RTN wins Telly Awards for originally programming

July 12, 2012

It's a hat trick for Rowan Television Network (RTN). For the third straight year, RTN has won Telly Awards for its original programming.

Founded in 1978, Telly Awards honor outstanding local, regional and cable television commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online film and video. The Telly Awards competition receives over 13,000 entries annually from the finest ad agencies, production companies, TV stations, cable companies, interactive agencies and corporations in all 50 states and countries around the world.

This year, RTN won two bronze Telly Awards in the student category for sketches from Season Two of "Socially Awkward" and an episode titled "Valentine's Day" from "The Wordsman Show."

Known as "SoAwk" by students on campus, "Socially Awkward" is a comedy show that produces short skits ands features musical guests. Produced by Blake Rice, a senior radio/television/film (RTF) major from Moorestown, the show began production in spring of 2010. It won "Best Comedy" and "Best in Festival" at the Passaic County Film Festival and was a finalist in the "Wet Your Pants Comedy Film Festival." An episode of the show also was nominated for "Best Picture" and "Best Comedy" in the Campus Movie Fest International Grand Finale.

"Socially Awkward" has received more than 187,000 video views on YouTube. View the program's YouTube page at: www.youtube.com/rtnsociallyawkward.

A comedy that its producers call a "mashup" between Conan O'Brien and "Saturday Night Live," "The Wordsman Show" features longer comedic segments and segments where characters break the "fourth wall" and speak directly to the audience.

"The Wordsman Show" is produced by junior RTF majors Scott Wordsman of Rockaway and Pat Harris of Pompton Plains. Harris serves as president of RTN. The show's YouTube page can be found at www.youtube.com/thewordsmanshow.

RTN is a student-run club that programs Channel 5 on campus and a simulcast web stream at http://www.rtnch5.tv. The channel airs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Open to all majors, the club has more than 70 active members who strive to learn more about television production while helping the Rowan University community with video production services. RTN covers live campus events including athletic competitions, Rowan Homecoming festivities, theatrical and variety show performances, and guest speakers. Additionally, RTN produces its own annual live events including "Rowan's Got Talent" and The RTN Charity Telethon.