Students in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communication who worked at WUTM (90.3 FM The Hawk) earned several awards at the 57th Intercollegiate Broadcasting System International Media Conference, held March 7-8 in New York City.
Dr. Richard Robinson, professor of mass media and strategic communication (MMSC) and faculty advisor for WUTM, made presentations and co-presented with other advisors at the conference.
Awards earned by UTM at the 2025 IBS International Media Conference include:
• WUTM qualified for the 16th consecutive year for a Platinum Award at the conference, a peer-reviewed award for the highest standards of excellence at a college or university radio station.
• First place, Best Sports Play-by-Play, Women’s Basketball.
• Best Social Media Director: Carson Alexander, a junior MMSC major from Martin.
Other high rankings attained by the radio station include:
• National finalist, Best Radio News Feature.
• National finalist, Best Political News.
• National finalist, Best Underwriting Spot for the Weakley County Press.
• National finalist, Best Sports Play-by-Play, Men’s Basketball.
• National finalist, Best Sports Play-by-Play, Other: UTM Rodeo.
• National finalist, Best Sports Talk Show: “The Bench.”
• National finalist, Best Talk Show: UTM Television.
• National finalist, Best College Radio Program Director: Alex Martin, a senior MMSC major from Trenton.
• National finalist, Best Production Director: Katelyn Cohee, a senior MMSC major from Thompson’s Station.
• National finalist, Best Business Director: Carlin Cochran, a junior MMSC major from Nunnelly.
Dr. Chet LaPrice, IBS board member, praised WUTM and its staff for its consistent success at the IBS awards.
“The expertise and enthusiasm of Dr. Robinson and his students contribute to meaningful discussions in our discipline, and they share their insights with aplomb,” he said. “Their leadership makes them heavy hitters in the realm of college radio, and Dr. Robinson’s guidance transforms his students into the professionals that will guide our industry through its next iteration.”
The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System is an organization with a membership of over 1,000 nonprofit, education-affiliated radio stations and webcasters. Founded in 1940, IBS is headquartered in New Windsor, New York, with a legal office in Washington, D.C., and is an organization that supports the students, faculty and staff of college and high school media outlets.
In addition to providing support for establishing and operating noncommercial radio and webcast operations, it frequently represents its members with FCC negotiations, copyright issues and litigation.
PHOTO: Posing in Times Square with IBS awards are (l-r) Carson Alexander, a junior mass media and strategic communication major from Martin; LeeAnne Morefield, a senior mass media and strategic communication major from Dresden; Katelyn Cohee, a senior mass media and strategic communication major from Thompson’s Station; Dr. Richard Robinson and Maddy Kennedy, a junior mass media and strategic communication major from Seymour. Alexander earned the award for best social media director, while Cohee was a national finalist for best production director.
