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Region 5 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced
Contacts:
Matthew Kent, SPJ Program Coordinator, 317-920-4788, mkent@spj.org
Zoë Berg, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, zberg@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 5 with 2019 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.
SPJ’s Region 5 comprises Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other regional MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.
Regional winners would normally be recognized at regional conferences, however, all SPJ Regional Conferences have been either canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Regional winners have been notified by email and will receive their award certificates via mail.
National winners will be notified in the late spring.
MOE Awards entries are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. Judges were directed to choose entries they felt were among the best in student journalism. If no entry rose to the level of excellence, no award was given. Any category not listed has no winner.
School divisions are based on student enrollment, including both graduate and undergraduate: Large schools have at least 10,000 students and small schools have 9,999 or fewer students.
The list below details all Region 5 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact Matthew Kent via email or phone at 317-920-4788.
This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries. New MOE categories this year include Immersion Journalism, Data Visualization and Collaborative Journalism.
Newspapers
Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Barge resigns as Monroe County commissioner amid harassment accusations – by Caroline Anders, Indiana University
Finalist: Hunger strike to campus sit-in – by Natalie Parks, Sarah Ladd, Rachel Crick and Rick Childress, University of Kentucky
Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Metro Diner on Butler campus closed – by Dana Lee, Butler University
Finalist: 56 staff laid off; faculty offered voluntary retirement – by Brooks Hepp, Maddy McTigue, Thomas Curdt and Liz Cottingham, DePauw University
General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: NKU to review women’s basketball after players accuse coach of emotional abuse – by Sam Rosenstiel and Sierra Newton, Northern Kentucky University
Finalist: Accidentally signed contract could cost some UK students thousands – by Sydney Moymer, University of Kentucky
General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 students
Winner: Walking the path of migrants: Beyond Borders team volunteers forensic work to help identify migrant – by Jayden Kennett and Shylah Gibson, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: Thousands of community members rally to protest against current education legislation – by Justus O’Neil, University of Indianapolis
In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: ‘I don’t need therapy.’ Plagued by his past, student veteran continually rejected help – by Rick Childress, University of Kentucky
Finalist: ‘She should’ve known better’ – by Caroline Anders, Indiana University
Finalist: In Texas, cities’ murder rates are declining, but Dallas’ is rising – why? – by Troy Closson, Northwestern University
Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: He once drove a $60,000 Jaguar and almost drank himself to death. Then he found salvation in steel. – by Sarah Bahr, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Finalist: Babies and backpacks: How some students at UK manage student life and parenthood – by Sarah Ladd, University of Kentucky
Finalist: Two among thousands: Meeting Sean Culley and Taylor Nolan – by Jacob Eads, University of Kentucky
Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Juuls at school: A look at vaping on campus – by Thomas Curdt, Olivia Lamb and Georgia Port, DePauw University
General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Marissa Martinez, Northwestern University
Finalist: Catherine Buchaniec, Northwestern University
General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Andres Salerno, Butler University
Sports Column Writing
Winner: Josh Mullenix, Butler University
Finalist: Matt Stahl, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Peter Warren, Northwestern University
Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Food poisoning, the end of a dynasty and the 1959 Northwestern-Oklahoma football game – by Peter Warren, Northwestern University
Finalist: Reconsidering history – by Sarah Verschoor, Indiana University
Finalist: Lacrosse: As NCAA Tournament begins, Wildcats inspired by memory of beloved Texas high school coach – by Ella Brockway, Northwestern University
Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: UIndy athletics enters historic era of success – by Noah Crenshaw, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: Immigration policies affect UIndy athletics – by Jayden Kennett, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: The legacy of Butler women’s basketball’s senior class – by Drew Favakeh, Butler University
Editorial Writing
Winner: Staff of The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University
Finalist: Staff of the Loyola Phoenix, Loyola University Chicago
Finalist: Zachary Bright, Northwestern University
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Daily Northwestern – by Staff of The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University
Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Kentucky Kernel – by Staff of The Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
Finalist: Indiana Daily Student – by Staff of Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Finalist: The Butler Collegian – by Staff of the Butler Collegian, Butler University
Magazines
Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Ten Point Coalition’s turf war with the city’s east side – by Sarah Bahr, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Finalist: Cooking from seed to table – by Zoe Malin, Northwestern University
Finalist: The Z is silent – by Samantha Nower, Ball State University
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Al Bayan Magazine – by Staff of Al Bayan, Northwestern University
Finalist: North by Northwestern Winter 2019 issue – by Staff of North by Northwestern Magazine, Northwestern University
Finalist: Ball Bearings – by Staff of Ball Bearings, Ball State University
Art/Graphics
Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: MPD challenges community to snowball fight – by Scott Fleener, Ball State University
Finalist: Chicago teacher’s strike 2019 – by Colin Boyle, Northwestern University
Data Visualization
Winner: How IU does its laundry – by Jacob deCastro and Vivek Rao, Indiana University
Finalist: What’s Tom Allen worth? – by Anna Aguiar, Colin Kulpa and Jacob deCastro, Indiana University
Finalist: Data: Chciago, Cook County on front lines of opioid crisis – by The Red Line Project, University of Illinois at Chicago
Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Stuck in Iran – by Allie Goulding, Northwestern University
Finalist: Milwaukee’s tent city residents – by Colin Boyle, Northwestern University
