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Region 11 Mark of Excellence Awards 2022 winners announced
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 11 with 2022 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.
SPJs Region 11 comprises Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada and Mariana Islands. 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 SPJs 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 11 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: Arizona officials decry, delight in Supreme Court ending abortion rights by Neetish Basnet, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Judge rejects GOP request to extend voting hours after tabulation issues in Maricopa County by Cronkite News staff, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: See updates from Arizona voters and polling locations on Election Day by Cronkite News staff, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Breaking News Reporting (Small)
Winner: Residents decry placing another sexually violent predator in Borrego Springs by Angelina Hicks, The San Diego Union-Tribune, Chapman University
General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: Three SDSU football players accused of raping an underaged girl in a civil lawsuit by Christian Houser, The Daily Aztec, San Diego State University
Finalist: Herm Edwards buyout by Piper Hansen, The State Press, Arizona State University
Finalist: Computer Science students claim innocence during cheating investigation by Vincent Medina, Daily Forty-Niner, California State Long Beach
General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: 911 call fallout at Fuente Nueva School by Ricardo Lara Nava, Kianna Znika, Frank Rocha, El Leρador, Cal Poly Humboldt
Finalist: Grand jury: OC residents lose millions each year in unclaimed recycling funds by Angelina Hicks, Voice of OC, Chapman University
Finalist: Students file legal complaint alleging Santa Claras fossil fuel investments violate California law by Carolyn Kuimelis, Robby O'Brien, The Santa Clara, Santa Clara University
In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: I'm tired: Teachers face mental health crisis due to low pay, pandemic stress, scant support by Cami Parrish, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Wounded healers: Advocates spotlight hidden struggles of young caregivers by Adriana Gonzalez-Chavez, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Crow-Downtown gentrification by Alexis Moulton, Jamie Montoya, The State Press, Arizona State University
In-Depth Reporting (Small)
Winner: No Home in This World by Esteban Preciado, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Finalist: Physically Impossible to Be in a Wheelchair Community Members with Disabilities Face Obstacles by Ashley Mowreader, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Finalist: LA's homelessness outreach workers are 'salespeople without a product' by Accalia Rositani, The Lion, Loyola Marymount University
Feature Writing (Large)
Winner: A young life, interrupted: finding hope and an identity while suffering from long COVID by Kate Selig, The Guardian, Stanford University
Finalist: Dont Flunk Me Records: Where JC Students Sign, Produce and Promote Local Artists by Bryan Fructuoso, The Oak Leaf magazine, Santa Rosa Junior College
Finalist: Life masks' created to keep stories of the Holocaust alive by Samantha Chow, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Feature Writing (Small)
Winner: Gorillas in Our Midst by Esteban Preciado, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Finalist: The Tip of the Sinking Iceberg: The Climate Crisis Impacts Mental Health Among Youth by Liza Esquibias, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Finalist: The unhoused women of Skid Row by Erika Zaro, The Lion, Loyola Marymount University
Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: It's gotta be the shoes': Why are Scottsdale nightclubs prohibiting retro sneakers? by Kevin Redfern, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Stanford Olympians who never got their moment by Madeline Gabb, The Stanford Daily, Stanford University
Finalist: A long road back: Student-athletes injury recovery takes a mental toll by Amanda Sturges, uscannenbergmedia.com, University of Southern California
Sports Writing (Small)
Winner: For minor leaguers, playing professional baseball is not living the dream by Catherine Galanti, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Trans participation in sports causes multi-level controversy by Kyle McCabe, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Editorial/Opinion Writing
Winner: Editorials by Camila A. Gonzalez, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Finalist: Columns by Aaron Stigile, The State Press, Arizona State University
Finalist: Editorials by Loyolan Executive Editorial Board, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
General Column Writing
Winner: Columns by Renee Walker, The Poly Post, Cal Poly Pomona
Finalist: Columns by Cristobal Spielmann, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Columns by Arsh Goyal, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Sports Column Writing
Winner: Columns from the sports desk by Caleb Nguyen, The Poly Post, Cal Poly Pomona
Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)
Winner: The Corsair by The Corsair staff, The Corsair, Santa Monica College
Finalist: The Valley Star by The Valley Star staff, The Valley Star, Los Angeles Valley College
Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small)
Winner: The Panther Newspaper by The Panther staff, The Panther, Chapman University
Finalist: The Graphic by The Graphic staff, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Finalist: The Southwestern College Sun by The Southwestern College Sun staff, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Best Student Magazine
Winner: The Oak Leaf Magazine by Oak Leaf Staff, The Oak Leaf News, Santa Rosa Junior College
