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UNC radio and multimedia work honored by SPJ

May 15, 2015

Carolina Connection, the weekly radio magazine produced by UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media students, was named the best all-around radio newscast for the fifth time in six years and the school's Powering a Nation won best use of multimedia accolades for "Whole Hog" in the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) national Mark of Excellence Awards given for work published in 2014.

Carolina Week, the school’s weekly television newscast, was recognized as a finalist in the best all-around television newscast category; radio students were named finalists in three categories; and Powering a Nation was named a national finalist in online in-depth reporting for “Whole Hog.”

Parth Shah, a May 2015 broadcast and electronic journalism graduate, was selected as a national finalist in the radio features category for his story "Cell phones making it harder to sleep." Jess Clark, a May 2015 master's graduate, was a national finalist in the radio news reporting category for her story "Ridesharing apps cause concern for local taxi companies."

The Carolina Connection staff shared finalist recognition in the radio in-depth reporting category for stories related to the UNC academic scandal.

Carolina Connection was recognized as the best all-around radio newscast in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. It earned finalist honors in 2008 and 2011.

Carolina Connection airs Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. on WCHL 97.9 FM and 1360 AM. Several Carolina Connection reporters' stories also appear on WUNC-FM, WPTF-AM and other stations throughout North Carolina, aired alongside stories by professional journalists.

First-place national winners will be recognized at the Excellence in Journalism 2015 conference Sept. 18-20 in Orlando, Florida.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, visit spj.org.