Students in North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) Department of Mass Communication received awards at the annual awards luncheon and convention sponsored by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC) and the Associated Press (AP). The event was held Nov. 12 at the Speedway Club at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“The event turned into a great networking opportunity for our students and a chance to be recognized on a large platform,” said Chavis Carter, department instructor and adviser for the “Central News” student newscast.
“Central News” won the Best Student News Brief award for its broadcast anchored by senior Aiysha Bah, produced by senior Rebecca Smith, with senior Tia Knowles serving as CG operator. The newscast broadcasts weekly on Fridays and has been in existence since 2018. This is the second year in a row that it has received the Best Student News Brief award, which recognizes excellence in student newscasts under 30 minutes in length.
In the student radio competition, Spiro Trance, a December 2022 graduate, received a second-place award in the Best Student Feature Reporting category. His story “Segregated Sunday Morning” was produced for “AudioNet,” NCCU’s web-based student radio station.
“It is gratifying to see the work of our students recognized by professionals in the broadcast field,” said department chair Calvin Hall, Ph.D. “It validates the hard work of our faculty, who teach the students to strive for professional standards, and of the students who strive to achieve them and tell the stories that matter and provide perspectives that matter.”
RTDNAC is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to showcasing the best broadcast journalism in North Carolina and South Carolina, and supporting college students who aspire to a journalism career.
AP is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Its mission is to provide fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and serve as the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business.
For more information, contact Chavis Carter at chavis.carter@nccu.edu or 919-530-6306.
