CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, 317-920-4786, lharry@spj.org
Ashlynn Neumeyer, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-361-4133, aneumeyer@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 5 with 2020 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.

National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at SPJ’s national conference.

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 Manager of Publications and Awards Lou Harry by email or 317-920-4786.

This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries. New MOE categories were added this year for COVID-19 and video game reporting.

Newspaper

Breaking News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Jacob Blake’s father says son’s paralyzed from waist down after police shooting in Kenosha - by Clare Proctor, Northwestern University
Finalist: Arrested protestors released after protests near Loyola's Lake Shore campus - by Kayleigh Padar, Madison Savedra, Katie Anthony, Mary Chappell, Loyola University Chicago

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Butler University moves first two weeks of fall 2020 semester online - by Meghan Stratton, Butler University

General News Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Supreme Court decision disrupts students’ voting plan - by Megan Munce, Daisy Conant, Northwestern University
Finalist: Civic leaders, organizers discuss impact of EPD limiting practice of arresting minors - by Daisy Conant, Northwestern University
Finalist: Need to Know: The facts about WKU's response to COVID-19 - by Michael J. Collins, Laurel Deppen, Western Kentucky University

General News Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: ‘I’m doing my part:’ The grocery store workers on the front lines of the pandemic - by Delaney Nelson, Northwestern University
Finalist: Election impact on Butler's campus - by Stasia Raebel, Ja'Sia Ward, Sophie Ciokaljo, Butler University
Finalist: Addressing the ‘elephant in the room’: New program provides support to teen parents - by Delaney Nelson, Northwestern University

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: In Focus: Loopholes in federal lead law left 5th Ward in the dark about what is in its water - by Kalen Luciano, Heena Srivastava, Northwestern University
Finalist: Loyola Professor still teaching after evidence of ‘unprofessional and sexual harassing nehavior.' - by Madison Savedra, Loyola University Chicago
Finalist: In Focus: Independent businesses in Evanston deal with declining support - by Sophia Scanlan, Northwestern University

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: The evolution of Butler's COVID-19 testing orocedures - by Ellie Allen, Joe Krisko, Allison Miccolis, Butler University

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Live and learn - by Caroline Anders, Indiana University
Finalist: Race, class and SAT scores: The connection between testing and Northwestern's student body - by Jacquelyne Germain, Northwestern University

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Voices on racism - by Kyra Steck, Northwestern University
Finalist: I now pronounce you, dead - by Madison Miller, North Central College
Finalist: Mother of man killed by CPD now spends holidays as community Santa - by Adam Mahoney, Northwestern University

Sports Writing
Winner: Football: How Northwestern football handled the 1918 influenza epidemic - by Peter Warren, Northwestern University
Finalist: The General comes home - by Matt Cohen, Indiana University
Finalist: ‘If I put my mind to anything, I can achieve it’: How Abi Scheid became the best three-point shooter in the country - by Drew Schott, Northwestern University

General Column Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Trump's final insult to immigrants - by Yilun Cheng, Medill School of Journalism
Finalist: From the Editor's Desk - by Mary Chappell, Loyola University Chicago

General Column Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Nathan Herbst's opinion columns - by Nathan Herbst, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: Investigating Butler's navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic - by Bridget Early, Andrew Favakeh, Butler University

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Peter Warren's columns - by Peter Warren, Northwestern University
Finalist: Northwestern sports time machine - by Staff, Northwestern University

Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Loyola Phoenix- by Staff, Loyola University Chicago
Finalist: The Daily Northwestern - by Staff, The Daily Northwestern

Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small) 1-9,999+ Students
Winner: The Butler Collegian - by Staff, Butler University

Magazine

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Everything starts with mama - by Morgan Hornsby, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Risk of return - by Jenna Greenzaid, Northwestern University

Best Student Magazine
Winner: North by Northwestern, fall 2020 issue - by Staff, Northwestern University
Finalist: Zeitgeist: The spirit of the age - by Staff, Western Kentucky University

Arts/Graphics

Breaking News Photography
Winner: Person handcuffed during Chicago's George Floyd Protests - by Zack Miller, Loyola University Chicago
Finalist: No justice no peace - by Zane Meyer-Thornton, Western Kentucky University

General News Photography
Winner: Health science safety photo - by Tony Reeves, University of Indianapolis

Feature Photography
Winner: Farming the land - by Keilen Frazier, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Field trip - by Allie Hendricks, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Dorm cleaning - by Allie Hendricks, Western Kentucky University

Sports Photography
Winner: Helping hand - by Matt Gadd, Western Kentucky University

Data Visualization
Winner: The truth about climate change - by Emily Wright, Ball State Magazine
Finalist: Campaign finance: How are Biden and Trump fundraising and spending 10 days before the election? - by Kate Perschke, University of Illinois at Chicago
Finalist: Finding a rusty patched bumblebee, what to look for - by Kami Geron, Ball State Magazine

Radio

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Explained: President Trump's election lawsuits - by Angelina Campanile, Northwestern University

Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: Trump's Election lawsuits, Northwestern's budget surplus, and NU students count votes - by Angelina Campanile, Helen Bradshaw, Alex Harrison, Olivia Lloyd, Northwestern University

