Student documentary wins national SPJ award;
Graduating senior wins for Kaimin sports story

A documentary produced by University of Montana radio-television students has received the National Mark of Excellence award from the Society for Professional Journalists. Ryan Divish, a May 2001 graduate and former Kaimin sports editor, also won a Mark of Excellence award for his article, "Reluctant Hero."

The award went to "Anaconda: The Legacy," which examines the history and aftereffects of mining in a western Montana community. The documentary was produced by UM's Student Documentary Unit during the spring 2000 semester, and it aired on Montana PBS.

This is the fifth such award in the documentary unit's 15-year history.

Divish's story was a profile of Vince Huntsberger, a Division I-AA all-American on the University of Montana football team.

The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation's largest and most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

"Anaconda: The Legacy" also won the Student Award at NW Regional Emmys in Seattle and was named finalist for Program of the Year at the Montana Broadcasters Association/Greater Montana Foundation’s E.B. Craney Awards. Another student-produced program, Montana Journal, was also named finalist at the Emmy Awards.

Also, the 2001 student documentary production, "Meth: Dark Cloud over the Big Sky," inspired a town meeting in Kalispell on Eagle Communications stations that aired Sept. 24th. Assistant professor Denise Dowling helped coordinate the broadcast.

Return to October 2001 archive