While other young children were watching cartoons, Colton Shone was drawn to shows like “Dateline” and “20/20.”
Now a broadcast journalism junior at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Shone has won an Edward R. Murrow Award, one of the most prestigious honors in professional journalism.
“This is the kind of award that people like Aaron Brown and Brian Williams have on their resume,” said Kristin Gilger, associate dean for the Cronkite School.
Shone, 21, said this is something he never expected.
“It is just one of those things where I like what I do, award or not,” he said. “I just like telling stories.”
Shone graduated in the top 2 percent of his class from Central High School in Phoenix in 2007. He came to ASU with a full scholarship, entering into a dual-degree program.
A partnership between the journalism school and Barrett, the Honors College allows Shone to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism at the same time.
As a freshman, Shone had an internship with KTAR, and was hired on as an employee after just three months.
KTAR is where Shone created his winning story, a radio Halloween feature depicting a haunted maze in Glendale.
“It was a Thursday night and my news editor told me to do a story letting people know what they can do over the weekend that’s ‘Halloween-y,’” he said.
The story was meant for the morning drive, an important broadcast for all the people driving to work, Shone said.
Shone’s story was recognized in the “Use of Sound” category, for large market radio stations in Region 3. This region includes four other states besides Arizona.
“The station has coined that award as the Oscars of radio,” Shone said.
The Murrow award is an annual award given by the Radio Television Digital News Association.
Rick Rodriguez, a professor at the Cronkite School, said it is a terrific honor for a student to win such a prestigious award.
“He is competing against seasoned professionals, taking a heavy class load and working in a professional setting,” he said. “Colton is doing an incredible job.”
Shone’s story will continue on with the other regional winners to the national level.
“When it comes to these types of awards, I don’t want to get a big head,” Shone said. “I know there is always someone who is going to be better.”
Michael Casavantes, a professor at the journalism school, said Shone is one the most talented students he has had in 30 years.
“When I had him in my radio class, it was almost like having a second instructor,” he said. “His technical skills are off the scale.”
Shone is scheduled to graduate in May 2011.
In terms of getting his first television job, Shone said he’s willing to go anywhere and climb the market ladder.
“Many girls want to replace Katie Couric, but I want to replace Matt Lauer,” he said.
Reach the reporter at amoswalt@asu.edu
