Shortly after crossing the stage at graduation with a degree in broadcast journalism, Kayla Kissel has already made national headlines of her own. Kissel received a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Sound, a prestigious recognition in professional broadcast journalism with a degree in broadcast journalism.
While interning at WUSF-FM in Tampa, Kissel reported and produced a compelling audio feature that aired on the station and won Best in Sound for Region 13, an area which includes Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Her work was judged alongside that of seasoned professionals, making her recognition a powerful testament to the quality of UCF’s journalism program and its commitment to preparing students for excellence in the field, especially in the growing area of audio storytelling.
In an interview, Kissel shares about the story she produced, the challenges she faced, and how it felt to win such a prestigious award.
- How did it feel to win a prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award before even graduating from UCF?
“I actually worked on the story during the spring semester of my junior year, but I’ve graduated since then, so winning a Murrow feels like my diploma came with bonus points. Honestly, I thought I was just trying not to mess up as an intern, so the fact that it turned into something award-winning is pretty surreal… and a huge honor.”
- Can you tell us more about the story you produced and what inspired you to tell it?
“I produced the story with help from WUSF and my mentor, Mark Schreiner. It follows a legacy hat company in Tampa, where the milliner, Ash Dudney, makes hats from felt to finish, and decorates them with invasive species he personally hunts in the Everglades. I’m obsessed with natural sound, so my goal was to make listeners feel like they were in his intimate little shop along with me.”
- What was the most challenging or rewarding part of crafting a radio feature focused on excellence in sound?
“The most challenging part was not knowing what anything was going to sound like. I had to conduct an early-morning checkout for my gear before driving to Tampa and the equipment room forgot the single most important tool for an audio journalist: headphones. I was panicking because there weren’t stores open early enough to purchase a backup pair. I had to rely on the audio levels and pay attention to what I was hearing. It turned into an exercise in active listening and blind faith.”
- How did your internship at WUSF-FM and mentorship from faculty help shape your skills as a journalist?
“My internship at WUSF-FM helped me to find my radio voice, literally and figuratively. I learned how to write the way I speak, and that my voice has a place in public media. I also moved past my fear to report on any topic. With support from WUSF, I realized I could tackle hard stories and still create something thoughtful and compassionate. It gave me the confidence to dive in, no matter the subject. After the final edit of the story that ended up winning the award, my editor and mentor Mark Schreiner told me something along the lines of, “If there’s one thing you take away from this, let it be confidence.” That stuck with me.”
- What advice would you give to other student journalists hoping to make an impact with their work while still in school?
“Don’t underestimate the power of the little local stories, they matter more than you think. Be nosy, stay curious, and get out into your community and talk to people. Everyone has a voice, and as a student journalist, you have the opportunity to help amplify it. Use the resources your university offers.”
Rick Brunson, Senior Instructor of Journalism at NSCM and Kissel’s internship supervisor, praised her attention to detail as well as the importance of faculty mentorship. “We have excelled in recent years in teaching audio storytelling in our journalism program. In 2019, we started partnering with NPR NextGenRadio’s boot camp training program, of which Kayla is an alumna,” says Brunson. “Stories are produced to the exacting, professional standards of NPR, which challenges our students to raise their level of care and attention to detail. Much like the hatmaker Kayla’s story profiles, Kayla stitches richly textured natural sounds—from the hiss of a steam iron to the rattling of alligator bones—to weave together a wonderful story that makes the listener feel like they are there.”
He shares new developments to enhance audio storytelling, including a new course on Audio Reporting & Podcasting, which rolls out in the spring 2026 term.
“This course is going to equip students to develop even deeper skills and competencies in audio storytelling,” says Brunson. “We have the studios, the gear, the tools, the technologies and the expertise. All students have to do is show up, be willing to learn to “see’’ with their ears and work hard – just like Kayla Kissel. She’s a beast with a microphone — and we’re all so proud of her.”
Written by Majdulina Hamed. Edited by Sultana Ali.
Published to Nicholson News on July 1, 2025.
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