Several Fresno State broadcast journalism students won first place awards in the Associated Press Television and Radio Association (APTRA) contest that recognizes excellence in broadcast journalism among members from 13 western states.

martin-vargas

Martin Vargas

Graduating senior Martin Vargas won Best Feature for his report “California Drought Impact: Running out of Water.”

Megan Rupe, who graduated in May 2014 and is now a reporter at KSEE-TV in Fresno, won Best General News for her story “Tabletop Exercise: University Prepares for Active Shooter Situation.”

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Yocelin Gallardo

Rupe, Tamara Hill and Yocelin Gallardo, who also both graduated in May 2014,  won Best Newscast for their April 2, 2014 Fresno State Focus newscast. Hill and Rupe anchored the newscast. It was produced by Gallardo, who is now a reporter at KGNS-TV in El Paso Texas.

Contributing to the newscast were student reporters Bryan Felix, Jeff Smith, Juliana Gomez, Abigail Martin, Jodi Parkinson and Mikey Sanchez.

Production team members included director Simone Rixey, technical director Marilyn Cowley, assistant director Jasmine Lopez, audio operator Blanca Juarez, video operator Alheli Mercado, graphics coordinator Jeff Smith, teleprompter operator Bryan Felix, floor director Renee Santos and camera operators Lexi Goudeau, Ashley Magoc and Juliana Gomez. Student assistants Cecilia Jauregui, Ana Vargas, Bianca Maglalang, Tommy Somsouk and GJ Glutz, along with studio technician Tou Yang, were also helped to create the newscast.

The APTRA Awards are judged by AP member broadcasters in Mississippi and Texas.

Fresno State Focus airs on Xfinity channel 94 and U-Verse channel 99. The program is streamed live on CMAC.TV on the “Education” channel and on the YouTube channel Fresno State Focus TV.

For more information, contact Faith Sidlow, Mass Communication and Journalism lecturer, at 559.278.4868 or fmsidlow@csufresno.edu.

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