J-school senior places first in Hearst TV broadcast competition

Averi Harper, a senior electronic communication major and “Carolina Week” co-anchor from New York, placed first in the television broadcast news category of the Hearst Journalism Awards.

Harper — whose entry “Chapel Hill crime mapping” was selected from 58 entries from students at 35 schools — will receive a $2,600 scholarship.

She will submit additional entries for a semifinal round of judging to qualify to compete in the Hearst television national championships to be held in San Francisco in June. The national championships gather monthly competition winners from broadcast, writing, photojournalism and multimedia disciplines to demonstrate their skills in on-the-spot assignments to compete for additional awards.

The UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media finished first overall in the Intercollegiate Broadcast News Competition of the Hearst Journalism Awards during the 2012-13 academic year. The overall finish results from students placing in monthly broadcast competitions during the school year. Senior Michael Rodriguez and December 2012 graduate Grace Joyal placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the radio broadcast competition.