Southeastern Channel news reporter receives LAB Scholarship
Thursday, May 17, 2018 
by: Tonya Lowentritt
BROADCASTING SCHOLARSHIP- Southeastern Louisiana University junior Amanda Kitch of Mandeville received the 2018 Louisiana Association of Broadcasters Student Scholarship recently at the LAB’s Prestige Awards luncheon. Kitch was selected as the winner of the $4,000 scholarship from all college television and radio students in the state.
HAMMOND – A student news anchor-reporter at the Southeastern Channel has been
named winner of the prestigious 2018 Louisiana Association of Broadcasters Student
Scholarship.
Amanda Kitch, a Southeastern Louisiana University junior from Mandeville, was
selected among all college television and radio students in Louisiana to receive the
$4,000 scholarship at the LAB’s annual Prestige Awards luncheon recently. It marks
the fourth time in the past five years that a Southeastern student has won the LAB
scholarship.
Kitch credits the Southeastern Channel for providing her with real-world experience
and training.
“I think I was awarded the scholarship because of my opportunities at the Southeastern
Channel,” Kitch said. “It’s my workshop and is similar to an artist’s studio, a place
to create. I use this workshop to push myself and strengthen my skills and talents,
and I’m lucky to have the mentors, resources and equipment available.”
As a news anchor, reporter and producer for the Southeastern Channel’s student
newscast, “Northshore News,” Kitch has already won first place in the nation for Best
News Reporting given last fall by College Broadcasters, Inc. at the National Student
Production Awards. She’s also won Associated Press College Broadcasters awards for
“Best of Show in Television,” “Best TV Reporting,” and “Best TV News Story” in
Louisiana and Mississippi.
In addition, Kitch won first-place “Mark of Excellence” honors from the Society
of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and “Best of South” recognition from the Southeast
Journalism Conference (SEJC), made up of all universities in Louisiana, Mississippi,
Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina.
A communication major with a focus in electronic media, Kitch has led “Northshore
News” to SPJ, AP and SEJC honors for top student newscast. She’s also been honored
by the Suncoast Emmys for a public service announcement she produced.
The LAB, made up of all television and radio stations and professionals in Louisiana,
established the scholarship program to support promising future broadcasters and aid
them in seeking the best quality education in the field of broadcasting, said Southeastern
Channel General Manager Rick Settoon. By sponsoring the award, the LAB hopes to encourage
students of the highest caliber to enter broadcasting as a career and guarantee the
future quality of broadcasting in Louisiana.
“We’re very happy and appreciative that the LAB has chosen to make an investment
in Amanda’s future and career,” said Settoon. “She’s extremely talented in all aspects
of news reporting, writing, anchoring and producing, as well as in the technical areas
of shooting and editing. She’s focused and very hard-working, and her potential as
a broadcast journalist is limitless. A tremendous and impactful career lies ahead
for her.”
In her scholarship application, Kitch had to answer questions related to her
choice of broadcasting as a career, along with questions on topics ranging from career
goals and values to broadcast advertising and the role of the Federal Communications
Commission.
“I believe in honesty, and I believe in being honest as a reporter, a writer,
and a video creator, because I believe the community deserves the honesty,” Kitch
said. “They want the truth, and I work hard to deliver it.”
In its 15 years of existence, the Southeastern Channel has won over 300 national,
international and regional awards, including 15 awards from the Emmys. The channel
can be seen on Charter Spectrum 199 in Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Livingston and St.
Helena parishes along with its live 24/7 webcast and video on-demand at www.thesoutheasternchannel.com.
