Passaic Today

Montclair's School of Communication and Media achieved notable recognition by winning two awards at the Television Academy Foundation's 44th College Television Awards in Los Angeles on April 5, 2025. Their project, "Arizona Stories: Border, Water and Politics," received the College Television Award for Best in News and the Seymour Bricker Humanitarian Award, which includes a $4,000 prize. The multimedia series explored various challenges, including asylum seekers' experiences, youth voting trends, and struggles faced by different communities in Arizona.

Professor Steve McCarthy, who guided the students alongside Associate Professor Thomas Franklin, expressed his pride: "I’m thrilled for these students who worked hard, set out to produce some difficult stories, and created a terrific piece of journalism." According to the Television Academy Foundation, the student project was "an exceptionally moving piece," which demonstrated "a steady grit, a clear voice, and above all else, an unwavering commitment to the people at the bedrock of the subject matter."

Montclair has now secured its third win in this competition. Professor McCarthy noted, “It really shows that our efforts at the College of Communication and Media continue to build a program of excellence.” The team behind "Arizona Stories" prevailed over submissions from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Miami.

This recognition adds to Montclair's history of success, following previous projects like "Mission to Puerto Rico" in 2018 and "New Orleans | Raging Storms" in 2023. Montclair senior Izzy Conklin reflected on the award, saying, "It’s crazy to believe that just one year ago we were filming this show, and now we’re in Los Angeles winning this award."

The awarded series is available on NBCU Academy’s platform and the University’s Hawk+ platform. The team comprises several directors, producers, and writers, including Dani Mazariegos, Izzy Conklin, and many others, showcasing the collaborative efforts of Montclair students.

Montclair continues to offer its students practical experience through its student media organizations, covering various aspects of media and communication. Prospective students are encouraged to explore these opportunities.