Bluefield College will pay tribute to the work of local journalists during its 12th Annual Media Appreciation Day, Friday, April 29 — an event that will include remarks from international journalist Brandy Campbell and the presentation of a Shott Excellence-in-Media Award to an outstanding local journalist.
For the past 11 years, local media representatives have been recognized on the BC campus during the school’s annual Media Day for their efforts in “informing and educating the public at-large,” while “sharing the Bluefield College story” and “spreading the word about BC news, events and achievements.”
In fact, in 2005, thanks to a grant from media entrepreneur Michael Shott, the college heightened its recognition of the local media by incorporating the Shott Excellence-in-Media Awards Program into the Media Day schedule.
“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Mr. Shott for providing the funds to underwrite the college’s Media Day and the Shott Excellence-in-Media Awards Program,” said Chris Shoemaker, BC’s director of public relations. “It is our hope that through this program, the college will not only increase its recognition of outstanding local journalists, but also contribute to the preservation of the media legacy of the Shott family.”
During the awards portion of the Media Day program, the college will present two Shott Excellence-in-Media Awards — a $1,000 Student Scholarship Award to an outstanding current Bluefield College communications student and a $1,000 Excellence-in-Media Award to a local member of the media who demonstrates excellence in his or her vocation and who, through his or her work in journalism, makes a significant contribution toward the local community.
“Bluefield College is not the only beneficiary of the service of our local journalists,” said Shoemaker. “Many other schools, churches, civic organizations, government agencies, businesses, and individuals within our community are better off, thanks to the work of the area media. That’s why we dedicate this day to recognize the local media for informing, educating, entertaining and, above all, bettering the public at-large.”
The BC Media Day program also will include a keynote address from Campbell, a feature writer for Compassion International, a non-profit ministry that serves more than one million children in poverty in 26 countries. Through her work at Compassion, Campbell has traveled to Ethiopia, West Africa, Guatemala, and Haiti to write stories that “move grown men to tears” in support of Compassion’s ministry.
“I believe humans have an innate need for stories,” Campbell said about her work, “and I am honored to be one of those storytellers.”
Campbell joins NASCAR Magazine editor David Bourne, nationally syndicated columnist Jim Davidson, war hero and undercover government agent Maxey Gilleland, local news writer and sports radio personality Jim Nelson, Bluefield Daily Telegraph journalist Bill Archer, Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot Phillip Brashear, mass communications professor and TV anchor Dr. Teresa Keller, political lobbyist Dr. David Bailey, former White House correspondent Bob Deans, retired executive editor of the Associated Baptist Press Greg Warner, and inspirational athlete and author Kyle Maynard as speakers for Bluefield College’s Media Appreciation Day.
The annual event will begin at 11:30 a.m. on April 29 in Shott Hall and will feature a luncheon, the awards ceremony, remarks from Campbell, and a roundtable discussion between local media representatives and BC communication students. For more information, please email the BC Office of Public Relations at [email protected]