Two WGLS-FM student documentaries claim additional national awards

Courier Post, April 7, 2009

Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM received one grand prize award and one honorable mention award during the National Broadcasting Society/Alpha Epsilon Rho (NBS/AERho) 18th Annual National Student Audio/Video Scriptwriting and 46th Annual Audio/Video Production Awards Competition ceremony at the LaGuardia Crowne Plaza Hotel in New York City last month. This is the first time WGLS-FM has won in this competition.

The grand prize award was for the audio segment “Fading Farms & Saving Grace: Preserving the Garden State,” a 30-minute documentary on the state of farming in New Jersey. This award was an unprecedented 10th major award for the documentary, making “Fading Farms” the winningest documentary in the history of Rowan Radio.

“Fading Farms” was co-produced by WGLS-FM Public Affairs director Julia Giacoboni of Cedarville, a senior Radio/Television/Film (RTF) major, and Brian Kanady of Upper Pittsgrove, who earned his bachelor's degree in journalism last May.

The honorable mention award went to “Code Blue: Keeping Our Students Safe.” This documentary on campus safety examines the current state of safety at colleges and universities, methods used to maintain and improve these conditions, and recent changes.

The documentary was produced by Cody Chrusciel of Wayne, a senior double major in (RTF) and broadcast journalism, and Colin Weir of Toms River, who graduated with his bachelor's degree in RTF last year.

“Code Blue” previously won second place in the Best Educational Program category in the National Broadcast Education Association's national competition and third place in the radio broadcast documentary division of the 2008 National Headliner Awards competition.

NBS/AERho has more than 1,500 student and professional members and has chapters on 88 college campuses. The NBS was founded in 1943, and its mission is to enhance the development of college and university students in telecommunication, broadcasting, cable and other electronic media. Past and present members of the society number more than 35,000. AERho is the national honorary society composed of members selected from NBS Chapters.