2025 NSMC Production Award Winners
Here are the 2025 CBI NSMC Award Winners, listed by category. Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees! With hundreds of submissions, the competition was steep, and your work stood out among the best in student media.
We encourage you to keep creating, innovating, and telling stories that matter. Be proud of what you’ve accomplished, and we look forward to seeing your entries again next year!
Join us in Philadelphia in October 2026 for next year’s contest where you could be the next winner!
Table of Contents
Best Public Service Announcement (Audio)
Best Newscast or Sportscast (Audio)
Best Hard News Reporting (Audio)
Best Feature News Reporting (Audio)
Best Special Broadcast (Audio)
Best Regularly Scheduled Entertainment Program
Best Public Service Announcement (Video)
Best Hard News Reporting (Video)
Best Feature News Reporting (Video)
Best Special Broadcast (Video)
Best General Entertainment Program
Audio Division
Best DJ
1st Place: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, WIUP FM – For Fox’s Sake
2nd Place: Indiana State University, WZIS-FM – Seth Berquist Aircheck
3rd Place: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, WIUP FM – Vintage With Veith
4th Place: The University of Akron, WZIP-FM – Dev Lucas
Best Promo (Audio)
1st Place: York College of Pennsylvania, WVYC-FM – Baconfest ’25 Promo
2nd Place: University of Wisconsin-Madison, WSUM 91.7 FM – WSUM’s 23rd Birthday
3rd Place: Marshall University, WMUL-FM – Weekend Recap Promo
4th Place: Michigan State University, Impact 89FM – The Green and White Report
Best Public Service Announcement (Audio)
1st Place: Illinois State University, WZND Fuzed Radio – Voter Registration
2nd Place: San Antonio College, KSYM FM – Get a Ride, Don’t Drink and Drive
3rd Place: Oregon State University, KBVR-FM – Human Powered Submarine
4th Place: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Journalism & Mass Communications – Play LCM Lincoln Children’s Museum
Best Newscast or Sportscast (Audio)
1st Place: University of Indianapolis, WICR 88.7 – WICR Newscast – April 29, 2025
2nd Place: Hillsdale College, Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM – Lauren Smyth News
3rd Place: University of Southern Indiana, 95.7 The Spin – February 26, 2025 Newscast
4th Place: Illinois State University, WZND Fuzed Radio – Ally Cooper Newscast
Best Hard News Reporting (Audio)
1st Place: Montclair State University, 90.3 WMSC-FM – Traffic Deaths and Vision Zero
2nd Place: Marshall University, WMUL-FM – DEI Protest February 28, 2025
3rd Place: Hofstra University, Radio Hofstra WRHU FM – SVP Protest
4th Place: Ohio University, WOUB Public Media – Title VI Complaint
Best Feature News Reporting (Audio)
1st Place: Taylor University, Film & Media Production – Complicated Love – The Ick
2nd Place: Michigan State University, Impact 89FM – Abandoned buildings and MSU relics: A deep-dive with director of campus archaeology program Stacey Camp
3rd Place: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Journalism & Mass Communications – Nebraska Prison Overcrowding: The State’s Unsolved Problem
4th Place: Hillsdale College, Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM – Battle of the Bands
Best Special Broadcast (Audio)
1st Place: Wayne State College, KWSC-FM – KWSC-FM Election Coverage
2nd Place: University of West Georgia, WOLF Radio – WOLF Radio Election Show 2024
3rd Place: Illinois State University, WZND Fuzed Radio – The 2024 Election
4th Place: Elon University, WSOE 89.3 FM – Hear Us, Know Us: A Trans Day of Visibility Music Showcase
Best Documentary (Audio)
1st Place: University of Colorado Boulder, KVCU Radio 1190 – The Story Behind Denver’s Teacher Walkout
2nd Place: University of Colorado Boulder, KVCU Radio 1190 – Combatting School Shootings
3rd Place: Hillsdale College, Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM – Alamo of the Pacific
4th Place: University of West Georgia, WOLF Radio – Impact of Experiential Learning in College Radio
Best Regularly Scheduled Entertainment Program
