Junior Thiel College communication major wins national college broadcasting award

Posted May 16, 2020 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College student John Ganiear Jr. ’22, WXTC radio’s business director and news co-director, won a national award for excellence in the category of Best Underwriting Spot, at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s 80th Annual Student Media Conference in early March at New York City’s Hotel Pennsylvania.

Thiel media students were finalists for four Golden Mic Awards. Students participated in two days of workshops, seminars and round table discussions. The weekend culminated with IBS’ 9th Annual Golden Mic Awards ceremony—a national student media competition.

Ganiear, of North Versailles, Pa., is a 2018 graduate of Serra Catholic High School. He is a media and journalism major with a minor in political science.

“It was a fantastic experience to win a national award on behalf of the Thiel Media department. We’re going up against schools like Rutgers and Cal-State,” Ganiear said. “To even be nominated is a huge win for all of us! I can’t wait for next year to find out what things WXTC will be nominated for—and win.”

The IBS Conference featured keynote speaker, Bob Pittman, CEO of iHeart radio. Other sessions included a panel discussion led by Sirus/XM radio, CBS Radio Network and 1010 WINS Radio’s executives and on-air staff, leadership seminars, craft-honing workshop, peer-led discussion groups and networking with other media students from over 120 colleges and universities from the Philippines, to Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands and all four corners of the U.S.

“I love taking students to this annual conference. Media Communication is a highly competitive field and our students need all the tools and skills they can gather to have a successful career in any media,” faculty advisor for WXTC Peg Watts said. “Professor Ross Nugent and I only have so much time and space to help our students prepare for this field. IBS helps fill in the gaps and expands learning and skills for our students. They get to meet professionals in broadcasting, tour media facilities and make connections with students all across the country who share their passions. Plus, we have so much fun and winning or even being nominated is a huge deal. Hundreds of submissions are sent to IBS. The fact that our students placed so high among all these competitors is a real accomplishment and they have a right to be very proud.”

IBS’s Golden Mic Awards are juried by media professionals and educators from across the country. Students submit samples of their work and are judged by these professionals. Because of the intensity of the competition finalists also receive trophies. This year, TCTV received finalist trophies for Best Variety Show and Best Promotional Video. WXTC earned a finalist trophy for Best News Broadcast and won the top honor for Best Underwriting Spot.

“I’m excited John helped us win the award for best promo spot,” Watts said. “We only started this aspect of our broadcasting this academic year. Apparently, we’re on the right track.”