CBI Preps Broadcasting’s Next Generation
• College Broadcasters Inc. (CBI) hosted the 2024 National Student Media Convention (NSMC) Oct. 23-26 at the Renaissance Hotel in Seattle. Over the four days, attendees heard from more than 30 media professionals and attended over 70 informational sessions to learn valuable skills and techniques to take back to their media organizations at high schools, colleges and universities across the country. Students also had the opportunity to meet with recruiters from more than 700 radio and TV stations in the country at NSMC’s first Career Fair.
NSMC 2024 culminated on Saturday with the presentation of the National Student Production Awards, honoring the best student work in media production across 33 categories. Judges reviewed more than 900 total entries before honoring four finalists and one winner in each category. Pictured above: Michigan State University students holding all their awards.
The CBI Board of Directors also presented the students of Columbia University’s WKCR-FM/New York with the “Community Reporting Impact Award” for their unwavering dedication and journalistic integrity while covering the spring campus protests on campus. The Jazz station transformed into a breaking news operation, and for two weeks straight, these students provided continuous coverage, even as they faced police presence in their spaces and threats of arrest.
WKCR-FM Station Manager Ted Schmiedeler and PD Georgia Dillane are shown here accepting their award via video.
The board also recognized Steven Sandberg of Oregon State University with the “Dave Black Excellence in Advising Award” for his outstanding commitment to student media.
“The energy and enthusiasm at this year’s National Student Media Convention in Seattle was extraordinary,” said CBI President Anabella Poland, whose other day job is GM of Montclair State University’s WMSC. “Meeting nearly 400 passionate students, educators and industry professionals from across the country reminded us why CBI’s mission is so vital,” she said. “Our first-ever Career Fair was a resounding success, creating exceptional networking opportunities between students and industry professionals from over 700 radio and television stations. As an organization that fosters growth and success in student broadcasters, we’re proud to facilitate these career-launching moments.”
Speaking of WMSC, that’s PD and former Web Director Emol McCormack holding the station’s first place award for “Best Student Media Website.”
A complete list of winners, and clips of their winning work, are available on the CBI website. Save The Dates: The next CBI NSMC will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Denver, Oct. 22-25, 2025.
