Two Elizabethtown College students recently earned Keystone Student Media Awards by the Pennsylvania News Association for work produced as part of their Communications curriculum.
Sal Salomone ’27 earned first place in the Best Feature (Broadcast) category, and Matthew Stern ’27 received an honorable mention in the same category. Both Salomone and Stern produced their videos as part of Elizabethtown College Professor of Communications, Dr. Kirsten Johnson’s Broadcast News (COM316) class.
“I am so incredibly proud of both Sal and Matt,” Johnson said. “They are both amazing and creative storytellers and their abilities really showed in the winning video news stories they created. It’s a joy to work with such talented students and see their video production and storytelling skills grow each year.”
Salomone’s package included first-hand coverage of the “No Kings” protests that took place in Harrisburg, Pa., in October 2025, containing interviews with participants as well as footage of the event.
“Winning this award means a lot to me,” Salomone said. “I spent a lot of time filming, writing, and editing this story, so it is extremely rewarding to receive this recognition. This whole experience has made me look forward to continuing this work professionally after college.”
Stern’s piece explored a group of enthusiasts who are recreationally interested in trains and rail transport systems, known as “Rail Fans.” In the package, Stern explored participants of the hobby through in-depth interviews and engaging footage.
“I’m extremely proud to be recognized with this award,” Stern said. “The package I sent in was from the heart and shared my love for trains and the railfanning community. This experience has opened my eyes to the possibilities and options of excelling in the communications field.”
Both Salomone and Stern were honored at the Student Keystone Media Awards Event at the Best Western Premier Central Hotel and Conference Center in Harrisburg on April 14.
About Elizabethtown College’s Department of Communications
Elizabethtown College’s Department of Communications offers a Bachelor of Arts in Communications for three majors: Digital Media Production, Journalism, and Public Relations. Students gain classroom experience in a variety of areas, including public speaking, media, writing, video and audio production, and graphic design. Discover more.
