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 6 with 2020 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 6 comprises Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. 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 6 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
Winner: Democracy in darkness - by Benjamin Wells, Natallie St. Onge, Marquette University
Finalist: Joe Daniels, dean of the College of Business, dies at 60 years old - by Annie Mattea, Marquette University
Finalist: ISIS fighters accused of killing Marquette alum James Foley brought to trail in U.S. - by Natallie St. Onge, Marquette University

General News Reporting
Winner: University students, faculty and alumni voice opposition to Line 3 pipeline - by Becca Most, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Finalist: Americans don’t know what to believe this election season - by John Quinnies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

In-Depth Reporting (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Title IX investigations transition online, await new federal guidelines - by Sydney Czyzon, Marquette University
Finalist: UMN students lead callouts against racism in Minnesota public schools - by Becca Most, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Finalist: MUPD silence after crimes has students unsettled - by Beck Salgado, Marquette University

In-Depth Reporting (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: ‘We can do better’: Tackling sexual assault at Bethel and beyond - by Emma Harville, Jasmine Johnson, Bethel University
Finalist: The Board of Regents, explained (series) - by Anna Mulhern, St. Olaf College

Feature Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Milwaukee church protests racism through religion - by Richa Karmarkar, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Finalist: Syllabus weeks brings mixed feelings, nostalgia - by Ariana Madson, Marquette University
Finalist: Aspiring teachers share struggles with fallout from COVID-19 - by Hannah Borchert, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Feature Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: The fight doesn't stop here - by Molly Korzenowski, Bethel University
Finalist: Stories from the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue - by Molly Korzenowski, Bethel University
Finalist: At death’s door: the Burnsville Mall food court - by Eli Tan, St. Olaf College

Sports Writing (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Eggink reflects on athletic family - by Andrew Amouzou, Marquette University
Finalist: Marquette community, sports legends mourn death of Kobe Byrant - by Zoe Comerford, Marquette University
Finalist: First-year soccer player takes on challenge of ROTC program - by Kristin Parisi, Marquette University

Sports Writing (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Fighting forever - by Emma Eidsvoog, Neha, Neelam, Bethel University
Finalist: Belay on - by Eli Tan, St. Olaf College

Editorial Writing
Winner: Editorials - by Editorial Board, Marquette University

General Column Writing
Winner: Opinion columns - by Hope Moses, Marquette University
Finalist: Opinions desk - by Aminah Beg, Lucia Ruffolo, Max Pickart, Marquette University

Best All-Around Student Newspaper
Winner: The Bethel Clarion - by Molly Korzenowski, Emma Harville, Will Jacott, Emma Gottschalk, Bethel University

Magazine

Non-Fiction Magazine Article
Winner: Fighting forever - by Emma Eidsvoog, Neha Goyal, Jake Van Loh, Braeden Peterson, Bethel University
Finalist: For what it's worth - by Will Cioci, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Finalist: In her own hands - by Molly Korzenowski, Bethel University

Best Student Magazine
Winner: Curb pause - by Staff, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Finalist: Textura India - by Emma Harville, Zach Walker, Will Jacott, Josh Eller, Bethel University
Finalist: NOSTALGIA - by Kelli Arseneau, Staff, Marquette University

Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography
Winner: Voters brave a pandemic - by Adrian Hurd, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Finalist: Schroder Hall residents rush to grocery store before entering quarantine - by Claire Gallagher, Marquette University

General News Photography
Winner: No more bruises - by Zach Walker, Will Jacott, Hersh Singh, Emma Gottschalk, Bethel University
Finalist: ‘Black, beautiful and proud’ - by Emma Gottschalk, Soraya Keiser, Nate Eisenmann, Bethel University
Finalist: Bullshit - by Madelyn Wood, St. Olaf College

Feature Photography (Large) 10,000+ Students
Winner: Curb pause - by Brian Huynh, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Finalist: Rising waters - by Patricia McKnight, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Feature Photography (Small) 1-9,999 Students
Winner: Behind the Lens: Altering perspective - by Alexander Johansen, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: Untouchable dreams - by Emma Gottschalk, Zach Walker, Josh Towner, Bethel University
Finalist: In her own hands - by Emma Gottschalk. Thanh Nguyen, Molly Korzenowski, Jenny Singh, Bethel University

Data Visualization
Winner: Twin cities in pain - by Will Jacott, Zach Walker, Emma Gottschalk, Bethel University

Radio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Buzi bus service - by Alix Larson, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: Coming Out Week - by Ashley Walker, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: From player to coach - by John Leuzzi, Marquette University

