MSSU News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2006
Judy Stiles
(417) 625-9777

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - More than 250 area high school and middle school teachers and students will be in attendance at Missouri Southern State University on Thursday, Oct. 26 for the annual "Southern Media Showcase Day." The event brings together students interested in print and video communications for a day filled with presentation and awards.

This is the 10th year for the event to be sponsored by the Department of Communication at MSSU. Activities begin at 9:15 a.m. in Webster Auditorium on the MSSU campus.

"We're pleased to see so many regional schools bringing their students and entering our newspaper and video competition," says Judy Stiles, KGCS-TV General Manager. Students from schools throughout the region are invited to participate in the annual competition and attend the events.

This year's program will feature the premier of a new award program. Faculty and staff in the broadcasting area of the Department of Communications have decided to initiate the Regional Media Hall of Fame. The award honors media professionals who have made a regional impact through their careers.

Bob James (left) and Bob Phillips

The 2006 Honorees are two well-known Joplin, Mo. newsmen, Bob James and Bob Phillips. Bob James began his work in radio in 1953 on Armed Forces radio, as well as on commercials in New York and in broadcasting in his home state of Michigan. He served as News Director at KQYX/KSYN radio from 1971 until his retirement in 1993.

James is described by his peers and community leaders as the “last of the true broadcast journalists” in local radio. Bob James is noted for his dedication, hard work and authoritative voice as a radio news reporter.

The second Honoree is Bob Phillips, whose broadcast career spanned five decades, dating back to 1943.

Phillips’ first broadcasting job was in radio as a college student. After college and several years in California, he returned to the area in the 1960s as a news reporter and anchor at KODE-TV in Joplin. His series of news reports focusing on life in the Joplin area, “The Phillips File” is currently being transferred to DVD by the Joplin Public Library for use by future generations.

Phillips also covered the 1960 Presidential campaign and the Missouri Legislature and wrote, produced and narrated a film for the State of Missouri, titled The Second Half Century. Bob Phillips is described by his peers and community leaders as one of the last “old style small town newsmen who took his job seriously.”
Recipients will receive crystal award trophies.

Warren Rose, Outreach & Education Regional Supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation will present the Keynote Address at 9:30 a.m. in Webster Hall Auditorium.

Break-Out Sessions for local students will begin at 10:15 a.m. and will be followed by an 11:30 Awards Luncheon in the Connor Ballroom on the 3rd Floor of Billingsly Student Center at MSSU.

For more information, contact Judy Stiles at (417) 625-9777 or Ward Bryant at (417) 625-9710.