FAMU journalists receive a Student Emmy

Amber Mackie (left) and Lacrai Mitchell (right) pose on the red carpet outside the 2013 College Television Awards Gala.

The winners of a 2013 College Television Award are…Amber Mackie and Lacrai Mitchell!

  

The two Florida A&M University (FAMU) broadcast journalism students have returned home from Hollywood, Calif. with a gold statue commonly referred to as a Student Emmy. Both were honored at a gala for their work as co-producers on the “2012 FAMU Homecoming Special: Ignite the Strike.” The 30-minute show, which recaps homecoming events during the university’s 125 anniversary, won second place in the magazine category.

  

“This marks the first time in the history of the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication that our students have received this prestigious award,” said Ann Wead Kimbrough, SJGC dean. “It reaffirms our commitment to provide quality instruction and hands-on training to best prepare the next generation of journalists. I applaud Amber and Lacrai for their hard work.”

  

Each year, the Academy of Television Arts & Science Foundation hosts a national competition to recognize excellence in college student-produced video, digital and film work. Mackie and Mitchell were chosen from hundreds of entries.

  

“Walking the red carpet was a surreal experience that I hope to one day repeat as a television or documentary film producer attending the professional Emmy Awards,” said Mitchell, a sophomore broadcast journalism student from Tallahassee, Fla. “Winning this award is a result of the hard work of our entire production team. I was proud to represent them and my school.”

  

Mackie is a graduating senior broadcast journalism student from Brooklyn, N.Y. Like Mitchell, she also aspires to become a television producer. Her documentary “Spare the Rod” was recently featured in J-school Journals, a bi-annual showcase of films written and produced by SJGC students.

  

“I am very honored to have won this award and especially grateful to Professor Kenneth Jones for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a producer for the show,” Mackie said.

  

Professor Jones created the annual Homecoming Special television show in 1996 to train broadcast journalism students in production, news writing, reporting and editing. Since then the show has evolved to showcase the talents of all programs at SJGC, including public relations and multimedia components.

  

“This award showcases the awesome talent of our students,” Jones said. “Many SJGC alumni who worked on this show as students are now working in major broadcast positions in top markets, including John Marsh who went on to win two Emmy Awards for his work on HBO Sports.”