West Virginia University has a reputation for exceptional research, academics, faculty and students. Now, the Division of University Relationswhich tells those stories through innovative videos, Web sites, social media, photos and publicationsis also drawing national acclaim for its strategic, cutting-edge approach to marketing and communications.


Most recently, the University Relations team was named a Webby Official Honoree for the Best Use of Special FX/Motion Graphics forNewsReal,a multimedia piece that chronicles stories about WVU s research, academic and athletic successes taken from the front pages and headlines of leading newspapers, magazines, blogs, Web sites and television networks.


Of the nearly 10,000 entries submitted to the 13th Annual Webby Awards, fewer than 15 percent were distinguished as an official honoree.


It is an honor and a remarkable achievement to be selected,said Chris Martin, vice president of University Relations.This honor signifies an outstanding caliber of work and puts University Relations in the company of The New York Times, Sony, CBS Interactive and Wired.comthe best of the best.


Fans have until April 30 to vote for their favorites at the Webby Peoples Voice site http://pv.webbyawards.com/ . Winners will be announced May 5, with trophies handed out June 8 in New York City.


NewsReal,which can be viewed online at http://newsreal.wvu.edu/ , also received a Silver Tellya premier award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions and work created for the Webin the Corporate Image and Use of Graphics categories.


The Telly Awards receives over 13,000 entries annually from the finest ad agencies, production companies, TV stations, cable companies, interactive agencies and corporations in the world. The Silver Telly is the highest award given.


Dana Coester, assistant vice president for branding and creative direction, said these awards, along with recent Cuppie, CASE and MarCom honors, are an affirmation not just of the quality of WVU s product, but of some of the new processes put into place.


Weve been hard at work building integrated teams, pulling talent from previously separate creative units and forging collaborative teams,Coester noted.Weve also taken creative risks and have set some new standards with visual narrative for the University. In particular, �€~NewsRealis an example of that risk paying off. It is a �€~tour de forceof both substance and style.


�€~NewsReal,which premiered at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., last summer, gave us the perfect cutting-edge news context to explore a wholly new narrative in motion graphicsrich in layers, typography, motionand emotion,she said.There wasnt a dry eye in the house when we took our audience by surprise with this piece.


Creativity blended with the technical skills of many madeNewsRealstand out, she added.


Brad Stalnaker, a graphic designer with Television Productions, is a member of that award-winning team.


As the animator on the project, I tried to bring the stories to life through the combined use of graphics, photography, video and audio,he said.It truly was a team effort and a lot of fun working with such a creative group of people.


University Relations, which directs marketing strategy, recruitment marketing, public relations, communications and media relations across the University, is made up of seven units: Creative Services, News and Information Services, Television Productions, Trademark Licensing, Visitors Resource Center, Writing and Editing, and Web Services.


The division has recently received numerous accolades for its creative excellence in various marketing platforms.


Many of the videos are available online for viewing at http://www.youtube.com/westvirginiau .