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Region 11 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced
CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, 317-920-4786, lharry@spj.org
Zoλ Berg, SPJ Communications Specialist, 317-920-4785, zberg@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 11 with 2021 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.
SPJs Region 11 comprises Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada and Mariana Islands. First-place winners competed at the national level among other regional MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.
National winners were 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 11 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 (Large)
Winner: House votes on removing, possibly impeaching Trump after mob attacks by Sarah Oven, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: As cops testify on Capitol attacks, GOP lawmakers blast sham inquiry by Alyssa Marksz, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Breaking News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Outcome of campus safety hearing prompts criticism from students and faculty by Carolyn Kuimelis, Santa Clara University
Finalist: University will hold in-person commencement event in June by Jaydelle Herbert, University of La Verne
General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Mine spill of 2014 continues to devastate Sonoran communities years later by Clara Migoya, University of Arizona
Finalist: Korematsu Day rises from injustices of Japanese internment camps during WWII by Ethan Kispert, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Arizonas aerospace and defense industry has close financial ties to Israeli security by Emma Ascott, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Pursuing social justice by The Santa Clara staff, Santa Clara University
Finalist: A Journey from ruin to resilience: The Malibu community reflects on Woolsey by Makena Huey, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Anti-Abortion freedom wall display creates discourse by Samantha Torre, Pepperdine University
In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: Little victims everywhere by Cronkite News/Arizona PBS investigative team, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Investigation of theater arts employee for lewd behavior, harassment by James Domizio, Alex Fuller, Cass Stewart and Emma Malloy, Santa Rosa Junior College
Finalist: Neighbors hope for relief from crematorium smoke as COVID-19 deaths decrease by Kevin Pirehpour, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
In-Depth Reporting (Small)
Winner: Sexual Violence at SCU by The Santa Clara staff, Santa Clara University
Feature Writing
Winner: 5 transgender military veterans discuss abuses, how political changes can alter lives by Rachel Stapholz, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Tree shortage leaves East Palo susceptible to climate change by Jennah Haque, Stanford University
Finalist: The $2 drug that millions of patients aren't being told about by Kat Kennedy, University of Arizona
Sports Writing
Winner: Last Chance Yuma: Thriving Arizona Western soccer program bonds a community by Amiliano Fragoso, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Rez ball rebirth in Chinle: Navajo Nation rebounds as pandemic takes its toll by Gabrielle Ducharme, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Talented alum embarks on a new adventure by Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo, Southwestern College
Editorial Writing
Winner: Opinion: Pepp changes its words but cant change its history by Alec Matulka, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Unsigned editorials by The Southwestern College Sun staff, Southwestern College
General Column Writing
Winner: Haley Tenore columns by Haley Tenore, Arizona State University
Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)
Winner: The Southwestern College Sun by Staff, Southwestern College
Finalist: The Collegian by Staff, Fresno State
Finalist: The Corsair by Staff, Santa Monica College
Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small)
Winner: The Graphic by Staff, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Campus Times by Staff, University of La Verne
Best Student Magazine
Winner: Currents Magazine by staff, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Etc. Magazine by staff, City College of San Francisco
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: The Graphic by staff, Pepperdine University
Finalist: USC Dimelo by staff, University of Southern California
Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: The State Press by staff, Arizona State University
Finalist: The Los Angeles Loyolan by staff, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Our America by staff, California State University Fullerton
Art/Graphics/Multimedia
Breaking News Photography
Winner: Officer at Rittenhouse protest by Jason White, Arizona State University
Finalist: Caldor Fire on critical night by Aryk Copley, Santa Rosa Junior College
Finalist: BLM and WLM face off in Huntington Beach California by Jonathan Putman, Santa Monica College
General News Photography
Winner: Jack Harlow at Inferno Fest by Drake Presto, Arizona State University
Finalist: Pepperdine welcomes incoming Class of 2025 to Malibu by Ali Levens, Pepperdine University
Finalist: COVID wince by Luis Flores, Los Angeles valley College
Feature Photography
Winner: The drag show must go on: 4Some Revue adjusts to performing during pandemic by Alina Nelson, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Bearial: Stanford's big game traditions by Ula Lucas, Stanford University
Finalist: Michael Little Crow portrait by Alex Gould, Arizona State University
