Student Media Makes Headlines

NC State’s Agromeck yearbook (edited by Bryant Robbins and Michele Chandler) and Windhover literary and arts magazine (edited by Helen Dear) have both been named finalists for 2011 Crown awards, and were the only North Carolina college media outlets named as finalists for the honor.

“This is extremely exciting,” adviser Bradley Wilson said. “Not many programs at NC State can claim they have brought the university as much national recognition for the last few years than the yearbook and literary magazine.

“I’m extremely proud of all the hard work the students have put in producing publications NC State students, faculty, staff and alumni can be proud of.”

The Crown recognition was far from the first Student Media has received – in October, the Agromeck, Windhover, Technician (daily newspaper) and NC State’s radio station, WKNC 88.1 FM, were all honored at the national convention of the College Media Advisers, Associated Collegiate Press and College Broadcasters.

The yearbook and literary magazine came home with top national honors. The literary magazine was also named the Best of Show in its category. In addition, students at WKNC received recognition as Best Radio DJ, Best Regularly Scheduled Program and Best Student Media Website.

Agromeck

For the fourth time in seven years, Agromeck captured a Pacemaker award – the nation’s highest – from the Associated Collegiate Press.

“This definitely puts the NCSU yearbook in an elite class of collegiate publications,” Wilson said. “Our students work hard to document the final draft of the student version of history at NC State.

“I’m continually proud of the leadership they provide on campus.”

Agromeck also won in 2004, 2007 and 2008, and was a finalist for the national award in 2006. Judges considered the following factors when selecting the finalists: thorough coverage and content, sophisticated design, exemplary writing and editing and outstanding photography.

“This book, and this staff, are definitely competing at a national level, bringing recognition to the campus and the North Carolina community,” Wilson said.

Windhover

This year, of the six finalists in the magazine Pacemaker national competition, three were given the top award, including NC State’s Windhover literary and arts magazine.

Senior staff members of the 2009-2010 edition include: Editor Helen Dear; Literary and Audio coordinators Joe Wright and Mollie Mohr; Designers Toni Chester, Courtney Johnson and Jeremy Purser; Production Assistant Shaadé Oliveros-Tavares.

The Windhover has received 11 Pacemaker awards from ACP for editions produced in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007.

Three NC State publications also placed in the Best of Show competition, a ranking of publications who submitted entries at the national convention of the College Media Advisers, Associated Collegiate Press and College Broadcasters in Louisville. About 2,300 students attended that convention.

• The 2010 Windhover literary and arts magazine placed first in Best of Show.
• For the 2010 summer New Student Orientation issue, Technician placed third.
• Agromeck placed fifth in the yearbook category for yearbooks with 300 or more pages.

WKNC 88.1

NC State’s heralded radio station captured four finalist nominations in three categories in College Broadcasters, Inc.’s national student production awards. For the first time, the station won the top award – and did so in all three categories.

Mike Alston and Kelly Reid, on the air as DJ Mick and Mz. Kelly, were named Best Radio DJ.

Alston, who graduated in May with a degree in civil engineering, served as the station’s general manager for the 2009-2010 academic year. Reid earned her second bachelor’s in chemistry in August 2010 while she worked as the station’s head music director.

The station’s third win was for Best Student Media Website for wknc.org.

“Everything a listener would want or need is easy to find and just a click or two away,” noted the contest judge. “An amazing range of every active blogs connects listeners to local bands, listener polls, venues, promotions, and archives of in-studio interviews and performances.

“In a category with four very strong finalists, WKNC’s site gets the edge for taking the time to provide extensive external links throughout the site, making it a true destination and information source for its listeners.

In June, The Independent Weekly named WKNC the “Best College Radio Station” in its 2010 Best in the Triangle Reader’s Choice poll. Michael Jones (aka DJ Ones) was also named a finalist for Best Radio DJ, one of four WKNC DJs to honored in the last five years.