CONTACTS:
Jim Highland, SPJ Vice President for Campus Chapter Affairs, 270/784-8853; or james.highland@wku.edu
Bobby Deckard, SPJ Awards Coordinator, 317/927-8000 ext. 215 or bdeckard@spj.org


FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The Society of Professional Journalists announced the 2001 Mark of Excellence Awards National Winners for outstanding student journalism last weekend as part of the 2002 SPJ National Convention in Fort Worth, Texas.

This year’s competition drew more than 2,700 entries in 45 categories for print, radio, television and online collegiate journalism. The Society has presented the Mark of Excellence Awards since 1972.

“The Mark of Excellence competition represents some of the finest examples of collegiate print, broadcast and photojournalism in the country,” said SPJ Vice President for Campus Chapter Affairs Jim Highland, director of print journalism at Western Kentucky University. “National achievements such as these help young journalists increase their career possibilities following graduation.”

The national winners received their awards at a luncheon on Sept. 14.

Before reaching the national competition, students placed first in SPJ’s regional competitions, which were judged last spring. Complete lists of national and regional winners can be found at www.spj.org. National and regional contest judges are selected from among the Society’s members and from non-members across the nation, each of whom has established a reputation for journalistic excellence in his or her own right.

The Society of Professional Journalists is dedicated to improving and protecting journalism. It is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

2001 MARK OF EXCELLENCE NATIONAL WINNERS

NEWSPAPER CATEGORIES

Editorial Writing
Berkeley Beacon staff, Emerson College, Boston, Mass.

Editorial Cartooning
Nate Beeler, American University, Washington, D.C. Published in The Eagle.

General Column Writing
Hilary Hilliard, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. Published in The Red & Black.

Sports Column Writing
Eric Nelson, Brigham Young University - Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho. Published in BYU-I Scroll.

Spot News Reporting“Our Pearl Harbor,” Tanna Barry, Jill Halbasch and Linda Cammack, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah. Published in The Signpost.

General News Reporting“The State of the Faculty,” Michelle Evans, Brandon Sokol, Craig Greiwe, Wil Myers, Jessica Schaab and R.J. Taylor, DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. Published in The DePauw.

In-Depth Reporting
“Many Faces, One Maryland,” Elizabeth Cogan, Arheun Kim, Laurent Thomet, Greg Lamm, Robert F. Patrick, Jennifer Larson and Kate Alexander, University of Maryland, Washington, D.C. Published in Capital News Service.

Feature Writing“Five Hearts” series, Matthew D. LaPlante, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore. Published in The Daily Barometer.

Sports Writing“Fourth down and no graduation to go,” Miki Meek, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. Published in The Daily Universe.


BEST ALL-AROUND STUDENT NEWSPAPER CATEGORIES

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper
The Daily Barometer, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore.

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
(published 2 to 4 days a week)
The Round Up, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M.

Best All Around Non-Daily
(published at least once a month but less than twice a week)
The Carolina Reporter, University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.


MAGAZINE CATEGORIES

Magazine Non-Fiction Article“You are a woman. You are pregnant,” Tim Bugansky, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. Published in The Burr.

Best Student Magazine
(published once a year)
Flux Magazine, University of Oregon, Eugene, Ore.

Best Student Magazine
(published more than once a year)
The Burr, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio


PHOTOGRAPHY CATEGORIES
Spot News Photography
“Hope,” Kevin German, Washington State University, Pullman, Wash. Published in The Seattle Times.

General News Photography“Steamed Over Power Plant,” Matt Anderson, Western Washington University, Seattle, Wash. Published in The Skagit Valley Herald.

Feature Photography
“The World’s Lost Souls,” Leigh Patton, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis. Published in The Marquette Tribune.

Photo Illustration“Promised Land,” Sam Walter, University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla. Published in Static magazine.

Sports Photography“Head over Heels,” Jennifer Buchanan, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. Published in The Daily.


RADIO CATEGORIES

Radio Spot News Reporting
“Salt Shortage,” Lisa Klinkner, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisc. Broadcast on WUEC-FM.

Radio Feature“Saturday School,” Laura Spencer, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Mo. Broadcast on NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered and KCUR-FM.

Radio In-Depth Reporting“Energy,” Jeffrey Charpentier, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisc. Broadcast on WUEC-FM.

Radio Sports Reporting“Business of Sports: Baseball Contraction,” Jason Fischer, Ripon College, Ripon, Wisc. Broadcast on WRPN-FM.

Radio Daily Newscast
WRPN Local News, Ripon College, Ripon, Wisc. Broadcast on WRPN-FM


TELEVISION CATEGORIES

Television Spot News Reporting“Florence Murders,” Danielle Dellerson and Natalya McLees, University of Montana, Missoula, Mont. Broadcast on Montana PBS.

Television General News Reporting“LST 325,” Kelle Vereen, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Ala. Broadcast on Jag-TV News.

Television Feature Reporting“Daniel Obregon,” Daniel Aviles, University of La Verne, La Verne, Calif. Broadcast on LVTV-3.

Television In-Depth Reporting“Nursing Homes,” Mike Dello Stritto, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla. Broadcast on WUFT-TV.

Television Sports Reporting“Fighting Illini Wheelchair Basketball: A Tradition of Success,” Soham Vaishnav and Dominick Stasi, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Ill. Broadcast on UI-7 Cable.

Television News Photography“War Protest,” Scott Hums, Ball State University, Muncie, Ind. Broadcast on WCRH-TV and CNN.

Television Feature Photography“Plato’s Cavern,” Daniel Aviles and Enrique Gutierrez, University of La Verne, La Verne, Calif. Broadcast on LVTV-3.

Television Sports Photography“Fanatic Fan,” Dan Bubany, Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz. Broadcast on Tempe Cable Channel 2.

Television Daily Newscast (telecast at least 4 days per week)
Maryland Newsline 2001, University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism, College Park, Ma. Broadcast on UMTV-Comcast Cable.

Television Non-Daily Newscast (telecast 1 to 3 times per week)
“Arkansas on Campus,” University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark. Broadcast on UATV.


ONLINE CATEGORIES

Online Spot News Reporting“A day we’ll never forget: A special section of Dateline Alabama,” Staff of Dateline Alabama, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Online General News Reporting“Tragedy Jolts Nation,” The Independent Florida Alligator Online Staff, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

Online Feature Reporting“Breaking the cycle of delinquency: Therapy, talking, working, schooling… and bobbing chicken heads,” Ruth Turner, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. Published by Hard News Cafe.

Online In-Depth Reporting“Political Ethics in Maryland,” Amy Silva, University of Maryland, College Park, Md. Published by Maryland Newsline.

Online Sports Reporting“Aggies end Lady Mavs season on three games,” Pat Gillespie, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas. Published by The Shorthorn Online.

Online Opinion and Commentary
“Sports Bytes,” Adam S. Reisinger, Towson University, Towson, Md. Published by The Towerlight Online.

Best All-Around Online Student Newspaper
The Falcon Online, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Wash.

Best All-Around Online Student Magazine
Troubadour Magazine, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.

Best All-Around Online Student Broadcast Station
BYU NewsNet, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah

Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication
NUcomment.com, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.

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