The Appalachian

Members of The Appalachian student-run news organization received 10 national college media awards at “Connect 2021,” the Spring National College Media Convention, held online March 18-20, 2021. The convention serves student and adviser members of the hosting organizations — the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), the College Media Association (CMA), the College Media Business and Advertising Managers organization (CMBAM), as well as this year’s additional West Coast partners: the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) and the California College Media Association (CCMA).

“The winners of our Best in Show competition represent the best student media represented at the virtual convention,” said Ron Johnson, Communications Director for ACP. More than 900 students and advisers were registered for the convention, representing universities from across the country, from south Florida to the Pacific Northwest. The Appalachian competed in the categories for large schools, for student populations over 10,000.

The following awards were presented to The Appalachian by the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) in their annual Best in Show competition on March 20, 2021:
Organizational Awards:
• Broadcast News Program, first place, for episode 6, season 5, Appalachian Weekly News
• Website (more than 10,000 students), fourth place, for https://theappalachianonline.com/, The Appalachian

Advertising Awards:
• Advertising Design (includes print, online, video & audio), first place, for the Best of Boone website ad, Shelly Banz and Efrain Arias-Medina Jr., The Appalachian
• Rate Card, fifth place, Shelly Banz, Jessica Kimes and Efrain Arias-Medina Jr., 2020-2021 media kit, The Appalachian

Individual Awards:
• Social Justice Reporting, first place, for the story “‘3, 2, 1. End injustice together’: App State Football leads peaceful protest through Boone,” by Silas Albright, The Appalachian
• Multimedia News or Feature Presentation, second place, for the story “‘Sheri, wake up,’” Emily Broyles and Jackie Park, The Appalachian
• Multimedia News or Feature Presentation, fifth place, for the story “Striving for local impact: campaigners take election personally,” Emily Broyles, Kara Haselton and Xanayra Marin-Lopez, The Appalachian
• COVID-19 Reporting, fifth place, for the story “Disrupted trips and virtual traveling: App State still reeling from COVID-19’s impact on studying abroad,” Mickey Hutchings, The Appalachian
• Election Reporting, sixth place, for the story “On Election Day, religion plays a key factor for some voters,” Moss Brennan, The Appalachian
• Broadcast News Story, tenth place, for the package “Altar for Black Lives,” Grace Powers, Appalachian Weekly News