Journalism department wins multiple awards

May 31, 2022

Asbury’s Media Journalism department’s Collegian newspaper won the 2022 Kentucky Broadcasters Association (KBA) award for best website, along with journalism student Allie Sutton winning three KBA awards in different news story and reporting categories.

Sutton gleaned skills from the department that has paved the way to her recent accomplishments. She secured first place for the awards Best Reporter, Best News Story for her “Suicide Awareness” video package, and Best Feature for a piece titled, “Hologram.”

“I am truly honored to even be considered for KBA’s Best College Reporter in addition to my nominations for Best News Story & Best Feature Story,” said Sutton. “However, I am even more proud to be a part of a program that has equipped me with the skills and confidence to shoot for the stars! I owe everything to my professors and the program that taught me to believe in myself in order to fulfill God’s purpose for me in this life.”

Both the Asbury Collegian and Sutton were competing against large universities such as the University of Kentucky (UK) and Western Kentucky University (WKU).

The journalism department recently highlighted another success story in graduate Annie Brown ’21, who is featured in Asbury’s most recent 30 under 30 collection, with her job as a reporter at Lexington’s ABC affiliate Channel 36 News.

Brown’s spotlight touches on her journalistic endeavors while at Asbury and how educational experiences have equipped and impacted her for navigating the media industry.

“I could not have gotten to where I am today without Asbury’s journalism program,” said Brown. It gave me the ‘edge’ I needed with quality journalism education and pushed me in unique ways that continue to make me stand out in my field.”

Immediately after graduation, Brown began a career at ABC 36 News.

“Now, I get to be a part of watching, writing, and recording history, and I get to tell it in my own creative way,” said Brown in her 30 under 30 profile. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to do broadcast journalism, but I fell in love with it through anchoring and producing Newswatch 3 at Asbury in my senior year.” 

During this spring semester, Asbury’s journalism department recently revived its student-led weekly newscast, Newswatch3 in which students report on local, campus news as well as nationwide topics. While involved in the newscast, students create content packages equipped with video coverage to learn the vocational skills of news anchoring, field reporting, and segment producing needed in the journalism field.

“Newswatch3 has helped my journalistic pursuit by giving me hands-on experience running a news show,” said Newswatch3 Producer, Madeline Heineman.” “There aren’t many students that get opportunities like this, so I’m really blessed to have this experience.”

“It has been one of my favorite things to get involved in on-campus throughout my time here at Asbury,” said Sophomore Rachel Law in response to how reporting on the weekly newscast has impacted her experience. “Not only do I get to do it with some of my best friends, but this past semester I have made the choice to change my major to journalism.”

To see KBA award-winner Allie Sutton and other journalism students report on Newswatch3, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMbIXAPibLj-yWWWW4YwTYA