Finalist: The Z is silent – by Shannon McCloskey, Ball State University
Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Guinea pig, the “cuy” – by Sophie Pokorny, Columbia College Chicago
Finalist: Dawgs with style: Tate Fritchley – by Xan Korman, Butler University
General News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Vigil at beneficence – by Jacob Musselman, Ball State University
Finalist: Vigil for Tara O’Sullivan – by Arden Barnes, University of Kentucky
General News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Youth climate strike advocates for change, legislation – by Tony Reeves, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: Thousands of community members rally to protest against current education legislation – by Taylor Strnad, University of Indianapolis
Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: What’s in a vape? – by Logan Wood, Ball State University
Finalist: Vaping photo illustration – by Eric Pritchett, Ball State University
Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Kentucky football fights through the rain – by Michael Clubb, University of Kentucky
Finalist: Washington Nationals World Series parade – by Jacob Musselman, Ball State University
Sports Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Khalif battle – by Chandler Hart, Butler University
Finalist: Softball works to push past rough patch – by Marissa Burton, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: Transfer quarterback sets records – by Jacob Walton, University of Indianapolis
Immersion Journalism
Immersion Journalism
Winner: Inside the UIC TA and teachers strike – by Abi Carlson and Alex Fashandi, University of Illinois at Chicago
Radio
Radio Feature
Winner: Mom maintains hope for shaken baby – by Madeline Wilson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Radio News Reporting
Winner: Diversity protest – by Maritza Navar-Lopez, Illinois State University
Finalist: East Frankfort park shooting – by Mouhammad Mbengue, Kentucky State University
Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Four year Redbird – by Andy Olson, Illinois State University
Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: State of transformation – by Ashley Antonini and WZND News Team, Illinois State University
Finalist: Birds-I-View: Diversity – by Sarah Feltes and Maritza Navar-Lopez, Illinois State University
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: Maritza Navar-Lopez newscast – by Maritza Navar-Lopez, Illinois State University
Finalist: Grace Barbic newscast – by Grace Barbic, Illinois State University
Television
Television General News Reporting
Winner: Public safety power shutoffs spark confusion in Lake Isabella – by Joey Maya Safchik, Northwestern University
Finalist: Mays greenhouse flooding – by Omeed Malek, Indiana University
Finalist: Vaping – by Marissa Nelson, DePaul University
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Tossing out the plastic problem – by Megan Lebowitz, Northwestern University
Finalist: Butchcraft art exhibit – by Ariana Kraft, DePaul University
Finalist: DePaul opera – by Paul Steeno, DePaul University
Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: World’s biggest sleepout – by Michael Abraham, DePaul University
Finalist: 1919 Chicago race riots – by Michael Abraham, DePaul University
Finalist: Lincoln yards – by Kayla Molander, DePaul University
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Northwestern News Network Chicago Show 2019 – by Staff of Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University
Finalist: Northwestern Nes Network “SportsNight” fall show – by Staff of Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University
Finalist: Good Day DePaul Feb. 26, 2019 – by Emily McTavish and Rosbelis Quinonez, DePaul University
Online
Online News Reporting
Winner: Chicago’s pothole plague – by Sharon Delavega and Brenden Miranda, University of Illinois at Chicago
Finalist: The struggles of Brazilian students studying abroad – by Carly Menker and Augusta Saraiva, Northwestern University
Finalist: DePaul accepted donations from William Singer, tied to the nationwide college admission scandal – by 14 East Staff, DePaul University
Online Feature Reporting
Winner: The life and death of Bobby Russ – by Davis Rich, Northwestern University
Finalist: King of hearts – by Chris Dimeo, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Against the grid: Conflicting visions of the Chicago Pedway – by Michael Gyang and Brody Ford, University of Illinois at Chicago
Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Sexual harassment on the CTA appears more common than reports suggest – by Marissa Nelson, DePaul University
Finalist: Learning the limits – by Ian Brundige, Maddy McTigue, Brooks Hepp and Kantaro Komiya, DePauw University
Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Women in music – by Nikki Roberts, DePaul University
Finalist: Film criticism – by Jenni Holtz, DePaul University
Finalist: BlackBoard Magazine’s opinion writers – by Cayla Clements, Imani Sumbi and Adam Mahoney, Northwestern University
Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Athletes with disabilities in it to win it – by Neel Madhavan, Northwestern University
Finalist: The McKeown family’s journey – by Lia Assimakopoulos, Northwestern University
Finalist: Wendell Brown is finally home after 3 years in Chinese prison – by Zach Piatt, Ball State University
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: The Talisman – by Staff of The Talisman, Western Kentucky University
Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: 14 East Magazine – by Staff of 14 East Magazine, DePaul University
Finalist: Read – by WKU School of Media, Western Kentucky University
Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Concentrated poverty and criminality: Homicide rates remain high in Chicago – by Nicole Sroka and Miriam Torres, University of Illinois at Chicago
Finalist: Climate strike in Chicago – by Natalie Wade, Richie Requena and Alec Farley, DePaul University
Finalist: Living in Logan: How students can be better members of gentrifying communities – by Patsy Newitt, DePaul University
Podcast
Podcast
Winner: Sea level rise threatens the Florida Keys – Episode 1 – by Avery Van Etten, Northwestern University
Finalist: David and Goliath – by 14 East and Radio DePaul staff, DePaul University
Finalist: Top of the Week Special edition: Kentucky governor race 2019 – by Rebekah Alvey and Laurel Deppen, Western Kentucky University
Videography
Online/Digital News Videography
Winner: MPD snowball fight – by Scott Fleener, Ball State University
Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: Amado – by Rahul Parikh, Claudia Harmata, Zoe Juanitas and Karli Goldenberg, Northwestern University
Finalist: Toppling the trigger: Following 8th Ward shootings, victims’ loved ones search for hope – by Christopher Vazquez, Northwestern University
Finalist: Braids – by Natalie Wade, DePaul University
Online/Digital Sports Videography
Winner: Tackling the draft – Episode one: Roller coaster – by Staff of The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University
SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member, give to the Legal Defense Fund, or give to the SPJ Foundation.
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