Contacts:
Matthew Kent, SPJ Program Coordinator, 317-920-4788, mkent@spj.org
Isaac Taylor, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, itaylor@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 3 with 2018 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 3 comprises Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honorees received award certificates this weekend during the Region 3 Conference. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other regional MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at the Excellence in Journalism conference in San Antonio.

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 3 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.

Newspapers
Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: SGA president Jared Hunter arrested for DUI by Jackson Fuentes, The University of Alabama
Finalist: Shooting near campus kills 1, injures 4 – by Chip Brownlee and Lily Jackson, Auburn University

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Finalist: Murder case will go to grand jury - by Zach Henson, Troy University

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Professor receives backlash after using N-word in class by Richard Chess and Christina Yan, Emory University
Finalist: Potential changes to sexual misconduct reporting, investigations facing college campuses - by Cameren Boatner, Florida Atlantic University
Finalist: Student election investigations by Christina Yan and Richard Chess, Emory University

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Hurricane Michael - by Zach Henson and Jessica Gunn, Troy University

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: In the eye of an epidemic: An Auburn graduate’s struggle through opioid addiction - by Eduardo Medina, Auburn University
Finalist: An investigation into FAU’s SPOTs the teaching evaluations students take at the end of each semester – by Joe Pye, Florida Atlantic University
Finalist: Sex on campus – by Staff, The University of Alabama

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 students
Winner: Mold at the Pointe – by Zach Henson, Troy University

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: A Prayer in the night: An immigrant seeks refuge and a new life in Auburn - by Eduardo Medina, Auburn University
Finalist: With 20 confirmed cases of ocular melanoma tied to Auburn, survivors push to fund research by Chip Brownlee, Auburn University

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Cardinal Creeper unveiled by Taylor Walding, Troy University

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Fight Like Hell: Mackenzie Brannan competes for her brother by Ben Stansell, The University of Alabama
Finalist: FAU’s all-time leading tackler is as devoted to his Muslim faith as he is to the game – by Wajih AlBaroudi, Florida Atlantic University


Editorial Writing
Winner: The Emory Wheel Editorial Board, Emory University
Finalist: The Auburn Plainsman Editorial Board, Auburn University
Finalist: The Crimson White Editorial Board, The University of Alabama

Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper
Winner: The Red & Black by Staff, University of Georgia
Finalist: The Auburn Plainsman by Staff, Auburn University
Finalist: The Crimson White by Staff, The University of Alabama

Magazines

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Casting shadows by Molly Minta, University of Florida
Finalist: It’s on men too by Teddy Wilson and Jorge Chabo, University of Miami
Finalist: Dawn of the digital renaissance – by Marian Hill, Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta


Best Student Magazine
Winner: Distraction Magazine: Winter 2018 by Staff, University of Miami
Finalist: Ampersand Magazine by Staff, University of Georgia
Finalist: Alice Magazine – by Staff, The University of Alabama

Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: After the National Championship game – by Casey Sykes, University of Georgia
Finalist: Election results – by Marcelo Rondon, University of Florida

Breaking News Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Murder case will go to grand jury – by Zach Henson, Troy University

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Concern feeds her passion – by Kaitlin Hall, University of Florida
Finalist: A Fight for power – by Kaitlin Hall, University of Florida

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: SCAD FASHWKND’s experimental Atlanta showcase takes you on an emotional behind-the-scenes journey – by Anya Haber and Rebecca Williams, Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta
Finalist: Rapper B.o.B. performs at Derby Days – by Chris Wallace, Troy University

Photo Illustration (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Plan A – by Sophie Robbins and Kristian Del Rosario, University of Miami


Sports Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Auburn Basketball vs. Ole Miss – by Madison Ogletree, Auburn University
Finalist Smoked ‘em – by Hannah Saad, The University of Alabama
Finalist: Nothin’ but a winner – by Sam McDonald, The University of Alabama

