Topic: College of Communication Information and Media
July 10, 2007
Ball State has received 11 regional Emmy nominations, including five for a documentary about inmates receiving an education in prison.
The Lower Great Lakes Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will recognize Ball State faculty, staff and students Sept. 8 in Cleveland.
"Cell Block Scholars" was nominated in several categories, including special programs, audio, music composition and videographer - non-news and director - tape/film.
Recently retired Ball State telecommunications instructor Jim Shasky served as producer for the documentary, which received best in category award at the recent 2007 Broadcast Education Association Media Festival. In addition to his producing role, Shasky worked with students to write and direct the piece.
The university has received 61 regional Emmy nominations and won 18 since 2000, contributing to Ball State being named Indiana's Broadcasting School of the Year for three consecutive years, said Roger Lavery, dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media, who served as the documentary's executive producer.
"The documentary is a strong example of how Ball State has become a national model for immersive education in news, film and entertainment," he said. "Our projects are student-centered and allow undergraduates and graduates to work side-by-side with some of the best professionals in the field."
Shasky also will be honored during the chapter's annual Emmy Awards ceremony with a lifetime achievement award for his work in television education.
Students from one of Shasky's recent classes were nominated in the public service announcement category. Alexander Mejia, an Indianapolis resident who graduated in the spring, and Tony Prizevoits, a junior, received their nomination for a flood awareness video produced for the Red Cross. The project was submitted by their independent firm, TAV Productions.
Ball State also received regional Emmy nominations for music composition and lighting for "Perspective," the student-produced short film that won a Student Academy Award in 2006.
Indiana Outdoors, a student-produced television show focusing on the natural resources, historical sites and outdoor recreational opportunities in Indiana, and Connections Live, a television magazine show, were nominated in the professional category for magazine programs. NewsWatch, the university's student-run nightly news television program was nominated in the student program category.
By Marc Ransford, Senior Communications Strategist