CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, lharry@spj.org
Kimberly Tsuyuki, SPJ Communications Coordinator, ktsuyuki@hq.spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 12 with 2022 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 12 comprises Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at the SPJ’s 2023 convention in Las Vegas, Sept. 28-30.

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 12 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards Lou Harry by email.

This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries.

Print/Online

Breaking News Reporting
Winner: UA Board of Trustees votes to hire Charles Robinson as UA chancellor — by Jack Travis, The Arkansas Traveler, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Community gathers at 'Hope for Jay' rally to pray for safe return of Ole Miss student — by Makayla Steede, HottyToddy.com, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Loyola community members protest overturn of Roe v Wade — by Domonique Tolliver, Jackie Galli, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans

General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Transgender health care investigation, reaction — by Staff, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: ‘Strength to stand up and speak up’ — by Jenelle Davis, The Daily Mississippian, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Reanimation of Greene tragedy, and timing, could have far-reaching consequences — by Piper Hutchinson, Houma Today/LSU Manship News Service, Louisiana State University

General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: SGA president vetoes flea market — by Ava Acharya, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Honors students upset over denied scholarships — by Kloe Witt, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Krewes react to shortened Mardi Gras routes — by Macie Batson, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans

In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: As murders surge in Louisiana, the number of cases being solved is dropping — by Lara Nicholson, Zane Piontek, Brea Rougeau, Jada Hemsley, Shreveport Time/LSU Manship School News Service, Louisiana State University
Finalist: An LSU Greek Life mystery: fake names and potential entrapment? — by Josh Archote, Reveille, Louisiana State University

In-Depth Reporting (Small)
Winner: Advocates rethink antebellum tourism — by Domonique Tolliver, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Professors feel left behind with frozen salaries, lower retirement contributions — by Gabriella Killett, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans

Feature Writing (Large)
Winner: A Klansman's sons seek to understand and redress his wrongs — by Josh Archote, LSU Manship News Service, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Edgehill lets the water smooth itself out — by Samuel Hyland, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: Remembering Rayna Moore: When given the chance, she stood on the front lines — by Hannah Moroney, Bulldog Online Newsroom, Mississippi State University

Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: How data analytics has transformed Vanderbilt athletics — by Jayce Pollard, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: Saleh stretches stereotypes, defies boundaries on and off the hardwood — by Danny Kotula, Lumination Network, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Students frustrated with new Hog Pen ticket policy — by Taylor Alderson, The Arkansas Traveler, University of Arkansas

Editorial/Opinion Writing
Winner: Dear Vanderbilt community — by Zoe Abel, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: Editorials — by Reveille Editorial Board, Reveille, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Editorials — by Maleigh Crespo, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans

General Column Writing
Winner: Columns — by Claire Sullivan, Reveille, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Columns — by Katherine Taylor, The Arkansas Traveler, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Columns — by Brandon Poulter, Reveille, Louisiana State University

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)
Winner: Arkansas Traveler — by Staff, The Arkansas Traveler, University of Arkansas
Finalist: The Daily Mississippian — by Staff, The Daily Mississippian, University of Mississippi
Finalist: The Reflector — by Staff, The Reflector, Mississippi State University

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small)
Winner: The Maroon — by Staff, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans

Best Student Magazine
Winner: Hill Magazine — by Staff, Hill Magazine, University of Arkansas
Finalist: COMM: A legacy — by Staff, COMM: A Legacy, John Brown University
Finalist: UM Square Magazine — by Staff, UM Square Magazine, University of Mississippi

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: The Maroon Online — by Staff, The Maroon Online, Loyola University New Orleans

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: The Vanderbilt Hustler — by Staff, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University

Art/Graphics/Multimedia

Feature Photography
Winner: Bryce Vine headlines Bulldog Bash — by Landon Scheel, The Reflector, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Fall 2022 Vanderbilt poll finds shifting opinions on hot-button topics in TN — by Miguel Beristain, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University

Illustration
Winner: GOP weapon — by Patrick Hamilton, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: New fears — by Blaise Keasler, Hill Magazine, University of Arkansas

Photo Illustration
Winner: It’s time to weed out weed-outs — by Alexa White, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: The payoff — by Sarah Wittenburg, Hill Magazine, University of Arkansas

Sports Photography
Winner: Grading Ole Miss’ loss to Texas Tech — by HG Biggs, The Daily Mississippian, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Will Kiffin go to Auburn? — by HG Biggs, The Daily Mississippian, University of Mississippi

Sports Videography
Winner: The 2022 Riverbell Classic — by Jermaine Kelly, The Southeastern Channel, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: SLU Soccer vs. Southern — by Tristyn Turner, The Southeastern Channel, Southeastern Louisiana University

Data Visualization
Winner: Fall 2022 Vanderbilt poll finds shifting opinions on hot-button topics in TN — by Aaditi Lele, Katherine Oung, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University

Audio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: MS severe weather chokehold — by Chris LoNigro, WMSV, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Campus safety — by Lucia Restrepo Bralley, KLSU, Louisiana State University

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Empty seats — by Elizabeth Keen, WMSV, Mississippi State University
Finalist: The Egg Bowl battle — by Larufus Collins, WMSV, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Rebel women's soccer — by Teddy King, Rebel Radio WUMS-FM, University of Mississippi

Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: WMSV News Update — by Staff, WMSV, Mississippi State University
Finalist: The Bison — by Staff, The Bison, Lipscomb University
Finalist: WUMS News — by Staff, Rebel Radio WUMS-FM, University of Mississippi

Podcast (Narrative)
Winner: Athletic connection — by Jackson Smith, WMSV, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Engulfed — by Rae Walberg, Domonique Tolliver, Brendan Heffernan, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans

Broadcast


Television General News Reporting
Winner: Legislating care in drisis — by Ally Kadlubar, LSU Tiger TV, Louisiana State University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: More than meets the eye — by Aria Pons, LSU Tiger TV, Louisiana State University
Finalist: The upside of Downs — by Brie Andras, LSU Tiger TV, Louisiana State University
Finalist: UATV Spotlight with Beau Russell — by Beau Russell, University of Arkansas Television, University of Arkansas

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Cancer alley — by Oscar Tickle, Birdie O'Connell, Chloe Gehman, LSU Tiger TV, Louisiana State University

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Sports betting — by Aria Pons, Chris Langley, Logan Puissegur, Eddie Lewis, LSU Tiger TV, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Tiger Girls for the win — by Brie Andras, LSU Tiger TV, Louisiana State University
Finalist: The 2022 Riverbell Classic — by Jermaine Kelly, The Southeastern Channel, Southeastern Louisiana University

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Northside News — by Staff, The Southeastern Channel, Southeastern Louisiana University
Finalist: Springdale Tornado — by Staff, UATV News, University of Arkansas

All Platform

Cultural Criticism
Winner: Reviews — by Ver Lumod, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Reflections from the uncanny valley — by Mayowa Kassim, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University

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