By personda rattler
(Source: RN Rattle Nation)
FAMU School of Journalism & Graphic Communication students, and alums, claimed top honors at the 2024 Florida News Awards, with recent graduate Jasmine Dyer leading the charge by winning the prestigious college television award for general assignment reporting. The accolades, by the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists (FABJ) , celebrated excellence in student-produced content amid fierce competition from 14 colleges and universities statewide.
Dyer, a fall 2024 broadcast journalism graduate and former FAMU TV-20 entertainment anchor, secured the top prize for her incisive election fact-checking coverage produced during her final academic year. Her work dissected misinformation in political campaigns, now serves as a benchmark for accountability reporting. Dyer, now a multimedia journalist at FOX54 in Georgia, credited FAMU’s hands-on training for her success: “The rigor of our program prepares us to tackle real-world stories with integrity and precision,” she said.
FAMU SJGC scholars further solidified their reputation by earning finalist recognition in the political reporting category. Broadcast journalism senior Joel Mitchell, spring 2025 graduate Anissa Carby, and recent FAMU–Florida State University co-op graduate Kaitlyn Walsh were honored for their November 2023 special “Race to 24,” a deep dive into Florida’s gubernatorial and congressional elections. The nod continues a legacy for FAMU TV-20, which previously won the same category in 2020 for its election special “Race to 20.”
Dean Mira Lowe lauded the achievements, stating, “These awards reflect the world-class training our students receive through experiential learning. Their success underscores our commitment to nurturing journalists who excel in truth-telling and innovation.”
The Florida News Awards, held in Orlando, spotlight outstanding broadcast journalism across professional and collegiate tiers. The college division, this year, drew over 150 entries, with FAMU emerging as a standout. The wins highlight FAMU SJGC’s enduring influence in shaping journalists equipped to navigate evolving industry demands—from fact-checking in the digital age to dissecting complex political narratives.
