University News

WIU alumnus Aaron Frye
[Download Print-Quality Image]

WIU alumna Frannie Smith with News Director Noel Sederstrom
[Download Print-Quality Image]

WIU Alumni Capture Regional Emmy Awards

December 9, 2016

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL – Two Western Illinois University Department of Broadcasting and Journalism alumni have each won regional Emmy awards recently for their work in their individual media markets.

Aaron Frye, of Milwaukee, WI, is a sports editor/producer at WITI-FOX 6 in Milwaukee. He is a 2012 WIU graduate, with a bachelor's degree in broadcasting and a minor in communication. In December, Frye won his Emmy in the Chicago Midwest Chapter category of news specialty report/series in business/consumer. He was also nominated in the category of outstanding achievement for news specialty report/series in health and science.

"It is such an honor to receive such a prestigious award," said Frye. "I didn't do this alone, though. I work with such an amazing team at WITI. I'm thankful for all I've learned in such a short time in the news business. I also attribute that success to all the help and guidance of the amazing professors in the broadcasting department at WIU.

The story that helped Frye capture his Emmy award was called "Thieves in the Night," an investigative news story he worked on with multiple photojournalists and investigative reporter Bryan Polcyn. The story exposed a tow company that was towing cars and charging excessive fees to have the vehicles returned. Frye's story led to a change to the related city ordinance in Milwaukee.

After his graduation from WIU, Frye was offered a job at KJRH, an NBC affiliate in Tulsa, OK.

"I got lucky because another standout WIU grad, Jim Doutt, was the chief photographer there at the time, and he loved that I was a WIU grad as well," said Frye. "[WIU Broadcasting and Journalism Professor] Roger Sadler put me in touch with him and the rest is history. "

After spending a year in Oklahoma, Frye accepted a job at WICS, an ABC affiliate in Springfield, IL. After six months, he moved on to Milwaukee, where he has been for the past three years.

"We have a handful of WIU grads working here now, and two or three others were working here when I started, but have since moved on to such cities as Chicago and Houston," said Frye.

Frye credits his work at WIU for kick starting his broadcasting career.

"I can't say enough about WIU and the broadcasting department in particular," he said. "It all starts with the professors — Buzz Hoon, Sam Edsall, and, of course, Roger Sadler. I don't know where I would be without them. They are the ones that pushed me to succeed. Roger Sadler let me run with my crazy ideas, and always just nudged me in the right direction. WIU also made a commitment to the broadcasting program with all the equipment. We had professional-grade equipment at our disposal and that really helped."

In October, WIU alumna Frannie Smith, a producer at KTTC in Rochester, MN, was part of two of her station's three Emmy wins in the Upper Midwest Region. Smith is a 2015 WIU graduate with a bachelor's degree in broadcasting and has been at KTTC since leaving WIU.

The two Emmy awards Smith was a part of included one for a Feb. 4 newscast that included in-depth coverage of a puppy mill in the area and a combination of hard news and feature stories.

KTTC was nominated for a total of five Emmy awards.

"Though nothing is like working in the real world — you learn how to do just about everything different than you're used to doing — WIU broadcasting is pretty close to the real world," said Smith. "All the teachers in the program have long résumés, and it shows. Everything that Jasmine (Crighton), Roger (Sadler), Buzz (Hoon) and Sam (Edsall) warned us about, and taught us, I've actually seen come to fruition in the business so far."

Smith added the knowledge she obtained at WIU goes beyond skill and includes the way the faculty in the WIU Department of Broadcasting and Journalism teach with professionalism.

"My current coworkers have commented a few times on the respect I try to emit each day at work and on my work ethic," said Smith. "A lot of that comes from what I was exposed to at WIU. Words and critiques, especially from Jasmine and Roger, are still some of the things that echo in my mind while producing. Sharpness, accuracy, honesty and integrity are words I associate with WIU broadcasting and really some of the most important things to consider in the news business."

For more information about the WIU Department of Broadcasting and Journalism, visit wiu.edu/bcj.


Posted By: Jodi Pospeschil (JK-Pospeschil@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing