Student Journalists Take On Gracie Awards

Students proudly receive their awards during the Gracie Awards ceremony, where Rowan Radio was recognized for excellence in student journalism and breaking news coverage.

Marchella: 

Election night moves fast – and so do we. When the news department of Rowan University’s radio station came together to produce a live, three-hour broadcast covering the New Jersey, New York, and Virginia 2025 gubernatorial elections, we had one mission.

Our goal for this election night special was to uphold the responsibility that comes with seeking truth by reporting accurate information about the races we covered, while documenting a pivotal political moment for our audience in real time.

The deep commitment our team has to public service guided every decision in this show’s production. From assigning two reporters to cover each state, to totaling live poll results to ensure our listeners received truthful and reliable information, we remained committed to fulfilling our responsibility as student journalists and producing a strong election night special.

For our team, we value the idea that election night is more than just announcing who won. As student journalists, having the opportunity to cover key election races is not only a privilege, but also one of our greatest responsibilities. We take pride in what we report on, the research that we do to prepare and the interviews we conduct. 

Hearing the announcement from our radio station’s director, Derek Jones, that our department won not one, but two Gracie Awards for this project has given us greater confidence in our reporting abilities and motivates us to continue feeling motivated to continue capturing important moments in history as they unfold. 

Rowan Radio receiving the Gracie Award in the student division’s Best Crisis Coverage/Breaking News category reflects not only our team’s hard work and dedication, but also the vital role student journalism plays in today's ever-changing media landscape. 

Receiving a Gracie Award for Best Producer for my work on The Rowan Report Election Night Special was a defining moment for me. As an enterprising journalist, this award reinforced that I belong in this field.

The opportunity to be invited to attend the 51st Annual Gracie Awards Luncheon in New York City with the members of my news department that made this special come to life was incredibly rewarding. We all felt both motivated by the empowering women who presented and received awards and honored to be recognized by such a respected organization as the Alliance for Women in Media. 

As I look back on the connections and the memories we shared, I remember why I continue pushing student journalists such as myself and members of our news department. This experience has reinforced my passion for journalism, strengthened my confidence and inspires me to continue pushing boundaries in my reporting to better serve and connect our communities.

Sarah: 

I was honored to walk on stage to accept the Gracie Award for Best Breaking News/Crisis Coverage on behalf of The Rowan Report Election Night Special Team. Alongside my peers, I was one of four main anchors covering the 2025 gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as the New York City mayoral race. 

Being in a room with so many inspiring women was surreal. Women so often go unappreciated, so winning an award given out by a foundation that empowers them daily was an amazing experience. 

At the time of the election night specials broadcast, I had been a part of Rowan Radio for just over six months — still adjusting and growing as a broadcast journalist. I’ve been working in print for years, and up until I joined the station, I never really envisioned myself being a radio personality. To be honest, I never even really saw FM radio as a news outlet. In my eyes, I only ever saw radio as stations playing music. 

Joining the station not only broadened my horizons as a journalist, but has become another medium where I can seek truth, inform the public and pursue my passion for quality, ethical journalism. 

Being a journalist is a fulfilling career and being recognized for your efforts is a special feeling. Especially as a student, it solidifies that you do in fact belong — and you’re on the right track to where you want to go.

Written by: Marchella Mazzoni & Sarah Shockey