"And the Rammie goes to ..."

MASS COMMUNICATION RAMMIES: AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Best Promo By A Group: Shoes-Broadcast Marketing Section 1

Best Promo by Individual: Ram-TV19: Behind the Scenes-Hezekiah Cunningham

Best Actor/Actress In A Promo: Daysha Scruggs-Shoes

Best Edited Package: Tammy Terrell-Basketball

Best Comedic Performance: Fred - "Making the Band"/"Nightlife"

Best Supporting Actress/Actor: Nicole Lee - "Undergrad U"

Best Actor: Austin Mackey - "Undergrad U"

Best Actress: Tiandrea Holloway - "Undergrad U"

Best Host/Hostess: Alyson Staton - "Remix"

Best Variety Program: "Remix"

Talk Oriented Program: "We've Got Issues"

Best Produced Program: "Undergrad U"

Best Feature Story in The News Argus: Janell J. Lewis

Best Photography in The News Argus: Nicole Ferguson

Best Editorial in The News Argus: Nicole Ferguson

Mass Comm conference features WSSU alums

By Tammy BankheadArgus ReproterCharlotte attorney Stacey Stone Bennett loved to party when she was a freshmen and sophomore at Winston-Salem State University. But she learned quickly that serious studying and partying did not mix, so she got down to business.  The ability to focus and stay-on-task are two of the attributes that have made Bennett the successful corporate lawyer that she is today.  Bennett was one of more than a dozen WSSU alumni who spoke to students at the 3 rd annual Mass Communications Conference at the Anderson Conference Center last month.  "On Point: Pathways to Success" was designed to give students the opportunity to glimpse into the "real world" of communications. Professionals in the communication field offered advice and shared real life experiences to help students perfect their crafts.  Bennett, for example, admonished students to "proofread, proofread, and proofread."  Giving students the opportunity to network was also an objective of the conference. Students were encouraged to pass resumes and/or business cards to potential employers as a way of establishing personal and business relationships. The conference opened with a keynote address from Faiger Blackwell, founder and chief executive officer of Carolina Pinnacle Studios, which reportedly is the largest African American-owned sound studio in the country.  A 1993 graduate, Blackwell told students to stop at nothing when trying to achieve their goals. "Nothing is too small to look at and nothing too great to reach for," Blackwell said. In addition to the keynote address, the conference featured two workshops. They were titled "The Seven Habits of Highly Professional Media Professionals" and "Pomp and Circumstance ... Now What?"  Joseph "Brandon" Johnson, a panelist on "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Media Professionals," said "education is most important. No matter how minute or trivial you think a task is, learn it, do it." Johnson graduated from the Department of Mass Communications in 2001 and today works for the North Carolina School of the Arts.  Joy Scott, a business writer for the Shelby News, a daily in Shelby, NC, and Kimberly Colvin, a communications specialist for UPS in Raleigh, were also panelists, along with 1993 graduate Rob McMannen, chief photographer for FOX News in Charlotte. "Be responsible for knowing what's going on in the world and community," McMannen said. Panelist Stephen A. Smith, a sports commentator for ESPN and another guest speaker at the conference, said, "This should be used as an eye opener. "We're here to brace and prepare these students for the real world. The time to start networking and looking for a job is now, not when you graduate, now!" Brandolyn Love, a junior mass communication, said she found Smith's comments enlightening. "I really enjoyed Steven Smith and what he had to say." As for the conference, overall, Love gave it high marks. "It was excellent," she said.