{"id":17519,"date":"2026-07-30T10:48:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T14:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umes.edu\/scm\/?p=17519"},"modified":"2026-07-30T12:22:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:22:57","slug":"delmarva-public-media-earns-a-record-17-associated-press-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umes.edu\/scm\/delmarva-public-media-earns-a-record-17-associated-press-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Delmarva Public Media\u00a0earns\u00a0a\u00a0record\u00a017\u00a0Associated Press\u00a0Awards\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Recent University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduate Sydney Rutledge-Smith and Delmarva Public Media chief content officer Bryan Russo pose with their first-place award for most outstanding feature in the college radio division from the Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association during a May 30 ceremony in Ocean City. Delmarva Public Media won a record 17 awards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Jada Skye Brown<\/strong>, a senior digital media studies major at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Sydney Rutledge-Smith<\/strong>, a recent UMES graduate, won awards from the Chesapeake chapter of the Associated Press for their work with Delmarva Public Media.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recognitions were part of a record 17 awards received by\u00a0Delmarva\u00a0Public Media<\/a>, including\u00a0first-place\u00a0awards in\u00a0eight\u00a0categories,\u00a0from\u00a0the Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcaster Association (CAPBA) on May 30.\u00a0Delmarva Public Media is a\u00a0collaboration of three radio stations\u00a0operated\u00a0by UMES\u00a0and Salisbury University.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am very proud of the work that our small but mighty team of professional and student reporters are doing each and every day here in our community,\u201d said Bryan Russo<\/strong>, chief content officer for Delmarva Public Media. \u201cLocal news coverage is getting harder and harder to do well in this ever-changing media landscape, and these awards are a testament to the tenacity, dedication and their commitment to delivering thorough, interesting and objective news stories about our region.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brown,\u00a0who\u00a0serves\u00a0as\u00a0an\u00a0intern\u00a0with Delmarva Public\u00a0Media,\u00a0won\u00a0first\u00a0place\u00a0in the\u00a0outstanding\u00a0college\u00a0newscast category\u00a0for her\u00a0role in\u00a0the\u00a0weekly\u00a0\u201cFive-Minute\u00a0Fly-By\u201d\u00a0broadcast<\/a>.\u00a0She\u00a0said\u00a0winning\u00a0an\u00a0AP\u00a0award as\u00a0a college student\u00a0is\u00a0\u201cunreal.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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Jada Skye Brown (right), a senior digital media studies major at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, interviews Stacey Abrams during a March 2026 event. Brown, an intern for Delmarva Public Media, won first place in the outstanding college newscast category during the 2026 Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association Awards on May 30 in Ocean City. Delmarva Public Media won a record 17 awards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an experience that I will take with me throughout my life and carry through my career,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to be in media, and this experience proves that not only can I communicate with others, I can connect with others too.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rutledge-Smith, along with\u00a0Russo,\u00a0won\u00a0first- and\u00a0second place\u00a0for outstanding general news\u00a0featuring\u00a0stories.\u00a0Rutledge-Smith\u00a0earned first place for her\u00a0interview\u00a0with\u00a0Maryland Gov.\u00a0Wes\u00a0Moore<\/strong>\u00a0during\u00a0the\u00a02024\u00a0Spring\u00a0Commencement<\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0second place for\u00a0a feature on how\u00a0President Trump\u2019s order to end DEI programs could\u00a0impact\u00a0UMES<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Professor Russo told me that I was up for an award, I cried, because that was one of my biggest accomplishments and I was so proud of myself,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing up for an award brought me a whole new confidence and a drive and motivation that\u2019s indescribable.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rutledge-Smith said her UMES experience has been critical to her success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think HBCUs get enough credit for all they do for their students,\u201d she said. \u201cUMES specifically has given me endless opportunities, and I am forever grateful for the people who have helped motivate me and push me to where I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Delmarva Public Media reporter Kevin Diaz, student journalists Colin Bright and Sydney Rutledge-Smith and chief content officer Bryan Russo display their Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association awards during a May 30 ceremony held in Ocean City. Delmarva Public Media won a record 17 awards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Delmarva Public Media Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association Awards:\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

COLLEGE RADIO:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n