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Region 4 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced
CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, 317-920-4786, lharry@spj.org
Michelle Lagos, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-927-8000, mlagos@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 4 with 2021 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.
SPJs Region 4 comprises Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 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 MediaFest22 convention in Washington, D.C., Oct. 27-30.
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 4 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact SPJ 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 cultural criticism, arts/fashion journalism and food/restaurant journalism.
Print/Online
Breaking News Reporting
Winners: More than a thousand students rave on Chittenden, flip cars, no arrests by staff, The Ohio State University
Finalist: UMich police, FBI identify individual responsible for shooter threat at U-M campus by Emma Ruberg, Jasmin Lee, Barbara Collins and Liat Weinstein, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Finalist: Football player in critical condition after April 24 shooting by Christian Booher, Central Michigan University
General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Nutrition clubs find a place in Columbus by Sarah Donaldson, Ohio University
Finalist: Skin color matters by Sarah Donaldson, Ohio University
Finalist: UC athletic department left with decreased revenue and deficit, records show by Allison Kiehl, University of Cincinnati
General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Facing financial strain, university cuts programs, 2 tenured profs and facilities department by Harm Venhuizen and Abigail Ham, Calvin University
Finalist: JCU book writing partnership draws criticism by Laken Kincaid, John Carroll University
Finalist: COPA students and the Office of Equity and Inclusion hold a virtual town hall to address accusations by Nardos Haile, Point Park University
In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Shedding light on the darkness of abuse by Hannah Deane, Cedarville University
Finalist: The story of MSU's last competing diver: Amanda Ling by Joe Dandron, Michigan State University
Finalist: The Hell Hole: Fighting for safe rental housing in Bowling Green by Andrew Bailey and Shaelee Haaf, Bowling Green State University
Feature Writing (Large)
Winner: 24 hours with the Robert Anderson survivor protesters outside Schlissels house by staff, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Finalist: A hidden history, Black history holds deep roots in Athens County by Kayla Bennett, Ohio University
Finalist: From Oxford to the Philippines: Working as a Cru missionary by Claudia Zaunz, Miami University
Feature Writing (Small)
Winner: A crowd, a question and a typewriter by Katia Faroun, Duquesne University
Finalist: Soccer missions by Chris Karenbauer, Cedarville University
Finalist: Tattoos and christianity by Maggie Walker, Cedarville University
Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: Beauty vs. body: MSU's female student-athletes share body image struggles by Jayna Bardahl, Michigan State University
Finalist: Your purpose is to be loud and create change: Climbing communities address lack of diversity by Abby Bammerlin, Miami University
Finalist: Star pitcher Sam Bachman has sights set on College World Series by Jack Schmelzinger, Miami University
Sports Writing (Small)
Winner: JV soccer makes the most of five-game season by Jamison Van Andel, Calvin University
Finalist: Sartains sharp shooting shatters three program records for John Carroll by Anna Meyer, John Carroll University
Finalist: Flipping and tumbling stereotypes by Lauren Steen, Miami University
General Column Writing
Winner: Columns by Bryce Hoehn, Ohio University
Finalist: Columns by Lyndsey Brennan, Kent State University
Sports Column Writing
Winner: Columns by Michael Vestey, Miami University
Finalist: Casey's callouts by Casey Smith, The Ohio State University
Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)
Winner: Central Michigan Life by staff, Central Michigan University
Finalist: The State News by staff, Michigan State University
Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small)
Winner: Chimes by staff, Calvin University
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Fusion by staff, Kent State University
Finalist: Miami Student Magazine by staff, Miami University
Finalist: Off the Bluffer Magazine by staff, Duquesne University
Best Affiliated Web Site
Finalist: The Michigan Daily by staff, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: The New Political by staff, Ohio University
Art/Graphic/Multimedia
Breaking News Photography
Winner: Walking out by Dominick Sokotoff, University of Michigan
Finalist: M.A.C. Avenue after Michigan State's 37-33 victory over Michigan by Lauren DeMay, Michigan State University
Finalist: Stop the spending protest fills Howell streets as Biden comes to town by Chloe Trofatter, Michigan State University
