MACOMB, IL — An 2004 alumna was honored nationally recently. Jasmine (Garcia) Crighton, currently a broadcasting and journalism instructor at Western Illinois University, was selected as one of 10 Outstanding Journalism Educators for 2018 in Crain’s NewsPro magazine.
She earned a bachelor of science degree while at WLU and formerly resided in Weirton, W.Va.
Crighton is an Emmy award-winning technical director, broadcast instructor and news coordinator in the WIU Department of Broadcasting and Journalism. She has supervised NEWS3 since Fall 2012.
In 2018, Crighton received the Jeff Tellis Outstanding Advisor Award for College Television from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System for outstanding leadership, dedication and service to NEWS3. Crighton was also recognized as 2018 Advisor of the Year by the National Broadcasting Society for her work with WIU’s NBS-AERho chapter. She was cited as being “the driving motivator for WIU’s NEWS3 student newscasts that have won multiple awards.”
Those who were recognized for their outstanding work were nominated by NewsPro readers and members of the Radio Television Digital News Association and the Broadcast Education Association.
One of those who nominated Crighton for the award was WIU College of Fine Arts and Communication Associate Dean William “Buzz” Hoon, who called her the “perfect example of an engaged faculty member.”
“I like to tell prospective students and their parents about our award-winning Broadcasting and Journalism program,” said Hoon. “We are successful in part because of the teaching, service and extra effort Jasmine provides to our students on a daily basis.”
Mitchell Winkelman, a 2014 broadcasting alumnus, of Monee, IL, said Crighton was an “incredible professor” during his time at Western.
“She led our news team to many awards while making all of us better every day, not only as a news team, but as young adults as well,” he said. “She truly cares for each and every one of her students. Jasmine deserves to be recognized for her work.”
Crighton said she feels “very honored to be included in this list of venerable journalism educators.”
WLU’s College of Arts and Communication provides the basic general studies communications courses required in all degree programs.
In addition, the department offers a major in seven distinct areas: Advertising Communication, Broadcasting, Communication Studies, Journalism, and Public Relations and a minor in Advertising Communication and Public Relations. For more information, please contact Dr. Matthew Harder, Dean of the College of Arts and Communication at mharder@westliberty.edu or call the administrative secretary Cindy Jones at 304.336.8006.