1st Place: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Journalism & Mass Communications – Paranormal Inactivity – Log 3: The Case of the Entrapped Alien
2nd Place: DePaul University, Radio DePaul – Schmuck Radio at RDP
3rd Place: Indiana State University, WZIS – Flashback Friday
4th Place: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Journalism & Mass Communications – Through the Eras – Midnights
Best Podcast
1st Place: Syracuse University, Canal Keepers – Eerie Encounters
2nd Place: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Journalism & Mass Communications – Paranormal Inactivity – Log 2: The Phantom of the Bell Tower
3rd Place: University of West Georgia, WOLF Radio – Nearly Human – The Station Episode 2
4th Place: Furman University, FUNC Radio – Only Over Headset
Best Sports Reporting (Audio)
1st Place: Eastern Illinois University, WEIU-FM – EIU Softball Care Game
2nd Place: University of Southern Indiana, 95.7 The Spin – A Player to Step Up
3rd Place: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Journalism & Mass Communications – Japan’s Takahashi finds golf home at Nebraska
4th Place: Montclair State University, 90.3 WMSC-FM – March Madness Sweet 16
Best Sports Play-by-Play
1st Place: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Journalism & Mass Communications – UNL Men’s Basketball vs. St. Mary’s November 17, 2024
2nd Place: West Virginia University, U92 the Moose – WVU Football vs. Kansas
3rd Place: Syracuse University, WJPZ – Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse vs. Clemson Women’s Lacrosse
4th Place: Elon University, WSOE 89.3 FM – Elon Phoenix Women’s Basketball
Best Sports Show
1st Place: Springfield College, WSCB / Birthplace Studios – Tournament Review Podcast – Episode #1
2nd Place: Seton Hall University, WSOU 89.5 FM – Hall Line
3rd Place: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, WRST-FM – The Titan Report
4th Place: University of Southern Indiana, 95.7 The Spin – The Spin on USI Athletics
Best Station Imaging (Audio)
1st Place: Illinois State University, WZND Fuzed Radio – WZND Station Imaging
2nd Place: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, WSUW – WSUW Station Imaging
3rd Place: University of West Georgia, WOLF Radio – WOLF Radio 24-25 Imaging
4th Place: Goshen College, WGCS – 91.1 The Globe – 91.1 The Globe Imaging
Best Audio Music Production
1st Place: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Orange Television Network – Loud & Clear – Luna and the Carpets
2nd Place: Appalachian State University, AppTV – Corner Concerts – REDBUD
3rd Place: Michigan State University, Impact 89FM – The Basement : Cab Ellis
4th Place: Texas A&M University- San Antonio, Enlace – INOHA: Live in the Newsroom
Best Audio Interview
1st Place: Wayne State College, KWSC – Culture Shock of the Week #2
2nd Place: San Antonio College, KSYM FM – Tim Kasher Interview
3rd Place: Arkansas State University, Red Wolf Radio – Arm Wrestling Age Discrepancy
4th Place: University of West Georgia, WOLF Radio – Dean Owen Election Coverage Interview
Combined Division
Best Student Media Web Site
1st Place: Montclair State University, 90.3 WMSC-FM – wmscradio.com
2nd Place: Marshall University, WMUL-FM – WMUL Website
3rd Place: University of Cincinnati, Bearcast Media – bearcastmedia.com
4th Place: University of West Georgia, WOLF Sports Network – wolfsportsnetwork.com
Best Social Media Presence
1st Place: Texas State University, KTSW-FM 89.9 – KTSW Instagram
2nd Place: University of Wisconsin-Madison, WSUM 91.7 FM – WSUM Instagram
3rd Place: Loyola University Maryland, WLOY Loyola Radio – WLOY Instagram
4th Place: Texas A&M University, KANM Student Radio – KANM Student Radio Instagram
Video Division
Short Film Fiction
1st Place: Berry College, Viking Fusion – #CRUNK
2nd Place: University of Cincinnati, Bearcast Media – Twisted Obsession
3rd Place: University of Mount Union, Raider Student Media – Whispered Shadows
4th Place: SUNY New Paltz, Junky Productions – I’m Getting Sued Again: the Musical!
