ return to running after a bear attack, the UM women’s soccer team and downtown Missoula’s Shred Fest. In cultural affairs, students earned an Emmy for stories that include UM’s inaugural Undie Run, a pumpkin hurling contest and a fair trade coffee enterprise.
Students generate story ideas and then research, shoot, interview, write and edit the video productions. Faculty members Denise Dowling and Ray Ekness advised the students.
The 2011 student documentary, “Connecting the 406,” won in the long-form nonfiction category. The documentary took a critical look at the impact of the Internet and technology on Montana. The film examines technology’s impact on schools, businesses and personal interaction around the state. Adjunct Professors Gita Saedi-Kiely and John Twiggs supervised the production.
UM students competed against other journalism students from across the Northwest including schools from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana.
UM senior Alexandra Schwier of Bozeman also was honored during the awards ceremony for winning the inaugural Tricia Moen Scholarship. The scholarship honors a student with the potential to excel in television newscast producing. Schwier has worked at the Montana Television Network since high school, both in Bozeman and Missoula.
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