Southeastern Channel named best in the nation
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
by: Tonya Lowentritt
BEST IN THE NATION- For the third time, the Southeastern Channel has been named first in the nation by College Broadcasters, Inc. at the 2017 National Student Production Awards in San Antonio. Pictured from left are Rick Settoon, Southeastern Channel general manager; Jordan Rheams of Baton Rouge; Amanda Kitch of Mandeville; Dylan Domangue of Houma; Freddie Rosario of Luling, Richie Solares of New Orleans; and John Sartori of Mandeville.
HAMMOND – For the third time the Southeastern Channel has won first place in the nation-
this time twice in the same year.
The Southeastern Channel, Southeastern Louisiana University’s cable television
station, won two national first-place awards for “Best Video News Reporting” and “Best
Video Sportscast” as selected by College Broadcasters, Inc. at its 2017 National Student
Production Awards presented at the National Student Electronic Media Convention in
San Antonio recently.
The news story “Amite River Flooding,” produced by reporter Amanda Kitch of Mandeville
for the student newscast, “Northshore News,” won best in the nation for “Best Video
News Reporting.”
The channel’s live weekly student sportscast “The Big Game” also won first in
the nation for “Best Video Sportscast” for its Oct. 20, 2016 episode. It was produced
by Freddie Rosario of Luling and John Sartori of Mandeville.
“Our training at the Southeastern Channel is immersive,” Kitch said. “We are
taught the importance of the basics and then put them into action. This applies to
all parts of television production, not just news reporting. Our opportunities at
the channel to learn, ask questions, and practice are immense. I couldn’t imagine
winning first in the nation without my experiences there.”
“The instruction given at the Southeastern Channel is the very best a student
my age can receive,” Sartori said. “We have Emmy Award winners teaching us everything
we need to know about this industry. I would put that instruction up against any other
institution in the country.”
“The expectations set for us are the same as those set for individuals who work
professionally in this field, and that’s why we put out such a great product,” Sartori
added. “This, in turn, has prepared me and my colleagues extremely well for life
after graduation.”
This year there were 856 entries in the national awards competition from universities
across the country. The Southeastern Channel has now been honored as best in the country
four times by College Broadcasters, Inc.
“It’s truly an awesome honor for the Southeastern Channel to once again be recognized
as the very best in the nation, and for it to happen twice in the same year,” said
Southeastern Channel General Manager Rick Settoon. “Amanda, along with John and Freddie
and the rest of the ‘Big Game’ staff, are all incredibly creative and talented, and
they work hard to produce a very high standard of quality. Recognition of their work
as preeminent among all students in the country is so well-deserved. We’re extremely
proud and happy for them.”
“Being awarded first in the nation was quite the unexpected honor,” said Kitch.
“I will never doubt my skills and quality of work again. My hard work proved that
what I learn and practice at the Southeastern Channel is some of the highest quality
of television education.”
“Anytime we win an award it is special, but to be recognized as the very best
in the entire country is something I could’ve only dreamed of,” Sartori said. “Just
looking at all the prestigious institutions we were competing against and to be able
to beat them for first in the nation is crazy to me.”
“Seeing all the other trophies the Southeastern Channel has won drives you to
want to win another one,” Rosario said. “It’s great to add another trophy to that
collection.”
Kitch wrote, produced, reported, videotaped and edited the “Amite River Flooding”
story about how residents of French Settlement were trying to recover from the devastation
wrought by the Great Flood of 2016. Included were interviews with the town mayor,
police chief and various residents. Trevor Vampran of Prairieville contributed to
the segment’s videography.
Rosario and Sartori not only produced the winning “Big Game” episode, they also
co-anchored and contributed stories as reporters. Other reporters producing segments
for the show, styled after ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” were Richie Solares of New Orleans,
Jordan Rheams of Baton Rouge and Dylan Domangue of Houma. Zechariah Cameron of Baton
Rouge was a guest anchor for the expert roundtable segment, “Pick and Roll,” and “Quick
Hit” short editorials.
The Southeastern Channel has won over 300 national, international, and regional
awards in the last 14 years, including 15 awards from the Emmys. The channel airs
in 90,000 households on the North Shore with a potential viewing audience of 250,000
on Charter Cable 199. Its live 24/7 webcast and video on demand are viewed in 46 states
and 47 countries monthly at www.thesoutheasternchannel.com.