Long Film Fiction
1st Place: York College of Pennsylvania, WVYC-FM – Venus
2nd Place: University of Cincinnati, Media Production Division – Pining, Ohio
3rd Place: Taylor University, Film & Media Production – Edentity Crisis
4th Place: Muskingum University, WMCO – Scout: Siege from Within
Digital Shorts
1st Place: Taylor University, Film & Media Production – Envision Film Festival Open
2nd Place: University of Mount Union, Raider Student Media – The Big Secret
3rd Place: Southeastern Louisiana University, The Southeastern Channel – Legends From Another Earth
4th Place: Taylor University, Film & Media Production – Harboring Lies
Best Comedy
1st Place: Neumann University, Neumann Media – Authenticator Problems
2nd Place: John Carroll University, Blue Streak Media – Stick in a Box
3rd Place: John Carroll University, Blue Streak Media – Agatha Moss Inc.
4th Place: Oregon State University, KBVR-TV – Ben on the Beat
Best Promo (Video)
1st Place: Ohio University, WOUB Public Media – Gridiron Glory Season 25 Promo
2nd Place: Taylor University, Film & Media Production – WTUR Minecraft Promo
3rd Place: California State University-Sacramento, KSSU – The Art of Mediocrity Promo Video
4th Place: Ohio University, ACRN – Lobsterfest 2025 Day One Promo Video
Best Public Service Announcement (Video)
1st Place: University of South Dakota, KYOT-TV – Don’t Drink and Drive
2nd Place: Furman University, FUNC – Lift the Silence
3rd Place: Berry College, Viking Fusion – Distractions are Dangerous
Best Newscast (Video)
1st Place: Penn State University, Bellisario College Student Media – Centre County Report: April 4, 2025
2nd Place: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Orange Television Network – Talking Points: October 28th, 2024
3rd Place: Penn State University, Bellisario College Student Media – Centre County Report: December 13, 2024
4th Place: University of South Dakota, KYOT-TV – Coyote News
Best Hard News Reporting (Video)
1st Place: Penn State University, Bellisario College Student Media – Classrooms Facing Teacher Crisis in Pennsylvania
2nd Place: Appalachian State University, AppTV – Watauga Strong
3rd Place: Montclair State University, 90.3 WMSC-FM – California Fires Aftermath
4th Place: Eastern Illinois University, WEIU-FM – Loxa Road/Route 316 Intersection
Best Feature News Reporting (Video)
1st Place: Montclair State University, 90.3 WMSC-FM – Scaling Back
2nd Place: Appalachian State University, AppTV – Losing Everything
3rd Place: Appalachian State University, AppTV – Small Town Resilience
4th Place: Penn State University, Bellisario College Student Media – Are there lessons for the U.S. after the U.K. election results?
