The University of Tennessee at Martin’s student-operated radio station, WUTM 90.3 “The Hawk,” was awarded first and second places in both categories offered in the college competitions at the inaugural Tennessee Association of Broadcasters “Excellence in Broadcasting” awards banquet. The event was held Oct. 4 at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.
The Radio Horizon award was awarded to the best up-and-coming college radio reporter or personality. Blaine McDonald, a senior broadcasting student from Martin, received this award recognizing the newscasts she has anchored. Dylan Ingram, a senior media design major also from Martin, received second place for his newscasts and spot reporting.
“I was honestly extremely shocked to have won the Radio Horizon award,” said McDonald. “To win this award makes me truly grateful for everything I have learned at UTM.”
The best radio news, sports or event coverage award was presented to Shannon Sullivan, a 2022 meteorology graduate from Colorado Springs, Colorado, for her “severe weather coverage” on WUTM. Second place went to Davis Gregory, a senior broadcasting major from Knoxville, McDonald, and Daariq Burton, a senior broadcasting major from Cordova, for their sports talk show, “The Bench.”
The Tennessee Association of Broadcasters advocates for and provides support to the broadcast industry in Tennessee through education and creating relationships between broadcasters and citizens.
WUTM 90.3 “The Hawk” is in its 51st year as UT Martin’s student radio station. Programming is available over the air and through live streaming. Dr. Richard Robinson, professor in the Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communication, is the station’s faculty adviser. For more information about the station, contact Robinson at rrobins2@utm.edu.
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