KOMU-TV Receives Emmy for Overall News Excellence

Stacey Woelfel Radio-TV Journalism Faculty Jennifer Reeves Radio-TV Journalism Faculty Randy Reeves Radio-TV Journalism Faculty

Columbia, Mo. (Nov. 29, 2005) -- The Mid-America Chapter of the National Television Arts and Sciences recently awarded a 2005 Emmy for Overall News Excellence to KOMU, the only university-owned commercial television station in the United States that uses its newsroom as a working lab for students.

KOMU competed with television stations that are sized 100-plus in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana and Missouri. This year, KOMU was the only station nominated in the Overall News Excellence category. In 2004 the station won an Emmy for Best Writing for "Sarah's Stories."

Randy Reeves accepts the Overall News Excellence Emmy on behalf of KOMU.	Faculty members Randy Reeves and Jennifer Reeves at the awards ceremony in St. Louis.

"We have a talented and hard-working news team who believes in providing quality, accurate and up-to-date news and information to our viewers. We're proud to receive an Emmy recognizing those beliefs," said KOMU News Director Stacey Woelfel.

Jennifer Reeves and Randy Reeves, both assistant professors at the Missouri School of Journalism, accepted the award for the station at the awards ceremony in St. Louis.

Broadcast News students expressed pride in the station's Emmy.

"Our coverage stands out because everyone in the newsroom wants to tell the best stories. We work together to make sure that happens," Travis Thompson, a senior broadcast news student, said.

Thompson's classmate, Jayme Wilson, echoed his sentiments. "Students learn broadcast journalism in a real-world setting at KOMU," she said, "and our enthusiasm and commitment result in better journalism."