Student documentary wins journalism award

UD students set up a studio shot for their documentary on the local alcohol industry.

3:12 p.m., March 24, 2005--Behind Bars, a student-produced TV news documentary on the alcohol industry in Delaware, has taken second-place honors in the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Region II Mark of Excellence awards competition in the TV In-Depth Reporting category.

The documentary, produced by 12 students taking UD’s “Broadcast News Documentary” course taught by Ralph Begleiter, Rosenberg Professor of Communication and distinguished journalist in residence, will be honored at the regional conference in Towson, Md., Saturday, April 9.

Region 2 includes Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Virginia and North Carolina.

Behind Bars: The Alcohol Industry in Newark, a 35-minute, 60 Minutes-style program, was shown on campus last May in Gore Hall. The documentary consists of five segments: “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” follows a dean’s list student from bar to bar at night; “Bartender” interviews bartenders in establishments that cater to young people; “The Powers That Be” interviews officials who discuss laws that are supposed to discourage underage drinking while revealing instances in which those laws are circumvented; and “Industry” and “Contradictions,” which describe the size of the alcohol business in Newark and the impact of student trade.

The documentary also was selected for showing at an international film festival in Los Angeles.

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