Public relations students win 2012 InSpire Award

Six UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media public relations students were recognized May 2 with the 2012 N.C. Public Relations Society of America InSpire Award. It is the third consecutive year that UNC PR students have won an InSpire Award.

The students - Joseph “Fitch” Carrere, Michael Coletta, Jacquelyn Johnstone, Sarah List, Adam Schifter and TJ Scholl - received the first place award in the student category for the “Big Durham” PR campaign. Their faculty adviser, Scott Misner, teaches public relations campaigns in the school and is also president of Misner & Associates Public Relations in Raleigh. 

The “Big Durham” campaign is an interactive effort designed to assist the City of Durham and Durham police in reaching out to offer youths alternatives to violence and gang activity.

The awards banquet was held at the Capital City Club in Raleigh. WRAL TV’s Valonda Calloway, host of My Carolina Today and recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award, emceed the ceremony.