2025 Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas Awards

The Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC) announced the 2025 award winners on Nov. 8 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. UNC Hussman students and alumni received awards and recognition for their prestigious work in radio and television. The winners are listed below.

TV I Finalist

hard news feature 

Second Place: Restringing Hope in Appalachia – WHGP, Madison Forsey ’19, Mckenzie Lewis

Use of technology

Second Place: Inside Poe Hall: The chemicals & where they were found – WRAL, Keely Arthur, Kara Lysle ’15, Shan Zhong

TV II Finalist

Hard news feature

First Place: Jesse’s Law – WNCT-TV, Erin Jenkins ’21, Kenneth “Tree” Rounddress

Health/medicine

First Place: Behind Closed Doors: Riverside Health & Rehab – WCSC, Katie Kamin ’17, Michael Allison

social Reform

Second Place: Social Reform: Court backlog – WCSC, Emily Johnson, Michael Allison, Katie Kamin ’17

radio finalists

consumer/economic

First Place: Charlotte Latino business owners see fewer customers – WFAE, Julian Berger ’22

Community Impact

First Place: Scorched workers – WUNC, Aaron Sanchez-Guerra, Celeste Garcia, Eli Chen, Elizabeth (Liz) Baier ’20

general news

First Place: I storm-stricken mountains, VA has to make house calls – WUNC North Carolina Public Radio, Jay Price, Adam Hochberg

light feature

Second Place: Ackland Art Museum welcomes local color-blind residents – 97.9 The Hill (WCHL) – Brighton McConnell ’19

hard news feature

First Place: UNC Charlotte students design bridges for Hurricane Helene – WFAE, Zachary Turner ’23, Stella Mackler

Second Place: Missing since World War II, the remains of a sailor – WUNC North Carolina Public Radio, Jay Price, Adam Hochberg

Education

Second Place: Why most NC school districts are losing students – North Carolina Public Radio WUNC, Liz Schlemmer ’17, Liz Baier ’20

Radio news block

First Place: The Morning News: Let It Snow, Let It Snow – 97.9 The Hill (WCHL), Aaron Keck, Michael Koh ’18, Andrew Stuckey

Social Reform

First Place: New Bern honors 1905 lynching victim – Public Radio East – Taylor Holbrooks ’23, ’24 (M.A.)

Series

First Place: 2 student activists reflect on pro-Palestinian protests – North Carolina Public Radio – WUNC, Brianna Atkinson ’23

Student Finalists

Radio Division

Best Student Feature Reporting (Radio)

First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Pittsboro’s annual “Death Faire”

Best Student News Reporting (Radio)

First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Local demand for contraceptive services spikes

Ken White Best Student Newscast (Radio)

First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carolina Connection, Feb. 1, 2025

Community Impact

Ken White Best Student Newscaster (TV)

First Place: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carolina Week: Life After Helene: Climbing the Mountain