Mass Communication students reach finals in competition

Two documentaries produced by students in the Midwestern State University Mass Communication Department were finalists in the national Collegiate Broadcasters Inc. competition, held Oct. 30 at Austin.

"You Better Work," a documentary about drag queens in Wichita Falls, was a finalist for the Best Documentary award.  The program was produced by MSU students Kim Bailey, Jennifer Copeland, Melissa Dos Prazeres-Silva and Wazir Maolud.

"Caught In the Path," a documentary about the 1979 tornado in Wichita Falls, was a finalist for the Best Special Broadcast award.  The program was produced by MSU students Whitney Coggin, Caitlin Hurley, Kristin Mullen and Heather Primavera.

CBI is a national organization with around 250 members, and this year's competition drew 443 entries from all over the United States.

"This is a huge honor for the students and the program," Mass Communication Department Chair Jim Sernoe said.  "We compete with schools several times our size, including LSU and UT-Austin.  I've said many times that even though we are not as well known, I would put my best students up against any in the country.  These honors show that we can compete successfully with anyone."

MSU students were also finalists in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, with a 2005 documentary winning the Best Special Broadcast award.