Editorial Cartooning
Finalist: Abigail Nicholson, Troy University

Radio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: In depth coverage: Hurricane Michael by Staff, University of Florida
Finalist: Cracks in the provider pipeline: A look into south Florida’s mental health provider shortage – by Roshan Nebhrajani, Florida International University
Finalist: Deputy sheriffs killed, by Staff, University of Florida

Radio Feature
Winner: A problem with pythons – by Alexa Lorenzo, University of Florida
Finalist: Syrian families in south Florida bring their food and poems to the dinner table – by Leslie Ovalle, Florida International University



Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Overcoming adversity through archery – by Meredith Sheldon, University of Florida


Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: November 7, 2018 newscast – by Henry Coburnand and Raymon Troncoso, University of Florida


Television

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Hurricane Michael by WUFT News, University of Florida
Finalist: Briargate apartment fire – by Kylie Jones, University of South Carolina
Finalist: Nuns on a bus – by Grace McKenna, University of South Carolina

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Medical marijuana businesses booming in Florida – by Clarisa Melendez, University of Florida
Finalist: Election flaws – by Kyle O’Connor, University of South Carolina
Finalist: Fighting for change – by Jihad Shatara and Isaiah Kim-Martinez, University of Miami

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: The archer – by Meredith Sheldon, University of Florida
Finalist: UFO welcome center – by Kyle O’Connor, University of South Carolina
Finalist: Memorializing a tragedy: A look into America’s history of slavery and social justice today – by Haley Edmondson and Rachel Siler, Berry College

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Columbia structural safety – by Elena Barilla, University of South Carolina
Finalist: Silenced: 1.5 million Florida felons without a vote – by Staff, University of Florida
Finalist: Phantom water bills – by Sabrina Shutters, University of South Carolina

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: A dangerous edge – by David Perez, Luis Gonzalez and Gianna Sanchez, The University of Miami
Finalist: Kenzi Maguire story – by Chandler Mack, University of South Carolina
Finalist: “I try and catch the ball when it comes to me” – by Noah Syverson, Berry College

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: TROY TrojanVision News – by Staff, Troy University
Finalist: First at Five, by WUFT News, University of Florida
Finalist: November 8, 2018 newscast – by Carolina News, University of South Carolina

Online

Online News Reporting
Winner: A Florida fiasco – by Cat Glorida, University of Florida
Finalist: Pulled over in Florida? Don’t expect the same traffic stop every time – by Amy Nelson, University of Florida
Finalist: Greater Florence to get its first mosque – by Haley Edmondson, Berry College

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Creatures of Costa Rica – by Staff of VIDA Magazine, University of Alabama
Finalist: The displaced campesinos of Nicolas Ruiz – by Jared Olson, Flagler College

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Peak Florida – by Staff of WUFT.org, University of Florida
Finalist: The housing and eviction crisis in Columbia – by Larissa Johnson, University of South Carolina
Finalist: The enduring allure of Mexico’s Zapatistas – by Jared Olson, Flagler College

Online Opinion & Commentary
Finalist: by Ashia Manning, Angela Saxon and Aunarey Herbert, Savannah State University

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: redandblack.com – by Staff, University of Georgia
Finalist: distractionmagazine.com – by Staff, University of Miami

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: VIDA Magazine – by Mary Katherine Carpenter, Elizabeth Elkin, Lane Stafford and Kaylin Bowen, University of Alabama
Finalist: Flagler College Gargoyle – by Staff, Flagler College
Finalist: SCAD Connector – by Staff, Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: After Michael’s fury, an angel saves the forgotten in a Florida tent city – by Mackenzie Behm, University of Florida

Podcast
Winner: Friends of the promised land – by Alexander Richey and Alayna Clay, University of Alabama



Videography

Broadcast News Videography
Finalist: Python elimination program – by Alexa Lorenzo, University of Florida

Online/Digital Feature Videography
Winner: Florida Voices | Brad Kendell, sailing forward – by Mackenzie Behm, University of Florida
Finalist: Florida Voices | Carlton “Blixx” Barber, the tiny terror – by Mackenzie Behm and Emily Netburn, University of Florida

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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