CONTACT:
Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, lharry@spj.org
Kimberly Tsuyuki, SPJ Communications Coordinator, ktsuyuki@hq.spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 5 with 2022 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 MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at the SPJ’s 2023 convention in Las Vegas, Sept. 28-30.

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 5 winners. If you have any questions regarding the MOE Awards, contact SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards Lou Harry by email.

This list reflects the spelling and titles submitted in the award entries.

Print/Online

Breaking News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Videos show UK student using racial slurs, attacking desk clerk — by Rayleigh Deaton, Kendall Staton, Alexis Baker, Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
Finalist: Man identified, charged after hours long underground barricade — by Indiana Daily Student Staff, Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Finalist: EKU student arrested, charged with rape, other charges — by Rosie Kelley, easternprogress.com, Eastern Kentucky University

Breaking News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Transgender sports bill receives further testimony at Senate Education Committee — by Taylor Wooten, TheStatehouseFile.com, Franklin College
Finalist: BUPD arrests suspect in connection to AV bicycle thefts — by Gabi Morando, Annie Faulkner, The Butler Collegian, Butler University
Finalist: Anticipating state abortion ban, protesters descend on Statehouse — by Zachary Roberts, TheStatehouseFile.com, Franklin College

General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Hiring shortages, 70-hour weeks: How the Trojan Horse is surviving the Great Resignation — by Carson TerBush, Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Finalist: Controversial west side cop academy will have mock neighborhood for training — by Jennifer Bamberg, Block Club Chicago, Northwestern University
Finalist: EKU football player taken into federal custody — by Jess Wilson, Taylor Hogsed, Jaidyn Lee, easternprogress.com, Eastern Kentucky University

General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Thomas Minar series — by Alexa Shrake, Isaac Gleitz, Sydney Byerly, TheStatehouseFile.com, Franklin College
Finalist: Twitter beef raises specter of Lucas' 2020 divorce hearing — by Jack Sells, TheStatehouseFile.com, Franklin College

In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: Albany Care’s residents report violence and medical mistreatment. But many have nowhere else to go. — by Aviva Bechky, Avani Kalra, The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University
Finalist: Big bucks, big buyouts: Big Ten schools spend millions clearing coaching rosters — by Nic Napier, Nadia Scharf, The Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism, Indiana University
Finalist: Dissonance in due process — by Cate Charron, Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University

In-Depth Reporting (Small)
Winner: Why are we f*cking less? — by Mae-Mae Han, The Butler Collegian, Butler University
Finalist: Hoosiers see lasting effects from time KKK dominated state politics — by Taylor Wooten, TheStatehouseFile.com, Franklin College
Finalist: The social symptom: Educators worry about pandemic impact that has not healed — by Zachary Roberts, TheStatehouseFile.com, Franklin College

Feature Writing
Winner: She dreams of Afghanistan — by Lauren Ulrich, Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Finalist: Living with loss — by Teresa Nowakowski, North by Northwestern, Northwestern University
Finalist: Afghan refugees, grappling with grief and trauma, face barriers to mental health care — by Jenny Jiin Huh, Grace Deng, Stat News/Medill News Service, Northwestern University

Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: ‘The program is doomed’: Players say Indiana volleyball coach Steve Aird created a culture of fear — by Evan Gerike, Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Finalist: How Title IX helped Northwestern’s first female varsity athletes reach new heights — by Sarah Effress, Inside NU, Northwestern University

Sports Writing (Small)
Winner: There’s always a first: Hank Foster’s legacy at Butler — by Kobe Mosley, The Butler Collegian, Butler University
Finalist: UIndy Football’s Toriano Clinton breaks records — by MaKenna Maschino, The Reflector, University of Indianapolis

Editorial/Opinion Writing
Winner: Editorials — by Brooklyn Walters, Kendall Staton, Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
Finalist: $4 million mistake / Human rights are not up for discussion / Eat less chicken — by Aidan Gregg, The Butler Collegian, Butler University
Finalist: Columns — by Reece Butler, The Butler Collegian, Butler University

General Column Writing
Winner: Columns — by Karrington Garland, Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky

Sports Column Writing
Winner: Columns — by John Riker, The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)
Winner: Indiana Daily Student — by Staff, Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Finalist: Kentucky Kernel — by Staff, Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
Finalist: The Ball State Daily News — by Staff, The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small)
Winner: The Reflector — by Staff, The Reflector, University of Indianapolis
Finalist: The Butler Collegian — by Staff, The Butler Collegian, Butler University

Best Student Magazine
Winner: KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion — by Staff, KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
Finalist: WKU Talisman — by Staff, WKU Talisman, Western Kentucky University
Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: DailyNorthwestern.com — by Staff, The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University
Finalist: Kykernal.com — by Staff, Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky


Art/Graphics/Multimedia

Breaking News Photography
Winner: Shooting at off-campus house party injures 11 UK students — by Jack Weaver, Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky

General News Photography
Winner: ‘Let this be a movement.’ Peaceful protest conducted for victim of racial violence on campus — by Jack Weaver, Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky

