Carman, Sports Squad get Society of Professional Journalists awards
Staff report
Rachel Carman has been tabbed for a Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence Award for her profile video of AU volleyball all-American Jazmyn Wheeler, SPJ headquarters in Indianapolis has announced.
Carman’s 10-minute video tells the story of Wheeler’s volleyball career, which concluded with her being named the top player in the Southeast Region last fall—when she was also named AU’s first-ever NCAA Division II second-team all-American in the sport. (See YouTube.com link below.)
Earlier, Carman had taken second place in sports photography at the Georgia College Press Association’s Better Newspaper Awards banquet in Athens at the University of Georgia’s Richard B. Russell Special Collections Libraries..
Also being honored by SPJ in the Mark of Excellence competition was The Sports Squad, a weekly conversational take on AU sports. The show was hosted in the fall by Carlos Rodriguez and Josh Picklesimer, and the team in the spring has included Patrick Motes, Justin Gray, Ja’Queze Kirby and Avery Jaynes. The podcast is distributed by Spotify through Buzzsprout.
“The Sports Squad has been producing weekly content for several years, and it's rewarding to see the podcast get recognition on the state, regional and national levels,” said Martinez, who graduated in December and now works for ESPN. “Throughout the years all of the panelists, producers and guests have put in a tremendous amount of work to make The Sports Squad the product it is. We have the opportunity not many have at other schools, being able to talk to any student-athlete and coach, while also bringing a unique version to the podcast by reporting on the latest sports news outside of AU Athletics. I'm very proud of this accomplishment and the progress the podcast has seen as the years went on. This award wouldn't be possible without every person who's been apart of the podcast whether besides
the scenes or on the show.”
Behind-the-scenes personnel include Jasmine Garcia, Timothy Williams, Ethan Balducci and Brionna Law, who all lend their expertise on the technical side. Law has overseen the video production of the podcast.
The Bell Ringer competes in SPJ’s Region 3, which includes South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Puerto Rico.
The student newspaper also won several awards at the Southern Regional Press Institute, held in Savannah. Carman took first and third place in feature photography for her coverage of Jaguar volleyball. Her video of Wheeler finished second in the Best Mini Doc category. The Sports Squad took second in the Best Podcast category.
Noah Bowers took second place for sports writing for his coverage of AU’s new esports program. And the Bell Ringer was third overall for best news website.
Carman and Bell Ringer editor in chief Rakiyah Lenon have been nominated for Telly Awards. Carman, Michael Fortino and Domonic Macias also won regional Emmy Awards for their work on live AU Athletics telecasts under the tutelage of Art Berger.
Rachel Carman poses with her outstanding photo of the AU volleyball team in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals. She received her Georgia College Press Association Better Newspaper Award in Athens. (photo by Rakiyah Lenon)
Sports Squad regulars include (from right) Patrick Motes, Avery Jaynes, Ja’Queze Kirby and Justin Gray. (staff photo)