Television

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Breonna Taylor protest - by Holden Abshier, Indiana University

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Survivors condemn comparisons between quarantine and the Holocaust - by Joey Maya Safchik, Northwestern University
Finalist: Daily life in a pandemic - by Alexa Mikhail, Northwestern University
Finalist: Hazardous waste - by Erica Carbajal, DePaul University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Old School Activism: A history of protest at Northwestern - by Joey Maya Safchik, Northwestern University
Finalist: DePaul Opera - by Erica Carbajal, DePaul University
Finalist: The show goes on for artists with autism - by Joey Maya Safchik, Northwestern University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: CTA Crime - by Crystal Hellwig, DePaul University
Finalist: LGBTQ+ youth homelessness hits close to Northwestern's campus - by Jenny Huh, Northwestern University
Finalist: Businesses hurt by COVID - by Crystal Hellwig, DePaul University

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Pete the Public Address Wildcat - by Jack Lido, Northwestern University
Finalist: Pantelis Xidias - by Michael Abraham, DePaul University
Finalist: The art of the draw - by Jack Lido, Northwestern University

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Northwestern news network Covid-19 special report - by Staff, Northwestern University
Finalist: LUTN Election Night 2020 - by Tracy Hemmingway, Abraham Alonso, Reid Pohland, John Kilpatrick, Lewis University

Online

Online News Reporting
Winner: Chicago homicide rates surging during pandemic - by Nicole Sroka, University of Illinois at Chicago
Finalist: Complaints against Chicago Police rise as protesters seek accountability - by Laaiba Mahmood, Hajra Qaiser, University of Illinois at Chicago
Finalist: DePaul community speaks out against FOP partnership - by Justin Myers, DePaul University

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Softening stigma - by Emily Isaacman, Karli VanCleave, Mel Fronczek, Indiana University
Finalist: A gridiron legacy uncovered: How Northwestern football players risked it all for racial equality - by Lia Assimakopoulos, Northwestern University
Finalist: Happy at home - by Zora Gordon, Addison LeBoutillier, Carlie Jefferies, Western Kentucky University

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Under review: How Lisa Calvente's termination exposed a flawed tenure process - by Meredith Melland, Marin Scott, DePaul University
Finalist: Outbreak: COVID-19 in Chicago - by Staff, University of Illinois at Chicago
Finalist: A censored community: Students' speech, expression encumbered; DePauw criticized - by Joslyn Fox, DePauw University

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: A gridiron legacy uncovered: How Northwestern football players risked it all for racial equality - by Lia Assimakopoulos, Northwestern University
Finalist: How the Big Ten Conference fumbled the pandemic - by Chris Katsaros, Charles Tharpe, University of Illinois at Chicago
Finalist: Boxers find community in Bowling Green - by Ruby Chapdelaine, Charlie Haynes, Western Kentucky University

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: ‘They dream of another heaven’ - by Julián Martinez, DePaul University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Election 2020: Young voters turn out in historic numbers - by Kate Perschke, University of Illinois at Chicago
Finalist: Why is Chicago's lakefront washing away? - by Myra Leon, Jose Vidales, Itzel Elizarraraz, University of Illinois at Chicago
Finalist: Austin, the architectural landscape: A walking tour - by Justin Myers, DePaul University

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: ncclinked - by Staff, North Central College
Finalist: The Reflector Online - by Staff, University of Indianapolis

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Talisman website - by Website Staff, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: 14 East - by Staff, DePaul University
Finalist: RE(a)D online magazine - by Staff, Western Kentucky University

Videography

Online/Digital News Videography
Winner: Evanston constructs stabilization project along lakefront - by Samantha Boas, Northwestern University
Finalist: ETHS grads fight COVID-19 with new antimicrobial phone case - by Jacob Ohara, Northwestern University

Video Game Reporting

Video Game Reporting
Winner: Evolving sport - by Dillon McCormick, Western Kentucky University

Podcast

Podcast
Winner: Digital Diaries: Alone on campus - by Victoria Benefield, Northwestern University
Finalist: Andy and Carlos - by Aaron Robinson, Northwestern University
Finalist: Defining safe: Living in limbo - by Madison Smith, Northwestern University

COVID-19

COVID-19: Newspaper, Magazine and Online Coverage (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: North by Northwestern magazine COVID-19 coverage - by Staff, Northwestern University
Finalist: SIU will not be informing the public of COVID-19 outbreaks on campus; RAs told to keep quiet - by Kallie Cox, Danny Connolly, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Finalist: Outbreak: COVID-19 in Chicago - by Staff, University of Illinois at Chicago

COVID-19: Newspaper, Magazine and Online Coverage (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: The Reflector COVID-19 coverage - by Nathan Herbst, Noah Fields, Jacob Walton, Giselle Valentin, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: Breaking news coverage of UIndy shutdown due to COVID-19 - by Noah Crenshaw, University of Indianapolis

COVID-19: Video Coverage
Winner: The Daily Northwestern explains: How to conduct an at-home mask test - by Olivia Yarvis, Victoria Benefield, Northwestern University
Finalist: Sportscasters in the age of COVID - by Jack Lido, Northwestern University

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