Best Special Broadcast (Video)
1st Place: Middle Tennessee State University, School of Journalism and Strategic Media – Off The Beaten Path – England and Scotland
2nd Place: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Orange Television Network – CitrusTV Election Night 2024
3rd Place: University of Cincinnati, Media Production Division – History’s Mysteries: The Marvelous Museums of Cincinnati
4th Place: Middle Tennessee State University, School of Journalism and Strategic Media – Middle Tennessee News – Vote 2024
Best Documentary Long Form
1st Place: SUNY New Paltz, Landline Productions – A Field of Flowers
2nd Place: Midwestern State University, MNG Media – Unseen in Plain Sight
3rd Place: Syracuse University and Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, A Tale of Two Cities – A Tale of Two Cities: Reclaiming Niagara Falls and Salinas
4th Place: Ohio University, WOUB Public Media – NewsWatch Special Report: Unraveling Nelsonville
Best Documentary Short Form
1st Place: Taylor University, Film & Media Production – From the Ashes
2nd Place: University of Cincinnati, Media Production Division – CCM Faculty Spotlight: Adam Groh
3rd Place: Muskingum University, WMCO – Ohio is Home
4th Place: Oral Roberts University, Cinema & Media Arts – Unshakable Love
Best General Entertainment Program
1st Place: Temple University, TUTV – Artist Among Us: The Art of Tattooing
2nd Place: University of Texas at Dallas, UTD TV – A FREE Day in Florence, Italy – Lauren’s in Florence Ep. 1
3rd Place: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Orange Television Network – Two Truths and a Lie L.A.: Joe vs. Erin – Episode 2
4th Place: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Titan TV – Pernicious
Best Live Production
1st Place: Appalachian State University, AppTV – Up Late Live Season Finale
2nd Place: Goshen College, WGCS – 91.1 The Globe – Globe Music Presents: Olivia Wolf
3rd Place: St. Cloud State University, UTVS Television – TEDx St. Cloud – Rylie Johnson
4th Place: Taylor University, Film & Media Production – The Night Shift with Caleb Heffron
Best Sports Reporting (Video)
1st Place: Appalachian State University, AppTV – NIL Effect on App State
2nd Place: St. Cloud State University, UTVS Television – The Golden Touch – Back to Back
3rd Place: Penn State University, Bellisario College Student Media – Penn States Adaptive Athletics Program is Growing
4th Place: Appalachian State University, AppTV – App State Baseball – Resiliency
Best Live Sports Broadcast
1st Place: Montclair State University, RHSN – RHSN Live Basketball
2nd Place: John Carroll University, Blue Streak Media – John Carroll Women’s Basketball vs. Heidelberg
3rd Place: Ithaca College, ICTV – Bombers Live – Basketball
4th Place: Berry College, Viking Fusion – Berry Men’s Basketball vs Millsaps College
Best Sportscast
1st Place: Temple University, OwlSports Update Productions – Build on Broad: 2000 Wins and Counting
2nd Place: Ohio University, WOUB Public Media – Hardwood Heroes Season 15 Episode 4
3rd Place: Montclair State University, RHSN – Inside The Nest April 17, 2025
4th Place: Ithaca College, ICTV – Sports Final
Best Station Imaging (Video)
1st Place: University of South Carolina, Student Gamecock Television – 1080c Productions
2nd Place: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Titan TV – Titan TV Station Imaging
3rd Place: The University of Tennessee at Martin, WUTM FM 90.3 ‘The Hawk’ – WUTM Captain’s Challenge
Best Video Music Production
1st Place: Ithaca College, ICTV – After Hours
2nd Place: University of Wisconsin-Madison, WSUM 91.7 FM – LOWBOY Snake Session LIVE @ WSUM
3rd Place: University of Texas-Austin, Texas Student Media – Gus Baldwin & The Sketch Live at KVRX’s 30th Anniversary
4th Place: Goshen College, WGCS – 91.1 The Globe – The Erly: OH10
Best Video Interview
1st Place: Midwestern State University, MNG Media – In My Skin
2nd Place: Neumann University, Neumann Media – The Courettes
3rd Place: Taylor University, Film & Media Production – WTUR Interview with The Figs
4th Place: University of Indianapolis, UINDY TV – A Conversation with Trayce Jackson-Davis
Overall Awards
Radio Station of the Year
1st Place: Illinois State University, WZND Fuzed Radio
2nd Place: University of West Georgia, WOLF Sports Network
3rd Place: Montclair State University, 90.3 WMSC-FM
4th Place: North Carolina State University, WKNC 88.1 FM
Video Channel of the Year
1st Place: Ithaca College, ICTV
2nd Place: Appalachian State University, AppTV
3rd Place: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Orange Television Network
4th Place: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Titan TV
CBI is a member-driven organization serving students and advisers of student media. Through events, programs and a network of expertise, CBI fosters experiential learning, professional opportunities and advocacy for the success of student media programs.