UT:10 News, the student-produced newscast at The University of Toledo, received two first-place awards and a second-place award at the Society for Professional Journalist Region Four Mark of Excellence competition.
UT:10 News producers Ashley Karsten, left, and Carina Cornieles showed off the two first-place and one second-place awards the show received at the Society for Professional Journalist Region Four Mark of Excellence competition.
The Society for Professional Journalists strives to foster excellence and educate journalists on how to provide accurate, comprehensive information in a timely and understandable manner.
UT is part of region four, which is comprised of Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The contest received more than 4,000 entries across all 12 regions nationally.
UT:10 received first place for Best All-Around Television Newscast as well as first place in Television Breaking News Reporting for the story “FBI raids Toledo area IHOP restaurants,” written and produced by Ashley Karsten and McKenzie Kuehnlein.
The first place awards give UT:10 News the chance to compete nationally in those two categories, Best All-Around Television Newscast and Television Breaking News Reporting, with winners to be announced in late April.
“We have been competing at national competitions for almost six years now,” said Dr. Jackie Layng, professor of communication and faculty adviser for the news program. “We started out with a handful of third-place wins, but with all of the hard work and dedication from the students, we have achieved our goal of first place.”
UT:10 also was awarded second place in the category of Television Sports Photography for “UT vs. Boise State football highlights,” written and produced by Karsten.
“I am very proud of our students and their continued success in competing against programs that are larger and much more established in the field of broadcasting,” Layng said. “UT:10 is a great class for students to take who are interested in all aspects of communication, and our class gives that competitive edge when the time comes to step into the job market.”
