Cronkite students top all schools with 39 NATAS Student Production Award nominations

Students from Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication once again led the field in nominations from the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

In total, Cronkite students received 39 Student Production Award nominations for 2026. They also earned recognition in 17 categories, including reporting, editing, anchoring, producing, writing and photography, and swept all nominations in two categories: College Interview/Discussion, and College Sports Program.

The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of NATAS honors professionals and students working in television with regional Emmy Awards and Student Production Awards across Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and southeastern California.

The recognition continues a strong tradition of success for Cronkite students. In 2025, Cronkite students earned 41 nominations across 15 categories, showcasing the school's continued excellence in journalism, storytelling and media production. 

The 2026 winners will be announced on Sept. 19.

COLLEGE NEWSCAST 

• Cronkite News, April 1, 2026 — Leilani Feiertag, Natalia Marrin, Hailey Jimenez, Kira Caspers and Madison Knutson

• Cronkite News, March 31, 2026 — Liza Romo, Julio Larios, Esmeralda Hernandez, Jazlyn Gonzales, Lily Saba and Audrey Sadlier

COLLEGE HARD NEWS REPORT

• "It All Happened So Quickly" — L.M. Boyd and Alessandra De Zubeldia

• "Turquoise Alert" — Emily Fox-Million

• "The Doctor Is Out" — Edward Nieman

COLLEGE FEATURE NEWS REPORT

• "Diamond Defiance" — Charlie Vicario

• "Racing Home" — Grace Johnson

• "Range Rider" — Charlie Vicario

COLLEGE SOLO STORYTELLER

• "Small Eggs Big Prices" — Brandon Cadiz 

• "Emily Pike 1 Year Later" — Emily Fox-Million

COLLEGE NONFICTION SHORT FORM 

• "Ride or Wrong: ASU Trivia" — Emma Fitzgerald and Chase Baugh

• "Echoes of July Rain" — Sophie Schaeffer

• "Left Unchecked" — Cheyla Daverman and Jason Farmer

COLLEGE NONFICTION LONG FORM 

• "Where the Wind Meets the Water" — Jonah Simkin England, Lavanya Paliwal and Carlos Palomera

COLLEGE PUBLIC AFFAIRS/COMMUNITY SERVICE

• "Onecourt Vision" — Brandon Cadiz

• "Cost of Sugar" — Sophie Schaeffer

• "Preparing for ICE" — Edward Nieman

COLLEGE INTERVIEW/DISCUSSION

• "Leah Pruitt in the Driver’s Seat" — Grace Johnson

• "Capps and Gordon Talk Racing" — Dane Palmer

COLLEGE ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT/CULTURAL AFFAIRS

• "Back to the Movies" — Serenity Reynolds

COLLEGE MAGAZINE PROGRAM

"Cronkite News: Across Arizona" — Max Williams, Sebastian Kupis, Carlisa Poirier and Mario Medina

"Cronkite News: State Lines" — Emily Fox-Million

COLLEGE SPORTS STORY

• "Baseball Behind Bars" — Eric Matsumoto

• "Fredonia’s Forgotten Recordholder" — Jakob Brooks

• "Mercury Super Fan" — Eve McFarland

COLLEGE SPORTS PROGRAMS

• Cronkite Sports Big 12 title show — Henry Domine

• Cronkite Sports Live — Ritisha Thakker, Gabriella Chernoff, Aidan ONeill, Jason Teater, Jack Brooks, Xavier Massarotti and Timothy Seale

• Cronkite Sports Women’s Final Four — Lily Saba

• Cronkite Sports ASU Football pregame — Kolby Marting, Sebastian Kupis, Nate Mills and Keion Russell

COLLEGE PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

• Cronkite Plus promo — Bryan Kilgore

COLLEGE EDITOR

• "Cha Ching" — Izzy Ludlow

COLLEGE PHOTOGRAPHER

• Sophie Schaeffer shoots — Sophie Schaeffer

COLLEGE TALENT — NEWS OR SPORTS

• Emily Fox-Million reports — Emily Fox-Million

• Best of Jakob Brooks — Jakob Brooks

• Best of Grace Johnson — Grace Johnson

• Best of Gabby Chernoff — Gabby Chernoff

COLLEGE WRITER

• "Diamond Defiance" — Charlie Vicario

• "Baseball Behind Bars" — Eric Matsumoto

• "Racing Home" — Grace Johnson