“Out of the Shadows,” a radio broadcast by WMUC Radio at the University of Maryland, has been chosen as the 2009 RFK College Journalism Award winner. Entries were judged by Roxane Battle of MinnPost.com and her comments are below:
In a word this entry was outstanding. The writing was conversational and the transitions were flawless. The piece was both personal and informative, without being sensational.
The depth of research and the use of multiple voices was most impressive.
To have elicited such candor, honesty and raw emotion from the piece’s interview subjects speaks of superior interviewing skills. Excellent editing and production skills helped weave a bulk material into a seamless and well-told story.It reminded me of the NPR.
Congratulations on the courage to tackle such a difficult subject and the telling of such an outstanding story.
The Associated Collegiate Press and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial introduced the college print category of the RFK College Journalism Awards for the first time ever this year. “Divided Families” by the Cronkite Depth Reporting Class at Arizona State University was chosen as the winning entry. The judge, Allie Shah, of the Star Tribune, said the entry was “a powerful story, well-told and thoroughly reported. This is in-depth journalism at its best.”
The RFK College Journalism Awards, co-sponsored by the Associated Collegiate Press, honor outstanding coverage of the problems of the disadvantaged.
Entries may have included accounts of the lifestyles, challenges and potentials of the disadvantaged in the United States and around the world, including insights into the causes, conditions and remedies of their plight and critical analyses of public policies, programs, attitudes and private endeavors relevant to their lives.
The print and broadcast winners will each receive a $500 prize to be used for their respective journalism programs. Representatives from each winning organization will be sent to Washington, D.C. to attend an awards ceremony honoring student and professional work. Winners will also be recognized at the ACP/CMA National College Media Convention in Austin in the fall.