Photo Illustration
Winner: Altar de Femicidio by Ji Ho Kim and Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo, Southwestern College
Finalist: Are all opinions equal? by Haley Hoidal, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Rams Reign continues with strong performances versus Las Positas and Santa Rosa by Bob Kinoshita; Erin Blackwell, City College of San Francisco
Sports Photography
Winner: Mens soccer: CSUN extends losing streak to 7 games by Chris Torres, California State University, Northridge
Finalist: Pregame scream by Jonathan Putman, Santa Monica College
Finalist: Mens Basketball triumphs over Idaho State in home opener by Dane Bruhahn, Pepperdine University
Editorial Cartooning
Winner: Cartoons by Reed Steiner, Arizona State University
Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: A communitys response: Reflections from the White Mountain Apache Tribe a year into the COVID-19 pandemic by Alberton Mariani, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: As Americans roll up their sleeves, heres how three COVID-19 vaccines compare by Sarandon Raboin, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: National City entrepreneurs struggle to keep business afloat during COVID-19 pandemic (with podcast) by Katia Pechenkina, Vicky Pineda, Gabriel Schneider, and Susana Serrano, San Diego City College
Broadcast/Online News Videography
Winner: Navajo Nation clings for survival by Brenda Elizondo, California State University Fullerton
Finalist: CPP opens mass COVID-19 vaccination site by Cathy Myers, Lauren Muttram, Cal Poly Pomona
Broadcast/Online Feature Videography
Winner: Koshio artist hike by Sarandon Raboin, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Delivering Hope: How those whove been there are fighting homelessness by Miles Green and Kevin Hurley, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: The Academy Museum: Hollywood's newest star by Aja Marshal, Santa Monica College
Broadcast/Online Sports Videography
Winner: Rush: Jackson He by Drake Presto, Arizona State University
Finalist: Paradise Valley Community College softball player by Zachary Keenan, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Data Visualization
Winner: Feminine hygiene products map by Andrew Onodera, Arizona State University
Audio
Radio News Reporting
Winner: Why rideshare users in Arizona continue to see long waits and high prices by Tyler Budge, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: Apache make emotional appeal to court to halt proposed copper mine by Zach Keenan, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Radio Feature
Winner: Arizonas RUF Nation puts Indigenous roots on display through combat athletics by David Montoya, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Pinal County farmer struggles to grow crops with less water by Emma VandenEinde, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Youre it! Local parkour athlete plays, commentates competitive tag by Henry Greenstein, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Finalist: From Lil Wayne to Lauryn Hill, playlist helps Mercury find their vibe by Kenneth Manoj, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism
Podcast
Winner: Chronic catastrophe by Lauren A. Spates, Maritza Camacho, Nicholas Vides and Rebecca Bell, Santa Rosa Junior College
Finalist: The Listening Machine by Jakob McWhinney, San Diego City College
Finalist: The New Normal, Part One by Sonya Sheptunov, Arizona State University
Broadcast
Television General News Reporting
Winner: Water pipeline by Katelyn Keenehan, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm
Finalist: Farmer discrimination by Lauren Quinlan, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm
Finalist: Covid campus parties by Jackie Gold, Chapman University
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: A COVID-inspired career change: From concrete to succulents by Cassie Esparza, University of Southern California
Finalist: Indigenous oral history by Faith Abercrombie, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm
Finalist: FilmBar saved by Tyler Manion, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm
Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: White Mountain Apache Covid by McKenzie Allen-Charmley, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm
Finalist: Salt River horses by Megan Newsham, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm
Finalist: Team coverage: Alec Baldwin set shooting by Barbara Fox, Luca Evans, Chapman University
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Cronkite News/Arizona PBS by staff, Arizona State University
Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: Our America by staff, California State University Fullerton
Finalist: Chapman News by staff, Chapman University
Finalist: Chapman News by staff, Chapman University
All Platforms
Immersion Journalism
Winner: Barnstorming through barriers: The Katherine Cheung story by JOVRNALISM staff, USC Annenberg
Finalist: Who we are: More than A survivor by JOVRNALISM staff, USC Annenberg
Cultural Criticism
Winner: Columns by Joshua Hernandez, Cal Poly Pomona
Arts/Fashion Journalism
Winner: Students share cheap and trendy Halloween costume ideas by Lydia duPerier, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Interview with Student Academy Award winners by Luca Evans and Kiana Favela, Chapman University
Food/Restaurant Journalism
Winner: Lamb to the slaughter by Ike Allen, University of Southern California
Finalist: Revitalizing Indigenous foodways by Sarah Wolfson, University of Southern California
Finalist: Fighting Koreatown's dining decline by Maya Zeleski, University of Southern California
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