Marshall Students Win National Journalism Award

Students from WMUL-FM, Marshall University’s public radio station, won a 2025 National Edward R. Murrow Award.

Along with national winners, the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) that administers the award recognized students from five universities as recipients of the seven National Student Murrow awards.

Marshall’s recognition is in the Audio Newscast category for WMUL’s show Newscenter 88, covering Marshall, state and national affairs.

In a press release, Chuck Bailey, professor of Radio-Television Production and Management at Marshall and the faculty manager of WMUL-FM, said the students competed with other broadcasting students from colleges and universities across the United States.

“Our radio students have established a tradition at WMUL-FM of being able to successfully compete at the national level with other student-operated college radio stations,” he said. “This year marks WMUL-FM’s first entry into the Edward R. Murrow National Awards.”

The Radio Television Digital News Association has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Murrow Awards since 1971. 

Association leadership praised the students for compelling reporting that served their community while exemplifying the craft of reporting. 

“These honorees show what’s still possible in our industry — journalism so powerful and compelling it draws you in, illuminates and inspires,” association chair Colin Benedict said. “This is the true value so many journalists provide to the communities we serve every day.”

The Marshall students who participated in this 30-minute newscast were:

• Peyton Cisco, a junior from Mingo; (Producer)
• Emma Johnson, a senior from Peach Creek; (Anchor)
• Waylon Smith, a recent graduate from Ashland, Kentucky: (Anchor)
• Emily Grady, a sophomore from Buffalo; (Weather)
• Nate Courtney, a senior from Fairfax, Virginia. (Sports)