POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — The College of the Ozarks student-produced newscast, “The Point,” was recently honored by both the Missouri Broadcast Educators Association and the Society of Professional Journalists, the oldest organization representing journalists in the United States.
“The Point” received five college journalism awards from the Society of Professional Journalists (Region 7) and nine college journalism awards from the Missouri Broadcast Educators Association for their work during the spring 2020 semester.
Erin Hayes, professor for the practice of journalism and media, is the advisor for “The Point.”
Following are the College’s Society of Professional Journalists awards for Region 7, which includes college and university journalism programs in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska.
First Place – Television General News Reporting
“Mudslide”
Reporter: Savannah Hampton, senior journalism major from Ozark, Missouri
Photographers: Ethan Harrison, senior video production major from Mountain Grove, Missouri, and Avery Reed, junior journalism major from Belleville, Illinois
First Place – Broadcast News Videography
“Bobcat Thunder”
Reporter: Nathaniel Snipes, senior nutrition and dietetics major from Rogers, Arkansas
Photographers: Benjamin Johnson, senior journalism major from Fayetteville, Arkansas; Matthew Weathermon, senior public relations and history major from Marionville, Missouri; and Caleb Brubaker, senior journalism major from St. James, Missouri
Finalist - TV Feature Reporting
“Tunnels”
Reporter: Benjamin Johnson
Photographer: Nathaniel Snipes
Finalist - TV In-depth Reporting
“Veterans History Project”
Reporter: Nathaniel Snipes
Photographers: Nathaniel Snipes, Matthew Weathermon, Ethan Harrison and Nathaniel Hankins, junior journalism major from Jackson, Missouri
Finalist - TV In-depth Reporting
“War Memorial Stained Glass”
Reporter: Savannah Hampton
Photographers: Ethan Harrison, Caleb Brubaker, and Nathaniel Hankins
The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry through the daily work of its roughly 6,000 members, works to inspire and educate current and future journalists through professional development, and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech anpress through its advocacy efforts
Following are the College’s awards from Missouri Broadcast Educators Association, which includes college and university journalism programs in Missouri.
First Place - Newscast (non-recurring)
“Christmas Newscast”
Executive Producer: Senior Elizabeth Miller from Branson, Missouri
Anchor: Ethan Harrison
Reporters: Savannah Hampton, Ethan Harrison, and Avery Reed
First Place - News Scriptwriting
“Keeter Tree Lighting”
Reporter: Savannah Hampton
First Place - Hard News
“War Memorial”
Reporter: Senior Taylor Flint from Quincy, Illinois
Photographer: Ethan Harrison
First Place - Feature News
“Veterans History Project”
Reporter: Nathaniel Snipes
Photographers: Nathaniel Snipes, Matthew Weathermon, Ethan Harrison and Nate Hankins
Second Place - Hard News
“Mudslide”
Reporter: Savannah Hampton
Photographers: Ethan Harrison and Avery Reed
Honorable Mention - Feature News:
“War Memorial - Stained Glass”
Reporter: Savannah Hampton
Photographers: Ethan Harrison, Nate Hankins, Caleb Brubaker
“Tunnels”
Reporter: Ben Johnson
Photographer: Nathaniel Snipes
“Character Camp”
Reporter: Caleb Brubaker
Photographers: Ethan Harrison; junior Addie Cantrell from Springfield, Missouri; Caleb Brubaker, Savannah Hampton
“Art Hallway”
Reporter/Photographer: Matthew Weathermon
The Missouri Broadcast Educators Association membership is open to all public and private universities and community colleges in Missouri. MBEA works to encourage and coordinate educational and instructional activities related to broadcast education statewide.
More about “The Point”
“The Point” Broadcast Newsroom was established in 2015. It is a College of the Ozarks workstation, and its students produce weekly newscasts and sportscasts covering stories of significance to the C of O community.
Hayes is an award-winning journalist and former ABC news correspondent. In 2017, she was inducted into The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle. She is a four-time recipient of the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award and a winner of the National Sigma Delta Chi Award for Investigative Reporting. She received the National Investigative Reporters and Editors Award, three Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Awards, and was recognized for her work during ABC News’ coverage of 9/11.