Photo Essay/Slideshow
Winner: Rich Strike wins 148th running of the Kentucky Derby — by Jack Weaver, Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
Finalist: Hindu YUVA celebrates Diwali with ‘Ramleela’ musical — by Angeli Mittal, The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University

Photo Illustration
Winner: Brain drain — by Maggie Getzin, The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University
Finalist: The senses — by Alex Bracken, Ball Bearings Magazine, Ball State University

Sports Photography
Winner: Kentucky mens basketball suffers 86-77 loss to Michigan State in Champions Classic — by Jack Weaver, Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
Finalist: Jillian Brown passes to the foreground — by Seeger Gray, The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Why they walked out: CPS students take to the streets to protest COVID-19 safety in schools — by Staff, 14 East, DePaul University
Finalist: NBN Housing Guide 2022 — by Olivia Lloyd, Nathanial Ortiz, North by Northwestern, Northwestern University
Finalist: Look and Listen: Bienen students' parking lot practices — by Seeger Gray, The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University

News Videography
Winner: Adjusting to life in the U.S., eight months after fleeing the Taliban — by Jenny Jiin Huh, Medill News Service, Northwestern University
Finalist: Video: WKU launches farm-to-campus initiative — by Celine Sterett, College Heights Herald, Western Kentucky University
Finalist: Vigil for Uvalde victims at the Texas Capitol in Austin — by Olivia Yarvis, Texas Tribune, Texas Tribune, Northwestern University

Feature Videography
Winner: One family flees Texas in search of safer climate for their transgender daughter — by Olivia Yarvis, Texas Tribune, Texas Tribune, Northwestern University

Data Visualization
Winner: Live midterm coverage — by Angeli Mittal, Zoey Soh, The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University

Audio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: Northwestern rocket goes to space — by Sara Kadoura, WNUR News, Northwestern University
Finalist: Heartbreak for families as Virginia Key center fights sudden shutdown — by Ali Bianco, WLRN News, Northwestern University

Radio Feature
Winner: Kappa Alpha Psi at NU celebrates its 105th anniversary — by Nick Song, WNUR News, Northwestern University
Finalist: The 7 words we can't say on the radio (Clean) — by Sara Kadoura, WNUR News, Northwestern University
Finalist: For better and for worse: 'AND is in our DNA' — by Ariella Bernick, WNUR News, Northwestern University

Podcast (Narrative)
Winner: Your Words: Assyrian Martyrs Day in stories, artifacts and community — by Yasmeen Altaji, The Word, Northwestern University
Finalist: Change Agents: The road to reclaiming history — by Victoria Benefield, Emily Soto, Change Agents, Northwestern University
Finalist: NU Declassified: How Northwestern’s mock trial team raises the bar — by Mika Ellison, The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University

Podcast (Conversational)
Winner: NU Declassified: The student becomes the professor — by Sammi Boas, The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University
Finalist: Rauw Alejandro’s SATURNO brings Latin music into outer space — by Maria Caamaño Garcia, WNUR News, Northwestern University


Broadcast

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Northwestern University graduate workers launch union campaign — by Jenny Huh, Gabrielle Khoriaty, Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University
Finalist: Thousands gather to commemorate Ukrainian lives lost, protest Russian aggression — by Diego Ramos Bechara, Medill News Service, Northwestern University
Finalist: Evanston recognizes African American history — by Julia Richardson, Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Evanston Fire Department requests funds for third ambulance — by Andrew Rowan, Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University
Finalist: Localizing the 2022 midterms: LGBTQ+ rights in Illinois and Evanston — by Jenny Jiin Huh, Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University
Finalist: Una Fiesta Hispana — by Mikayla Denault, Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Waa-Mu Show back on stage for 91st show — by — Diego Ramos Bechara, Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University
Finalist: Why are there so many boba and ramen shops in Evanston? — by Jenny Jiin Huh, Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University
Finalist: Behind the operation that keeps Evanston clean — by Logan Schiciano, Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Racial disparities in foster care — by Sabrina Carson, Melina Chalkia, Isabela Lisco, WTTW, Northwestern University
Finalist: Reflecting on Voting Rights Act — by Carley Stone, wkujournalism.com, Western Kentucky University

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Jayson Williams — by Shadenn Gomez, Good Day DePaul, DePaul University
Finalist: NNN hits the ice — by Maria Heim, Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University
Finalist: Basketball dads balance ball and family — by Logan Schiciano, Maccabi Media, Northwestern University

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Northwestern News — by Staff, Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University
Finalist: Good Day DePaul Newscast — by Staff, Good Day DePaul, DePaul University

Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: NNN Around The World — by Staff, Northwestern News Network, Northwestern University

All Platform

Arts/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism
Winner: Robert Beatty and the pursuit of weird — by Gray Greenwell, Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky

Cultural Criticism
Winner: Arts column including Defining Dahmer & the serial killer phenomenon — by Kelly Rappaport, North By Northwestern Magazine, Northwestern 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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