WIU NEWS3, Sports Broadcasters Nominated for National, Annual Broadcast Awards
Western Illinois University’s student-run broadcast news and sports media have been named finalists for the annual National Undergraduate Student Electronic Media Competition, hosted by NBS.
“Their hard work and dedication continue to pay off,” said Quintin Parker, sports broadcasting director. “They’ve really been impressive lately, and they will only get better as time passes. Right now, we expect them to be the best, but we’re still willing to do the work it takes to 
be the best, so we’re in a good place right now.”
NEWS3 staffers and Broadcast Journalism’s sports broadcasters were nominated for a number of categories, including Web News Article, Audio Sports Segment, Video Sports Package, Live Sports Production and Video Program Opener. The submissions were completed by WIU students Jenna Skarlupka, a senior broadcasting and journalism major, of Freeport, IL; Cayson Frerichs, a senior broadcasting and journalism major, of Geneseo, IL; Will Beesing, a senior broadcasting and journalism major, of Byron, IL; and Marvin Ransom, a sophomore broadcasting and journalism major, of Chicago; as well as students in the classes BCJ 320 and BCJ 420, Sports Production I and II.
“I continue to be incredibly impressed by the resiliency of our students at WIU through this difficult time to safely produce the news and sports,” said Jessica M. Martin, Broadcasting instructor/news director. “The students worked very hard to continue to produce content for the public in an online-first format, and I am so proud that they are being recognized for that hard work with these prestigious nominations.”
The annual National Electronic Media Association Student Competition Awards ceremony will be held during this year’s NBS Conference, which is scheduled as a hybrid event in March. The conference consists of broadcasting workshops, guest speakers and an awards ceremony.
NEWS3 is the student-run television station and BCJ 320 and 420 are courses and both are located and held within the University’s Department of Broadcasting and Journalism.
The prestigious competition boasts nominations of University of Florida, University of Indianapolis, Mississippi State University, Marshall University, West Texas A&M University and several more. The judges for the NBS competition consisted of more than 60 current and past professionals in the field of broadcast and submissions were nominated based on receiving a set point total by the judges. Category winners will receive a trophy and other nominees will receive an honorable mention.
For more information about the WIU Department of Broadcasting and Journalism, visit wiu.edu/BCJ.
