The work of student journalists at the Temple University School of Media and Communication continues to be honored at the regional and national levels.

Last month, a TUTV-Temple University Television news magazine show earned a College Production Award from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences—the same organization that awards Emmys. Additionally, students have been named finalists in five categories for awards from the Associated Collegiate Press. Winners will be announced at its Fall National College Media Convention to be held in Philadelphia Oct. 29 to Nov. 2.

The television honors went to Crossroads co-producers Lucas Proctor, SMC ’14 and Anthony Liberto, SMC ’14, in the public affairs/community service category for the work they did researching the heroin epidemic and how it is affecting the Philadelphia area, a topic inspired by the death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. By conducting interviews with doctors, addiction experts and addicts, they created an in-depth portrait of a disease that affects people across all walks of life.

Led by Francesca Viola, assistant professor of journalism, the Crossroads feature took the reporters into Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood.

“The thing that really separates our piece … is the real-life experience that we had documented—it wasn’t just doctors and professionals giving their expert opinions on the matter,” Liberto said. “Luke and I went into the heart of Kensington and knew that we needed to find something that would make this piece special.”

Several more students hope to add to SMC’s trophy shelves at the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) awards.

“The ACP awards represent the best in college journalism across the country, especially since it is open to all colleges,” said Andrew Mendelson, chair of the Journalism Department.

“It is a testament to the great journalism happening at Temple that our students received five nominations as finalists, including The Temple News as best online news outlet.”

Temple’s ACP award nominations are as follows:

2014 ACP Online Pacemaker Finalist
The Temple News

2014 ACP Photo Excellence Finalist
Environmental Portrait
Hua Zong, School of Media and Communication, Class of 2015
The Temple News

2014 ACP Story of the Year Finalist
Feature Story
Erin Edinger-Turoff, School of Media and Communication, Class of 2016
The Temple News
“Stripping Down Stereotypes”

2014 Multimedia Story of the Year Finalist
Multimedia News
Charles Watson, SMC ’14
Philadelphia Neighborhoods
“Germantown: TCRC Philly Making Wrongs to Rights”

2014 Multimedia Story of the Year Finalist
Multimedia Sports
The Temple News staff
The Temple News
“Chop, Boom, You’re Gone.”

- Jeff Cronin