SPJ News
Latest SPJ News | RSS
Region 12 Mark of Excellence Awards 2023 winners announced
CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, lharry@spj.org
Nadia Gordon, SPJ Communications Coordinator, ngordon@hq.spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 12 with 2023 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.
SPJs 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.
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 (Large)
Winner: Breaking: Seven dead after Covenant School shooting in Green Hills by Aaditi Lele, Katherine Oung, Rachael Perrotta, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Breaking News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Pro-Palestine protest met with opposition by Eloise Pickering, Maria DiFelice, The Maroon Online, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Saturday's McNeese vs. Northwestern State homecoming game canceled by Kelsea Ernst, The Poke Press, McNeese State University
Finalist: Former governor announces presidential run by Delaney Reaves, Gillian Bunting, NWACC Eagle View blogsite, Northwest Arkansas Community College
General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Voter turnout in Georgia and Louisiana by Staff, LA Illuminator, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Mississippi State students from Amory reflect on tornado's devastation by Pam Dankins, Daily Journal, Mississippi State University
General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Gil named McNeese's first Rhodes Scholar finalist by Kelsea Ernst, The Poke Press, McNeese State University
Finalist: Loyolas only Black English professor says his dismissal feels targeted by Macie Batson, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Loyola program works to overturn wrongful convictions by Ava Acharya, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: Tennessee gun laws: What you need to know by Katherine Oung, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: Community crushed by LGBTQ+ censorship by Erica Wilson, Hill magazine, University of Arkansas
Finalist: The fatal shooting of Milton X Scott by Myracle Lewis, Amelia Gabor, Birdie O'Connell, Verite News, Louisiana State University
Feature Writing (Large)
Winner: Elevate the people on the ground: Dining employee reflects on Vanderbilt experience by Brina Ratangee, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: The making of 'Sister Cindy' by Cross Harris, Reveille/LSUReveille.com, Louisiana State University
Finalist: No Adderall, no answers by Katherine Taylor, Hill magazine, University of Arkansas
Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: Freshmen professional amputee soccer players kick expectations to the curb by Reagan Netherland, Arkansas Traveler, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Why Mwani Wilkinson stayed the course through program overhaul and injury: 'I'm a winner' by Peter Rauterkus, Reveille | LSUReveille.com, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Full circle: How perspective and humility helped Ken Seals regain the starting quarterback position by Andrew Wilf, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Sports Writing (Small)
Winner: Students revive Loyola fϊtbol club after 10+ years by Matthew Richards, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Womens basketball starts season with new faces by Matthew Richards, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Former Loyola athlete opens up about mental health struggles by Eve McFarland, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Editorial/Opinion Writing
Winner: Opinion columns by Isabella LaRue, Arkansas Traveler, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Editorials by Mark Michel, Patrick Hamilton, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Grappling with school shootings and mental heath by Noah Weitzel, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
General Column Writing
Winner: Columns by Isabella LaRue, Arkansas Traveler, University of Arkansas
Sports Column Writing
Winner: Commodore Brunch by Andrew Wilf, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: Columns by Jason Willis, Reveille/ LSUReveille.com, Louisiana State University
Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)
Winner: The Reflector by Staff, The Reflector, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Arkansas Traveler by Staff, Arkansas Traveler, University of Arkansas
Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small)
Winner: The Maroon by Staff, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Best Ongoing Student Magazine
Winner: Hill Magazine by Staff, Hill magazine, University of Arkansas
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: The Maroon Online by Staff, The Maroon Online, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Reflector online by Staff, The Reflector, Mississippi State University
Finalist: Arkansas Traveler by Staff, Arkansas Traveler, University of Arkansas
Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: The Vanderbilt Hustler by Staff, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Art/Graphics/Multimedia
