USC Annenberg's Impact student newsmagazine program is one of seven finalists of the College Television Awards, sponsored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. More than 50 schools submitted entries in the newsmagazine category.

Impact has placed in the top three in three of the past six years, including one first-place finish. Winners this year are scheduled to be announced in mid-February.

"Being recognized says to me that seasoned television professionals think we're on the right track," journalism professor and Impact executive producer/faculty advisor Dan Birman (pictured, right) said. "We're judged in a similar manner to the Emmys. If we get picked once, that's really nice, but if we get picked a second or third time it means we're doing something right. It’s not just the students or the faculty who think we produce great work, but it's the television professionals who recognize it. That’s pretty cool."

The seven finalists will be judged by Academy members for first, second, and third place wins. Winners will be invited to a black tie gala celebration in March, similar to the Emmys with prominent television hosts giving students their awards.

Impact is produced by both first-year and second-year graduate students every year. This year's management staff includes supervising producer Esther Pomeroy (M.A. Broadcast Journalism '09) and senior producers Cristina Bishai (M.A. Broadcast Journalism '09), Maritza Navarro (M.A. Broadcast Journalism '09), Deidre Crawford (M.A. Broadcast Journalism '10) and Kim Daniels (M.A. Broadcast Journalism '10).

"What I’m finding is that each time we pass the baton, the students are competitive enough that they want to put their own mark on the quality of the show," Birman said. "We’ve had great stories from the beginning - I like the first show as much as 42nd - but I can see storytelling growth all the time. We just keep getting better. We have a high standard and students work really hard to produce great stories." 

Impact
College Television Awards