Posted June 22, 2016
Madisyn Kellough, who graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2015 with a broadcast journalism degree, won a Southeast Emmy from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for a feature package she created during her senior semester capstone course. Kellough received the award at the association's 2016 Gala in Atlanta June 11 for her light news feature "From Sorrow to Joy."
Professor Rick Peterson, lead instructor for her senior broadcast course, was always impressed with Kellough's willingness to go the "extra mile" for a story. "She went all the way to Charlotte to get the interview with the young man who was the focus of the story, and she tracked down the medical professionals involved in treating the serious burns that he suffered as a child," Peterson said. "Madisyn has a knack for visualizing stories ahead of time and recognizing what elements she needs to make it a great story — and she was always so determined to make it happen."
Since her May 2015 graduation, Kellough has been employed by ESPN as an assistant content integration producer, a natural progression for her since a lot of her time at USC was spent working with athletics. Kellough worked as a production assistant for Gamecock Productions, shooting and editing promotional videos for various sports. In addition, she worked with The Steve Spurrier Show for two years, producing the "Sights and Sounds" feature segment.
The association also honored three other news stories by students in the 2015 class with Emmy nominations. They were:
Light News
- Blake Lipton
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Serious News
- Tanner Abel, Tori Beth Black, Mackenzie Grant, Thomas Gruel, Shelby Heary, Blake Liipton,
Abbey O'Brien, Shante' Sumpter
Carolina News Special Edition: Historic Flood - Abbey O'Brien
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The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and related media and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the media industry, best known for the coveted Emmy® Award. NATAS has 19 chapters throughout the United States identifying and celebrating television excellence at the local and regional level. The primary focus of the organization’s Southeast chapter is the annual Southeast EMMY® Awards celebrating excellence in media. NATAS Southeast serves members in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Asheville, N.C.