Date: Jan 09, 2007

HOFSTRA STUDENTS RANK NATIONALLY FOR HEARST JOURNALISM AWARDS

Two Broadcast Students Place in Top Ten of First Round of Competition

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY - Two Hofstra University students have been honored with the distinction of outstanding performance in college level journalism by The Hearst Journalism Awards program.  For nearly five decades The Hearst Organization has awarded scholarships to students who excel at college level journalism and Hofstra students Kim Saltmarsh and Jeffrey Preval are among the top ten finalists in the first round of competition in this highly selective award process.

Kim and Jeff, both members of WRHU, Radio Hofstra University, were selected from among 38 radio and 57 television entries submitted.  Kim and Jeff's pieces were aired on WRHU, 88.7FM, and this is the fifth consecutive year that a WRHU staff member has placed in the top ten of the first round of competition.  Andrew Falzon placed second in the overall competition in 2004.

Kim and Jeff's top ten finishes have allowed the University to be ranked sixth among Universities with accredited journalism programs entered in the entire Hearst Journalism Awards competition.

With Kim's fifth place finish in the Radio Feature Category, she is eligible for a second round of judging.  Following the semi-final round of judging, five students in radio and five students in television will be chosen to compete in the program's national broadcast news championships in San Francisco, along with winners of the writing and photojournalism competitions.  The final winners will be named in April.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program was created in 1960 to recognize, reward and inspire exceptional journalism education in the United States.  The annual Hearst Journalism Awards Program rewards outstanding achievement though six monthly competitions in writing, three in photojournalism, two in radio broadcast and two in television broadcast news. With Championship Finals in all four divisions, the program offers up to $500,000 in awards.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students find their edge to succeed in more than 140 undergraduate and 150 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence, cutting edge technology, extensive library resources, internships and special educational programs that appeal to their interests and abilities.