Penn State University’s U Report, a cross-departmental podcast series focusing on the people of Penn State, received the award for Best Podcast for the Ragan’s 2011 Employee Communications Awards, which are considered to be the most prestigious within public relations and corporate communications.

Self-described as “unscripted, unedited, and unrehearsed,” the U Report received praise from Ragan Awards judges for its enthusiastic and natural co-hosts, who give an insider’s perspective into the faculty, staff, and students that make up the Penn State community.  From the student behind the Nittany Lion mascot to members of the Paranormal Research Society, the subjects at the heart of the U Report illustrate the tremendous diversity within the Penn State community. 

The Ragan Awards also recognized the U Report’s ability to create a multimedia, interactive experience through photos, videos, and social media sites that encourage interaction among users.  All of this engaging and interactive content is created and managed on a next-to-nothing budget by three Penn State staffers:

• John Dolan, Director of Digital Media and Pedagogy, College of the Liberal Arts
• Christina McNeill, Multimedia Specialist, Office of Student Aid, Undergraduate Education
• Shannon Ritter, Admissions and Recruitment, Social Media Coordinator, School of Theatre

Congratulations to the U Report and its co-hosts on this tremendous honor! 

Read the complete article from Ragan.com to hear more praise for the U Report, and be sure to check out the latest award-winning U Report podcast at theureport.posterous.com.