NFPW award latest for student production 'Left Behind'
The UD class, with Prof. Ralph Begleiter, that produced "Left Behind."

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1:03 p.m., June 23, 2010----University of Delaware communication and political science students have collected a passel of top awards for their TV news documentary about Newark's Chrysler assembly plant, including the latest -- a first place award from the National Federation of Press Women.

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The documentary, called Left Behind and produced as the semester-long project of undergraduates in spring 2009, explored the past, present and future of the former Chrysler facility, which has since been bought by the University.

The program contains rare video of the plant's origin as a tank-manufacturing facility for the Pentagon during the Korean War, as well as the first pictures taken inside the abandoned plant following its closure in December, 2008.

Citizens of Newark, the University and others are heard describing their hopes for the site, and the students explored the extensive -- and expensive -- environmental cleanup necessary before the 270-acre site can be developed for other uses.

Other awards earned by the students' documentary include:

  • Delaware Press Association - first place;
  • The Accolade - an international television award;
  • Newark Film Festival selection;
  • Broadcast Education Association (a national organization) - honorable mention; and
  • National Broadcasting Society - honorable mention.

Left Behind is available for viewing on the University of Delaware's Department of Communication website or at the documentary website.

It has been viewed online some 6,000 times. Three showings were held in Newark last year, and it is among the Delaware productions being featured at the Newark Film Festival scheduled Sept. 23-30.

The documentary was produced under the guidance of Prof. Ralph Begleiter, director of UD's Center for Political Communication.

“It's been wonderful to see the work of our students so highly recognized on campus, in the state and nationally,” said Begleiter. “I'm proud of the diligent research, journalism and production work accomplished by my students in this project.”

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