General News Photography
Winner: Michigan National Guard blocks the road leading to the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, MI by Becca Mahon, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Feature Photography
Winner: The show must go on by Dominick Sokotoff, University of Michigan
Finalist: Hundreds march in Dearborn in support of Palestinians by Jarett Orr, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Finalist: A beautiful country by Dominick Sokotoff, University of Michigan
Photo Illustration
Winner: SportsMonday: Still got it by Emma Mati, Julia Schachinger, Allison Engkvist and Jack Silberman, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Sports Photography
Winner: Junior running back Kenneth Walker III (9) celebrates after scoring a touchdown by Lauren DeMay, Michigan State University
Finalist: Maughmer to the basket by Ernest Toh, Cedarville University
Finalist: Michigan State football takes down Pitt 31-21 in the Peach Bowl by Devin Anderson-Torrez, Michigan State University
Broadcast/Online News Videography
Winner: The next generation of innovation by Ian Gilmour, Michigan State University
Finalist: This is it for us, please let us play by Sam Britten, Michigan State University
Broadcast/Online Feature Videography
Winner: Urban farming by Kelly Krabill, Kent State University
Finalist: A new twist in Dewitt by Regan Holgate, Michigan State University
Finalist: You guys are the stars. You just make me shine, that's all. by Sam Britten, Michigan State University
Broadcast/Online Sports Videography
Winner: One kick at a time by Ian Gilmour, Michigan State University
Finalist: WVU women's basketball player nominated for prestigious award by Kierstin Lindkvist, West Virginia University
Data Visualization
Winner: We looked at the 301 high schools with the most applicants to U-M. Heres what we found. by Eric Lau, Drishaan Jain, Naitian Zhou and Parth Dhyani, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Audio
Radio News Reporting
Winner: Campus pro choice protests by Tyler Kennett, Marshall University
Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Impact sports update by Luke Sloan, Michigan State University
Finalist: Hunter Rogan wins scholarship by Will Price, Ohio University
Finalist: Abi Hugh freshman of the year by Andrew Rogers, Marshall University
Broadcast
Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Zachary Blosser arraignment by Melissa Meyers, Kent State University
Television General News Reporting
Winner: Asian hate crimes rise across the U.S. by Alayna Degenhardt, West Virginia University
Finalist: New law poses domestic violence risks by Natalie Bowman, West Virginia University
Finalist: West Virginia tackles campus carry debates by Claire O'Neil, West Virginia University
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: You guys are the stars. You just make me shine, that's all. by Sam Britten, Michigan State University
Finalist: Bam and Bros. barbershop by Andre Norrils, Ohio University
Finalist: More green in the southeast by Regan Holgate and Ian Gilmour, Michigan State University
Television Sports Reporting
Winner: WVU women's basketball player nominated for prestigious award by Kierstin Lindkvist, West Virginia University
Finalist: One kick at a time by Ian Gilmour, Michigan State University
Finalist: WVU football reopens stadium with eased restrictions by Irelend Viscount, West Virginia University
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Focal Point News by staff, Michigan State University
Finalist: TV2KSU by staff, Kent State University
Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: Special edition: Small towns by staff, Michigan State University
Finalist: WVU News staff, West Virginia University
All Platforms
Cultural Criticism
Winner: Fearless (Taylor's version) WILLOW explores a new sound, We don't need gender-neutral clothes by Lexi Whitehead, Miami University
Finalist: Criticism of Music, Love on the Spectrum, We Can Be Heroes, It Takes Two, Centaurworld by Joseph Stanichar, Ohio University
Finalist: Cultural columns by David Kwiatkowski, Miami University
Arts/Fashion Journalism
Winner: You can't always paint when you're crying by Ollie Gratzinger, Duquesne University
Finalist: Daily arts ran a marathon, but I didn't, and that's fine by Kari Anderson, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Food/Restaurant Journalism
Winner: More than 100 Ann Arbor restaurants closed in the past three years. How closures affect community. by Emily Blumberg, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Finalist: UT:10 extra! Keegan's restaurant reviews by Keegan Shannon, University of Toledo
Finalist: To my food editor: Cincinnati chili doesnt like you either by Maggie Peρa, Miami University
Video Game/Tabletop Game Reporting
Winner: Meet the all-womxn speedrunners of Fleet Fatales by Joseph Stanichar, Ohio University
Finalist: Game over! No vaccine, no service? by Becca Lustic, University of Toledo
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