Radio Feature
Winner: UWM bands keep making music during Covid-19 - by Jessica Gatzow, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Finalist: MSUM Drumline - by Katlyn Haugrud, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: With a few changes, exercise continues on campus - by Brianna Schubert, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Housing at MSUM during COVID - by Gracie Jackson, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: Music classes during COVID - by Bryant Stenberg, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Unifying through sports - by Dan Avington, Marquette University
Finalist: Youth hockey during COVID - by Alissa Lundeen, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: Friends get out for some fresh air and ‘frolfing’ - by Grayson Sewell, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Televison

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Press Bar and Parlor burns to the ground - by Tony Langfellow, Saint Cloud State University

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Trivia 2020 kicks off this weekend - by Tony Langfellow, Saint Cloud State University
Finalist: Local shops make the most of small business saturday - by Terese Radke, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Finalist: Open mic night for change - by Nancy Wambui, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: ‘Voces de la Frontera’ brings election closer to Latinos - by Richa Karmarkar, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Finalist: Drag show at MSUM - by Marissa Shiock, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: Looking back on the Miracle on Ice - by Kirsten Krull, Saint Cloud State University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Gateway Motel on its last legs - by Tony Langfellow, Saint Cloud State University
Finalist: Tobacco ban - by Shayley Espeseth, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: UnrestrictMN - by Jacob Ambrose, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Not just a man's game - by Jacob Tensen, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: Beeninga brothers - by Nick Knapper, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: NDSU wrestling clinic - by Damien O’Donnell, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: UTVS News - by Staff, Saint Cloud State University

Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: Campus News March 7, 2020 - by Staff, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Online

Online News Reporting
Winner: In a time when caring more is vital, the UW system chose to care less - by Jodie Filenius, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Finalist: The search for Sean Baek - by Staff, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Finalist: Students talk about their experiences after residence halls close - by Ethan Duran, Adam Kelnhofer, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Online Feature Reporting
Winner: Rising waters - by Staff, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Finalist: ‘The pandemic helped me find my purpose’: Black women-owned businesses persevere in 2020 - by Adrian Hurd, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Finalist: Swiping IDs and speaking to spies: Michael Andregg’s double life - by Mia Laube, University of St. Thomas

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Fighting for climate change justice on Milwaukee’s North Side - by Jessica Gatzow, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Finalist: Wisconsin erected barriers to college voters. The pandemic added more. - by Kayla Huynh, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Finalist: Heroes walk among us: Tommies rush to help stricken philosophy professor - by Sawyer Rutan, Burke Spizale, Justin Amaker, University of St. Thomas

Online Sports Reporting
Winner: Lacrosse commit's offer rescinded after Snapchat sparks outrage among students, community - by Zoe Comerford, Marquette University
Finalist: Men’s hoops advances after second-half scoring drought - by Justin Amaker, Joey Swanson, University of St. Thomas

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: Life in Isolation - by Life in Isolation Team, University of St. Thomas

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: An evening of campus chaos: St. Thomas disconnects power outage, athletic center flooding - by Althea Larson, Annie Terry, Song Johansen, University of St. Thomas
Finalist: Audio recording shows limited knowledge from university leaders concerning investment - by Annie Mattea, Beck Salgado, Marquette University

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: Curb Pause - by Staff, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Finalist: Marquette Wire website - by Staff, Marquette University

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: TommieMedia - by Staff, University of St. Thomas

Videography

Broadcast News Videography
Winner: Central Minnesota farm show fares well - by Tony Langfellow, Saint Cloud State University
Finalist: St. Cloud singer celebrates sister in new single - by Breanna Saunders, Saint Cloud State University

Broadcast Feature Videography
Winner: St. Thomas student founds jewelry company: Penny’s Piercings - by Taylor Shupe, Mia Laube, University of St. Thomas
Finalist: Basement band - by Randi Haseman, Tyler Peters, Marquette University
Finalist: Drag show at MSUM - by Bernt Podratz, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Broadcast Sports Videography
Winner: NDSU wrestling clinic - by Dominique Trowbridge, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: MSUM swimmer - by Justin How, Joe Keller, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Finalist: MSUM tennis club - by Dominique Trowbridge, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Podcast

Podcast
Winner: Real College Podcast - Protest special episode - by Tosin Faseemo, Casey McCabe, John Kueppers, Zoe Challenger, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Finalist: Games and Grub: The Masters, Coffee, and Keep Showing Up - by Aidan Hatton, Zachary Passios, Brian Gallagher, Marquette University

COVID-19

COVID-19: Newspaper, Magazine and Online Coverage
Winner: Racial disparities and displaced semesters - by Staff, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Finalist: COVID-19 Sidebar series - by Staff, Marquette University
Finalist: COVID-19 Hard news - by Staff, Marquette University

COVID-19: Video Coverage
Winner: COVID'S Impact - by Staff, Marquette University
Finalist: COVID Across America - by Nick Galle, Aimee Galaszewski, Roy Bowler, Joseph Beaird, Marquette 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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