General News Photography
Winner: Like scenes from a battlefield by Eli Stokes, Hill magazine, University of Arkansas
Feature Photography
Winner: Community aims to take back the night by Sophia Renzi, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Photo Essay/Slideshow
Winner: Nashville community rallies downtown, at Fisk University after Covenant School shooting by Barrie Barto, Nikita Rohila, Amelia Simpson, Katherine Oung, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: 10 things Mississippi State students can't live without by Laura Parsley, Bulldog Online Newsroom, Mississippi State University
Illustration
Winner: Orientation Edition Front Page by Bryce Yzaguirre, The Reflector, Mississippi State University
Photo Illustration
Winner: No Adderall, no answers by Erika Fredericks, Hill magazine, University of Arkansas
Sports Photography
Winner: Students revive Loyola fϊtbol club after 10+ years by Sophia Renzi, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Vanderbilt narrowly passes by UNC Greensboro 74-70 by Josh Rehders, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: Hogs fall after brutal brawl against BYU by Alfonso Jaubert, Arkansas Traveler, University of Arkansas
Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Class of 2023: The senior survey by Staff, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Finalist: NWACC Eagle View first e-pub by Samantha McClain, staff, NWACC Eagle View blogsite, Northwest Arkansas Community College
Finalist: Lipscomb kicks off the holiday season with 19th annual Lighting of the Green by Anastasiia Boldyreva, Brandon Bigsby, Gracey Parnell, Herd Media, Lipscomb University
Audio
Radio News Reporting
Winner: AI in education by Amelia Bridges, KLSU, Louisiana State University
Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Lady Tigers superfan Stan Douglas by Patricia Caputo, KLSU, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Jayden Daniels at Heisman ceremony by Andre Champagne, KLSU, Louisiana State University
Finalist: LSU Lady Tigers going to the Sweet 16 by Patricia Caputo, KLSU, Louisiana State University
Podcast (Narrative)
Winner: Hearts and Clubs by Patrick Kelly, UATV News, University of Arkansas
Broadcast
Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Rolling Fork tornado, Biden visit by A.C. Barker, NewsWatch Ole Miss, University of Mississippi
Television General News Reporting
Winner: Road safety by Adam Guttuso, LSU Tiger TV, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Rolling Fork tornado aftermath - Housing crisis by Celeste Lay, NewsWatch Ole Miss, University of Mississippi
Finalist: Efforts continue to appease doubles-to-dorms by James Hufnagel, The Maroon Online, Loyola University New Orleans
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Alumni becoming employees by Brandon Bigsby, Herd Media, Lipscomb University
Finalist: Women's self defense by Camryn Johnson, UATV News, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Bass fishing by Kye Kocher, UATV News, University of Arkansas
Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Food insecurity by Metia Carroll, Haylee Kennedy, Erin Rogers, Ella Wales, LSU Tiger TV, Louisiana State University
Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Love purple, win gold by Adam Guttuso, LSU Tiger TV, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Cheer World Championship by Lakyra Banks, UATV News, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Football diversity by Patrick Hall, UATV News, University of Arkansas
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: UATV by Staff, UATV News, University of Arkansas
Finalist: Tiger TV Newsbeat by Staff, LSU Tiger TV, Louisiana State University
Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: Sports Extra by Staff, Herd Media, Lipscomb University
All Platform
Arts/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism
Winner: Behind the curtains: Theatre production sparks outrage and community disapproval by Kloe Witt, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Campus Reporting
Winner: Faculty members upset with new IT policies and other stories by John Buzbee, Reveille | LSUReveille.com, Louisiana State University
Finalist: Students struggle to enroll in core and required classes by Kloe Witt, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Vanderbilt drops in US News rankings by Rachael Perrotta, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
Cultural Criticism
Winner: Christmas movie reviews by Morgan Nunley, NWACC Eagle View blogsite, Northwest Arkansas Community College
Finalist: Loyola TAD takes the stage with satirical musical 'Urinetown' by Mia Oliva, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Finalist: Film reviews by Mia Oliva, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
Food/Restaurant Journalism
Winner: Dearth of breakfast options at LSU by Staff, Reveille | LSUReveille.com, Louisiana State University
Regional Political Reporting
Winner: Orleans Parish suffers low voter turnout by Jacob L'Hommedieu, The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
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.
-END-