High School Broadcast Journalism Celebrated At BASH Awards

SOUTHOLD, NY — High school TV broadcast journalism will be celebrated as more than 300 students and staff gather for the 2nd Annual Broadcast Awards for Senior High next week.

The BASH event will be held on Friday, May 4, beginning at 9 a.m. at Southold High School.

Billed as one of the largest events of its kind in the New York metropolitan area, "BASH brings industry experts in the field of television media and journalism directly into the high school student experience," organizers said.

The fun filled event, which kicked off last year for the first time, is both a learning conference and an awards ceremony, complete with a glamorous red carpet.

A keynote address is slated to be delivered by CNN national correspondent Polo Sandoval.

BASH Awards will be awarded to winning submissions in categories including Best
Broadcast, Anchor Team, Opening Segment, School News Package, Sports Package, Public Service Announcement, and Most Entertaining Package. The awards will be handed out after lunch, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the awards presentation will be “live streamed.”

Elected officials including Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, New York StateAssemblyman Anthony Palumbo, New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle and Deputy Suffolk County Commissioner Teresa Ward will present trophies to those students for first, second and third place in each category.

Close to 60 submissions were reviewed by a long list of judges including TV broadcast executives, producers, and Emmy award winning journalists.

“This is an experience that provides one of the best examples of real world learning whereby student work is judged by an outside panel of experts in the field, something that prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities,” stated Southold technology teacher Jason Wesnofske.

“At a time when everyone wonders how we will navigate the role of citizen through a free and fair system of journalistic integrity, it is vitally important for young people to develop the skills and dispositions of effective communication using a broadcast platform such as TV and video,” said David Gamberg, Superintendent of Southold Schools. "Digital citizenship and the use of visual media will undoubtedly be an essential part of life for all students entering the workforce as well as serving their communities well into the future.”

Patch courtesy photo.