Communiqué
Four WOUB students attended the 2023 College Media Association Convention in Atlanta, Georgia in October
< < Back toATHENS, OH – Four Ohio University students who work at WOUB Public Media attended the annual 2023 College Media Association (CMA) Convention in Atlanta, Georgia at the end of October. Serenity Proffitt, a sophomore journalism news and information major, Reese Thompson, a junior journalism news and information major, Graeme Grady, a sophomore studying mass media and production, and Donovan Varney, a sophomore journalism news and information major, were part of a group of 16 Ohio University journalism and media students who went to this year’s conference.
“My favorite part of the conference was the workshops that they hosted and the keynote speakers. They were so insightful and wise. It was really cool to just digest all they had to offer,” said Varney. “This conference helped me grow as a journalist because I got to hear and learn from actual journalists in the industry. They had all been in my shoes before and sort of knew the questions I’d ask and things like that.”
Sponsored by Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association, the nation’s largest gathering of college journalists and advisers met for four days of sessions, speakers, critiques and contests. With attendance of nearly 1,000 delegates, the annual fall gathering allowed students to learn about what’s new in the media marketplace and network with media professionals from across the nation.
“The CMA convention is a great peer conference that I have really enjoyed attending over the last several years,” said Ohio University Director of Student Media Andrea Lewis. “Students from five different media organizations on campus were part of this year’s trip.”
The student publications and broadcast groups came home with a total of 11 awards. WOUB received two: a Fourth Place Best of Show: Broadcast News Program award for the nightly half-hour TV news program, NewsWatch and a Sixth Place Best of Show: Broadcast News Program award for the weekly half-hour high school football program, Gridiron Glory.
“These awards are amazing. The Ohio University students were competing against nearly 1000 student journalists from 290 colleges and universities across the country,” said Lewis.
The four WOUB students were able to attend the conference thanks to a fund established by Former WOUB Student Doug Drew ’78. Drew created The Doug Drew WOUB Student Professional Development Fund in May 2022 to provide general support for professional development experiences to help current WOUB students enhance their skills and take their careers to the next level.
“I’d like to thank Doug Drew for helping to make this possible for all of us that went. I feel as though the experience helped us grow as journalists and we all made good friends and connections through it as well,” said Varney. “I’d absolutely recommend this experience to other students. There are so many things we can learn from these journalists and workshops that will help elevate our skills as journalists.”