Both student reporters and their full-time mentors at BYU-Idaho Radio collected some hard-won hardware this spring for their excellence in journalism. Three students and two full-time staff at the radio station received multiple awards from the Idaho Press Club alongside professional media outlets from across the state.
“It’s been wonderful to see them progressing as disciples of Jesus Christ and also as professionals in their field, going head-to-head with other professionals — not just as students in student categories — but seeing their work next to people who’ve been reporting and telling stories for years, they’re right there,” said Natalia Dyer, programming coordinator at BYU-Idaho Radio who also won first place in the General News category for her story about Venitox, a snake venom business in Rexburg. She also won second place in the General News category for her story about RootsTech Family Discovery Day.
The Idaho Press Club accepts award submissions each year and holds a banquet to award the winners in Boise each spring. Students and full-time employees submitted radio stories and other content to the Idaho Press Club and were awarded for their efforts with first, second and third place prizes.
Student winners include Alex Batman, Austin Pace and Kimber Pearce. Batman won first place in the Data Driven Journalism category for his story about divorce rates going down. He says he had no expectations of winning an award when he entered and he feels humbled by the award. He feels BYU-Idaho Radio is helping him learn the skills he needs for work after he graduates.
“I’ve been prepared very well, and I am honestly, honored that I get to work here,” Batman said.
Pace has entered the Idaho Press Club Awards multiple times and received second place for his story about Kilane Sitake’s contract extension and third place in the General Excellence category for his story about Strider the bernedoodle at Thunder Ridge High School. Pace has worked for BYU-Idaho Radio for three years and is working to become a sports reporter after he graduates from BYU-Idaho.
“I feel like graduating school with three years of radio experience is going to put me above other applicants,” Pace said.
Pearce received second place in the Serious Feature Report category for her story about bat hibernation caves. Her story highlighted the research BYU-Idaho students are doing. She says she learned a lot about the students at BYU-Idaho through her reporting. She’s grateful for the opportunity to work at BYU-Idaho Radio as a journalist.
“I've worked in the field of journalism outside of school, but I do love the way that BYU-I prioritizes giving the students spotlight, especially at the radio station,” Pearce said. “Other places it can take a long time to work your way up to where you feel like you are doing much of anything. But here at school I am given so many opportunities to try new things.”
Brandon Isle won third place in the General News Category for his story about the 5,000th episode of Music and the Spoken Word. BYU-Idaho Radio also won second place for its website, byui.edu/radio, which is where you can read the students’ work. You can listen to the students’ work on the BYU-Idaho Radio podcast on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
BYU-Idaho Radio has two full-time employees and more than a dozen student employees each semester who work as journalists, music program producers, digital content creators and podcasters. You can listen to BYU-Idaho Radio on KBYI 94.3 FM, KBYR 91.5/90.9 FM and the Talk station on KBYI HD3.