Z News earns first place in international competition, setting new standard for USF student journalism

By Dakota Galvin, College of Arts and Sciences

Z News — USF’s student‑run newscast out of the Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications — earned the Broadcast Education Association’s Dr. Marjorie Yambor Television Signature Station Award, this year, taking first place in the international competition. It marks the program’s third time placing and its first time securing the top honor.

Formerly known as Florida Focus, Z News is a student‑run newsbreak that airs on WEDQ, a PBS station in Tampa. The program gives students hands‑on experience in all aspects of working in a newsroom — from writing and studio production to field reporting, on‑air coverage, content creation, social media and web design. Students are required to apply to Z News as they would for a professional newsroom role, and the structure gives them real responsibility from day one.

For the students behind the newscast, the award reflects not only the countless hours spent researching stories, writing scripts and producing segments under real newsroom deadlines — it also reflects the close bond they’ve built as a team.

Mass communications graduate Lia Marsee believes that this teamwork is what sets them apart from the competition.  

“I truly believe we were able to bring that award home because of how much of a family we are,” Marsee said. “I can’t think of another group of people as amazing as this group was, and their support and kindness was so special. I am truly going to miss seeing them in the hallways after I graduate.” In addition to the team’s win, Marsee also earned individual recognition at the BEA Festival of Media Arts — the only USF student to receive an individual award this year.

Program Director Stephanie Elder agrees that the students’ success comes from more than hard work — she believes it’s rooted in the professional standards they hold themselves to. She says they see themselves as journalists, not just students, and that mindset shapes the caliber of their reporting. Over time, they’ve built relationships with community members and local officials, giving them access to stories that reach far beyond USF’s campus and into the broader Tampa Bay market.

“They tell stories that aren’t often told by other local media outlets,” Elder said. “For example, we were able to sit down with the new Temple Terrace police chief one-on-one after he first took office. We did a story on a new sandbag machine that will speed up hurricane preparation for the public works department, and the Temple Terrace Police Department’s new 911 system that allows dispatchers to see video when someone calls 911,” she added.

“These are not typical stories that college students are covering. Z News students are trained and conduct themselves as professional journalists.”  

For graduating senior Clara Rokita Garcia, the opportunity to join this class also changed the trajectory of her career.  

“I didn’t have any experience with broadcast journalism prior to working with Z News,” Garcia said, “and now I work as an intern for Daytime at WFLA News Channel 8. If it hadn’t been for that initial experience, I don’t think I would have taken additional broadcast classes at USF, and I probably wouldn’t have landed this internship,” she added.  

“It really introduced me to a whole new world – one that I now see myself staying in after graduation.”  

This year’s award underscores the impact Z News has on both its students and the Zimmerman School. The recognition places USF among the top broadcast programs in the country and, Elder hopes, will help students stand out as they pursue internships and full‑time roles after graduation.

“I have no doubt that this is enabling our students to find jobs in some of the top media markets in the country,” Elder said. “In the last year, I have had former Z News students who have gone on to television stations in Ft. Myers, Tallahassee, Tampa and Vermont, among others.”

“Students covered the Women’s Final Four in Tampa. We have covered presidential visits and the Daytona 500 in the past. Z News allows students to take what they have learned about broadcast journalism and apply that directly to work that airs in Florida’s number one media market. Many reporters never make it to a TV market the size of Tampa, and our students are getting their work on air while still in college.”

Elder believes this year’s Signature Station Award will only amplify those opportunities — raising the program’s visibility, strengthening industry connections, and setting a new standard for what Z News students can achieve in the years ahead.  
Beyond the awards and professional milestones, Elder says what matters most is the community built inside Z News.  

“For me, this is more than a job,” Elder said. “I take great pride in educating these young journalists and following their careers long after they leave USF. Z News isn’t just another class — it’s a team built on trust, mentorship, and a shared commitment to telling meaningful stories. I’m incredibly proud of our students for earning this award, and I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to lead such outstanding young journalists.”

For students, the BEA’s recognition is motivation to move forward confidently in their careers.

“It’s definitely going on my resume,” mass communications major Ricardo Cuomo said. “I’ll always brag about being part of Z News, because it gave me so much. It’s only fair that I return the favor by proudly wearing its name.”