A best of show for the student-produced Rising Rock multimedia website, the two top spots in one category—multimedia package—and more awards across multiple categories bring to 10 the total wins by University of Tennessee at Chattanooga student media in the annual Tennessee Associated Press competition results announced today.
The competition is divided into professional and collegiate categories, and entries represent work produced in calendar 2019. Judges reviewed a combined more than 840 entries in both categories, with collegiate entries representing 11 universities across Tennessee.
Rising Rock is the product of a senior-level UTC communication course, and in addition to its Best of Show win, the acclaimed content hub that documents all things Chattanooga took first and second place, respectively, in the multimedia package category for entries titled “Shearing Day at Red Clay Farm” and “Spooky Sketches.”
Individual honors for best overall student photojournalist in the state went to Amanda Morgan Fann, third place; and for best overall student newspaper reporter to Haley Bartlett, third place. Both were recognized for their work on the University Echo.
Faculty member and student media advisor Billy Weeks praised the diverse contributions of all UTC communication students to the winning entries, noting “They accomplished a lot in 2019.”
“Students in Rising Rock, a UTC communication course, are charged with telling stories about the greater Chattanooga area by using multi-media and journalism,” Weeks said. “Our ‘Shearing Day’ project required four students to travel to Apison before sunrise in March. They reported on a traveling shearing team which visited Red Clay Farm (in Bradley County) owned by the Ron Shaffer family. The Shaffers own several rescued alpacas and llamas.
“We enjoyed a good laugh as one of the students designed the project’s poster which stated, ‘It’s when a dozen alpacas and a llama get a haircut.’
“I am very proud of the Rising Rock, University Echo and all UTC communication students.”
Awards won by UTC are:
- Best of Show Online: “Shearing Day at Red Clay Farm,” Rising Rock.
- Newspaper Reporter: Third place, Haley Bartlett, University Echo.
- Photojournalist: Third place, Amanda Morgan Fann, University Echo.
- Online Ongoing Coverage: Third Place, “Kevin Bate Paints,” Rising Rock.
- Online Spot Coverage: Second place: Logan Radar, “Gunman Spotted Near UTC’s Campus,” University Echo. Judges: “Excellent use of social media and following up with updated tweets and embedded article.”
- Radio Specialized/Topic Reporting: Third Place, Will Davis, “Stories from the Big 9,” WUTC-FM.
- TV Specialized/Topic Reporting: Third place, Germyah Batey, “Send Silence Packing,” Mocs News. Judges: “The visuals of the backpacks were heartbreaking, wanting the listener to hear and learn more.”
- Multimedia Package: First place, “Shearing Day at Red Clay Farm,” Rising Rock;
Second place, “Spooky Sketches,” Rising Rock. Judges: “Great work.” - Online Sports Coverage/Program: Third place, Allie Schrenker, Rising Rock, “A.K.A. Kaos.” Judges: “Nice creative take on covering sports.”
