Barney McCoy, Gilbert and Martha Hitchcock Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications, was awarded the Best of Competition award by the Broadcast Education Association in the 2023 BEA Festival of Media Arts Faculty News Competition.
McCoy was honored in the festival’s radio hard news reporting category for his piece, “Nebraska Drought at Harvest Time.”
The BEA Festival of Media Arts is an annual international competition that showcases the best in broadcast journalism. The competition is judged by a panel of industry professionals, and winners are selected based on their journalistic excellence, creativity and impact.
McCoy’s 2022 radio documentary explored the effects of one of the state’s worst droughts on record for Nebraska agriculture. The piece featured interviews with farmers and ranchers struggling to make ends meet. McCoy’s reporting was informative and engaging. It provided valuable perspectives on a critical issue facing Nebraska and other places across the country.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Broadcast Education Association,” McCoy said. “This award is a testament to the importance of reporting to inform our citizens about critical issues facing Nebraska. I am grateful for the BEA’s support.”
McCoy is a professor at the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications, where he teaches courses in multimedia, broadcast news, journalism, documentary and depth reporting. Before joining UNL, McCoy worked as a full-time journalist for 27 years, winning six Emmy awards and numerous other honors.
He has also received national recognition for his work as a documentary director and producer, including multiple awards for his 2018 television documentary "Black Jack Pershing: Love and War." McCoy holds a master's degree in telecommunications management from Michigan State University and a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Kansas.
To learn more about the BEA Festival of Media Arts, please visit https://beaweb.org/festival/.
