Six Rowan Radio productions awarded in 2017 BEA competition

Rowan Today, February 10, 2017

As they often do, Rowan Radio’s student broadcasters impressed the judges in a big way in the annual Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Media Arts competition that was announced Feb. 8.

Among the winners:

A Community Affair received second place in the Specialty Program category. The winning entry covered National Suicide Prevention Month and how suicide impacts college students. WGLS-FM Public Affairs Director Alyssa Compa interviewed author Greg Jacobson and Allie Pearce, Rowan University’s Assistant Director of Healthy Campus Initiatives. Station member Sarah Kalvaitis spoke with Rowan students about suicide awareness.

Decision 2016, a look at the 2016 presidential race, received third place in the Specialty Program category. Hosted by Kelly Green, the half-hour show featured Rowan Radio’s coverage from the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Green, Alyssa Compa, WGLS-FM News Director Geneva Gerwitz and Matthew Zawodniak conducted interviews with protesters, local and state politicians, and musician Wyclef Jean.

Green garnered an Award of Excellence for Best Air Personality for her work on The Alternative Scene with Kelly Green– a show that focuses on alternative rock music and interviews with local bands.

Guns: Calibrate Your Thinking, a 30-minute documentary on gun control in America, received third place honors in the Educational Program category. The win marks the third award for the program produced by Sam Arcaini, Compa and Bob Duncan. Last year, Calibrate Your Thinking was recognized by The Communicator Awards and Hermes Award.

Zawodniak received an Award of Excellence in Radio Hard News Reporting for a piece on Bernie Sanders supporters during last July’s Democratic National Convention. He chatted with delegates about what's next for Sanders and his supporters following a primary defeat to Hillary Clinton.

Taking Strides, a story about the career of former Rowan University Football running back Wit Marcelin, hauled in an Award of Excellence for Radio Sports Feature. The story, produced by Cody Cronin, Austin Greathouse, and Matthew Gundersen, examined Marcelin’s improbable journey to Rowan and the untimely end of his career.

The BEA Festival of Media Arts is an international showcase for student and faculty work. This year’s competition received 1,450 entries from over 170 schools.

The winners will be honored at the annual Broadcast Education Association conference in Las Vegas from April 22 to 24.

Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM has won 271 regional and national awards since 1993.