WKNC students named finalist for national awards

Mike Alston and Kelly Reid, on the air as DJ Mick and Mz. Kelly, are one of four finalists in the Best DJ category. Alston, who graduated in May, served as the station’s general manager for the 2009-2010 academic year. Reid earned her second bachelor’s in chemistry in August 2010 while she worked as the station’s head music director. Reid was previously named a finalist for Best Radio DJ in Independent Weekly’s 2009 Best in the Triangle reader’s poll.

Alston is also recognized in the Best Regularly Scheduled Program category for “First Friday,” a segment aired Nov. 9, 2009 on WKNC’s public affairs program, Eye on the Triangle. The piece, voiced and produced by Alston, was a profile of downtown Raleigh’s monthly First Friday art showcase. It was also included in Eye on the Triangle’s “Best of” program in May 2010.

WKNC took a second finalist award in Best Regularly Scheduled Program for “Musicology: Americana.” Hosted by Matt Gossett, a sophomore in film studies, Musicology was an hour-long look at a specific musical genre, time period or artist and aired in the spring 2010 semester. Caitlin Cauley, a senior in English and host of WKNC’s Americana, Blues and Company, joined Gossett on the program to discuss and listen to Americana. Cauley and former Americana co-host Steve McCreery were honored as finalists for Best Radio DJ from CBI in 2008.

The station’s fourth finalist nod is for Best Student Media website for wknc.org. This category was open to student radio and television stations, while the other awards were exclusively for radio.

The winners will be announced at the National College Media Convention Oct. 29. 2010 in Louisville, Ky.