April 21, 2012

WEIU-TV News Watch wins more major awards

WEIU News Watch 

For the 6th time in the last two years, WEIU-TV News Watch has placed in the top three in the nation in competitions for best college TV newscast.

Eastern's student-produced TV newscast won first place from the Society for Collegiate Journalists for Overall Excellence in a News Show.  Elizabethtown College in Kentucky placed second, and Wartburg College in Ohio was third in the SCJ contest.

In a separate competition, WEIU-TV News Watch finished second in judging for the nation's Best College TV Newscast from the Society of Professional Journalists.   DePaul University in Chicago won the national competition, with WEIU News Watch finishing second and Western Kentucky University's student newscast placing third.

In addition, News Watch and several student staff members have been named as finalists for awards in the Illinois News Broadcasters Association's student competition.  Finalists include:

  • Kodi Smith for Best TV News Reporting & for Best TV Sports Reporting
  • Victoria Zeal for Best TV News Reporting
  • News Watch for Best TV Hard News Program

Awards will be presented at the Illinois News Broadcasters Association's Spring Convention April 27 to 29 in Macomb.

The latest awards are the most recent in a long line of honors for WEIU-TV News Watch, and its student staff.  News Watch is Eastern's 30-minute student produced local newscast and airs from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday on WEIU-TV.  Kelly Runyon is WEIU-TV's News Director.