The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Journalism and Mass Communications is proud to announce its students won several prestigious 2023 Eric Sevareid Awards for their exceptional work in broadcast journalism. The awards ceremony was held on April 1 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Eric Sevareid Awards is a highly competitive competition that celebrates excellence in journalism in the Midwest region, named after the legendary journalist who worked for CBS Radio and Television. The awards are presented annually by the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association and judged by a panel of distinguished journalists and educators from outside the six-state region to ensure fairness.
“We are incredibly proud of our students and their hard work, dedication and talent. These awards are a testament to their commitment to storytelling and their ability to produce high-quality journalism,” said Shari Veil, dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. “It's also a reflection of the excellent education they receive here at the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications, where we nurture curious and creative minds to thrive in the ever-changing media and communication professions."
CoJMC professor of broadcasting Barney McCoy was awarded first place in the Soft Feature – Medium Market Radio category for “For Sale: A Blast from the Past that's Built to Last” and an award of merit for “The Drought's Effects on Nebraska's 2022 Harvest” in the General Reporting – Medium Market Radio category.
Below is the full list of Husker first place and merit award winners, listed alphabetically by hometown (when applicable) with their year in school, major(s), category or categories and linked project name(s).
First place, student market radio:
Elm Creek: Hallie Gutzwiller, senior, broadcasting, General Reporting, "Wildfires' Heavy Toll in Nebraska"; Newscast, "Hallie Gutzwiller KRNU Newscast 11/7/2022"
Omaha: Grant Hansen, senior, sports media and communication, Sports Reporting, "First Black Coach at Nebraska"
First place, student market television:
Omaha: Grant Hansen, senior, sports media and communication, Sports Reporting,Sports Play-by-Play, "UNL vs. Houston Christian Women's Hoops"
Skokie, Illinois: Matt McMaster, junior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication, Sports Play-by-Play, "UNL vs. Houston Christian Women's Hoops"
*Nebraska Nightly team, Cable Newscast, “Nebraska Nightly 12-2-22”
**UNL election night team, Talk/Public Affairs, “Election 2022 Update (10pm)”
Awards of Merit, student market media:
Bellevue: Madysen Early, junior, advertising and public relations, Individual Multimedia Storytelling (News), "vulnerABLE"
Elkhorn: Kate Cordes, junior, journalism, and sports media and communication, Individual Multimedia Storytelling (News), "vulnerABLE"
Omaha: Jen Maier, sophomore, advertising and public relations, Individual Multimedia Storytelling (News), "vulnerABLE"
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Lexi Goeman, junior, journalism, and advertising and public relations, Individual Multimedia Storytelling (News), "vulnerABLE"
Tea, South Dakota: Brody Wilken, junior broadcasting, and sports media and communication, Individual Multimedia Storytelling (News), "vulnerABLE"
Awards of Merit, student market radio:
Elm Creek: Hallie Gutzwiller, senior, broadcasting, Hard Feature, "Parental Consent or Censorship?"
Lexington: Erick Estrada, senior, journalism, and advertising and public relations, Soft Feature, "Paraeducators: Closing the Pay Gap"
Omaha: Grant Hansen, senior, sports media and communication, Reporting, "Rob Stone Profile"; Dillon Pelster, senior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication, Sports Play-by-Play , "UNL vs. Boston College Men's Hoops"
Phoenix, Arizona: Avery Lewis, junior, broadcasting, Soft Feature, "TikTok Teaching"
Lake Bluff, Illinois: Connor Clark, junior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication, Sports Play-by-Play, "UNL vs. Boston College Men's Hoops"
*The Nebraska Nightly team awarded first place for Cable Newscast - Student Market Television, “Nebraska Nightly 12-2-22” is listed alphabetically by hometown with their year in school and major(s):
Nebraska City: Macy Neumeister, junior, journalism, and broadcasting
Nickerson: Lance Vie, senior, broadcasting
Omaha: Sam Alessandro, 2022 graduate, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
Olathe, Kansas: Emma Thurston, senior, broadcasting
Apple Valley, Minnesota: Jill Lamkins, senior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
**The UNL election night team awarded first place for Talk/Public Affairs – Student Market Television, “Election 2022 Update (10pm)” is listed alphabetically by hometown with their year in school and major(s):
Bennet: Trystin Somers, junior, journalism
Clay Center: Ty Schweer, 2022 graduate, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
Hebron: McKenzie Johnson, 2022 graduate, broadcasting
Lavista: Jackson Atwell, senior, broadcasting
Lincoln: Rex McKeeman, senior, broadcasting; Zach Wendling, senior, journalism, and political science
Nebraska City: Macy Neumeister, junior, journalism, and broadcasting
Omaha: Sam Alessandro, 2022 graduate, broadcasting, and sports media and communication; Paul Heires, senior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication; Jolie Peal, senior, broadcasting, and journalism; Olivia Ramaekers, senior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication; Jenna Reynolds, sophomore, advertising and public relations, and broadcasting; Turner Wittstruck, junior, advertising and public relations, and broadcasting
Plattsmouth: Reed Greger, freshman, advertising and public relations, and broadcasting
Sidney: Alexah Fort, junior, emerging media arts
Gilbert, Arizona: Peyton Thomas, 2022 graduate, broadcasting, journalism, and sports media and communication
Jacksonville, Florida: Melanie Wieting, freshman, broadcasting
Merrill, Iowa: Madalyn Fox, sophomore, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
Sibley, Iowa: Tanner Dykstra, senior, broadcasting, and journalism
Olathe, Kansas: Emma Thurston, senior, broadcasting
Topsfield, Massachusetts: Thomas Baker, 2022 graduate, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
Apple Valley, Minnesota: Jill Lamkins, senior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
Arlington, Texas: Lilly Griffiths, sophomore, broadcasting, and journalism
El Paso, Texas: Jay Quemado, junior, broadcasting, and journalism
Justin, Texas: Sydney Thomas, freshman, meteorology-climatology
Rice Lake, Wisconsin: Alaina Tomesh, junior, broadcasting
To learn more about the Eric Sevareid Awards, visit https://midwestjournalists.org/sevareid-awards/.
