UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the fourth time in the last five years, “Centre County Report,” a weekly program produced by students and faculty from the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, won best newscast in the College/University Production Awards — the equivalent of regional Emmy Awards — from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Mid-Atlantic Chapter.
Overall, Penn State student work earned six awards. In addition, pieces from a spring 2016 international reporting trip to Greece garnered four first-place finishes, including a special titled “The Journey.”
"These opportunities we give our students at the Bellisario College of Communications are the real deal,” said Steve Kraycik, director of student television and online operations. “It's high-end reporting and producing — international reporting trips, local newscasts broadcast across much of the state, breaking news coverage, and special programs. These students are doing excellent work, and I'm proud to see them recognized for it."
Over the past four years, programs produced in the Bellisario College have earned 18 College/University Production Awards from the NATAS.
Each year, the awards recognize outstanding student achievement in production in the Mid-Atlantic region. The award is intended to be an incentive for continued pursuit of excellence by those studying media and journalism and to bring attention to outstanding achievements by students.
Bellisario College winners:
- Newscast: “Centre County Report, Nov. 8, 2016” (John McHugh, anchor; Samantha Goldstein, anchor; Jeffrey Capanelli, producer; Morgan Giannone, sports anchor; Michelle Bruno, director; and Brianna Debow, technical director)
- News, General Assignment: “An Arab’s Perspective” (Yousef Saba, reporter)
- Arts and Entertainment/Cultural Affairs: “A Stage Set for Hope” (Natalie Vero, reporter)
- Long Form, Fiction: “Le Cirque Mentale” (Maria Gagas, A.D./editor/gaffer/grip; Monica Mazel, director/writer; Morgan Shaw, producer; Yunze Zhang, director of photography; and Alexander Melso, line producer)
- Long Form, Non-Fiction: “The Journey: A Centre County Report Special” (Jess Arnold, producer)
- Sports: “Athens Olympic Legacy: After the Games” (Kristen Garrone, reporter)
A full list of winners is available online.