NASHVILLE – The
Country Music Association has selected Lipscomb University junior student Caitlin Selle as the recipient
of the 2012 CMA Close Up Award of Merit. The award was created in 2007 to honor
the student journalist or photographer who demonstrated the most creativity, dedication,
and promise in covering the CMA Music Festival on assignment from CMA.
Selle, 20,
was presented the award during the backstage press conference coverage of “The
46th Annual CMA Awards” Thursday at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
“CMA is
proud to foster up-and-coming music journalists and photojournalists by offering
them the tools and opportunities to hone their skills,” said Wendy Pearl, CMA Vice President
of Corporate Communications.
Candidates for the CMA Close Up Award of Merit were chosen
based on recommendations from department heads in journalism, photography, and
equivalent programs at several universities and colleges. The final team of five
reporters and three photojournalists covered all aspects of the 2012 CMA Music
Festival, under direction from Bob Doerschuk, Editor of CMA Close Up. Their work was
posted daily during the Festival and has been archived at CMAfest.com.
“Caitlin has solid
journalistic skills, with plenty of impressive clips in her catalog,” said Doerschuk.
“And as a photographer, she shows a rare gift for capturing everyday images,
whether of live music or quiet landscapes, with originality and poetic sensibility.
The fact that she works extremely well under pressure, with poise, confidence
and patience under demanding circumstances, makes her an ideal candidate for our award.”
Born and
raised in Tega Cay, S.C., 20 miles southwest of Charlotte, N.C., Selle was recruited
by Lipscomb University and offered a scholarship for Cross Country and Track,
which she turned down in order to major in Public Relations. But with her mother,
aunt and uncle all having studied art, she developed a strong interest in photography.
While planning to pursue a career in communications, she considers that photography
will be a valuable source of future supplemental income and creative stimulus.
Her work can be viewed at caitlinsellebtlphotography.wordpress.com.
“Winning
this award came as great surprise to me because I know I have much to learn as
a photographer,” Selle said. “I strongly feel that it helps validate me as
a photographer and it’s encouraging to know that the CMA team sees promise in
my work. I am truly honored to win the CMA Close Up Award of Merit.”
-30-
|