Finalist: Currents magazine by Currents staff, Currents magazine, Pepperdine University
Finalist: SCene by SCene magazine staff, SCene magazine, University of Southern California
Best Affiliated Website
Winner: The Corsair by The Corsair staff, The Corsair, Santa Monica College
Finalist: sdcitytimes.com by CTM Staff, City Times Media, City Times Media
Finalist: Daily Sundial website by Daily Sundial staff, Daily Sundial, California State University, Northridge
Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: The Los Angeles Loyolan by The Los Angeles Loyolan staff, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: The Panther Online by The Panther staff, The Panther, Chapman University
Finalist: The State Press by The State Press staff, The State Press, Arizona State University
Art/Graphics/Multimedia
Breaking News Photography
Winner: Antirascism protestor pushed by LAPD at Los Angeles City Hall by Danilo Perez, The Corsair, Santa Monica College
Finalist: Arizona officials decry, delight in Supreme Court ending abortion rights by Neetish Basnet, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
General News Photography
Winner: Renaissance festival returns by Troy Hill, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Keeping campus safety in sight amid increase in national shootings by Ethan Cohen, The Union, El Camino College
Finalist: Pepperdine gathers to worship at the annual Worship Summit by Brandon Rubsamen, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Feature Photography
Winner: Beach streets by Sonny Tapia, Daily Forty-Niner, Cal State Long Beach
Finalist: Live, laugh, love languages by Lucian Himes, Currents Magazine, Pepperdine University
Finalist: World Cup calls for shouts and hollers by Ee Lin Tsen, The Corsair, Santa Monica College
Photo Essay/Slideshow
Winner: In focus: Migrants languish in Mexico's chaotic immigration system by Taylor Bayly, Cronkite Borderlands Project, Arizona State University
Finalist: Would he be forgotten? How a nieces crusade and military scientists led to ID of Korean War vet by Samantha Chow, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: The haunting of Hannon by Carissa Leong, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Illustration
Winner: Editorial cartoons by Alicia Rivero, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Finalist: Coming out Optional or obligatory? by Samantha Miller, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Photo Illustration
Winner: OMG! What's your enneagram by Lucian Himes, Marley Penagos, Hailey Hoidal, Currents Magazine, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Basketball issue Illustrations by Tina Tona, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Gender-inclusive housing by Alex Gould, The State Press, Arizona State University
Sports Photography
Winner: ASU gymnastics home win by Jason White, The State Press, Arizona State University
Finalist: Kappa Alpha Theta and Delta Sigma Phi win big in charity flag football tournament by Summer Krueger, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Mens volleyball splits series with BYU by Brandon Rubsamen, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Reflections of the L.A. uprising by JOVRNALISM Staff, USC JOVRNALISM, University of Southern California
Finalist: Gaslit by Staff of the Howard Center for Investigative Reporting Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, Arizona State University
News Videography
Winner: St. Louis police association expands, holds collective bargaining union to task by Tirzah Christopher, Gabriela Tumani, News21, Arizona State University
Finalist: Healing through culture: Increasing access to Native American practices to treat mental health by Laura Bargfeld, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Students protest on behalf of FM employees... by Hayden Brown, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Feature Videography
Winner: "Lives in limbo: How the Mexican government has failed to solve the migrant crisis in Tapachula" by Drake Presto, Cronkite borderlands project, Arizona State University
Finalist: OC sidewalk vendors struggle with costly, confusing county, city permits by Gigi Gradillas, Rachel Lopez, Dustin Malek, The Hornet and Voice of OC, Fullerton College
Finalist: Dancing in honor of those who can't by JOVRNALISM Staff, JOVRNALISM, University of Southern California
Sports Videography
Winner: Diamondbacks musical maestro by Michael Donohue, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: King of the ring by Jacob Flores, Bally's Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Finalist: Pepperdine Athletics balances facilities expectations by Austin Hall, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Data Visualization
Winner: Gaslit by Howard Center for Investigative Journalism staff, Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, Arizona State University
Finalist: Tapachula: A city of migrants under a state of siege by Alyssa Marksz, Cronkite Borderlands Project, Arizona State University
Finalist: Malibu roads pose fatal threat to vulnerable road users by Kyle McCabe, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Audio
Radio News Reporting
Winner: Black farmers by Athena Ankrah, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Radio Feature
Winner: Election translation by Autriya Maneshni, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Healing through culture by Natalie Skowlund, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Podcast (Narrative)
Winner: All I Can Do Is Wait by Athena Ankrah, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: State Press Play by Kirsten Dorman, The State Press, Arizona State University
Finalist: The Knowledge Industry by Jakob McWhinney, Philip Salata, City Times Media, San Diego City College
Podcast (Conversational)
Winner: Two to Tango by Rachel Livinal, DIG MAG, California State University, Long Beach
Finalist: Mental health in low-income neighborhoods by Ashley Orellana, Daily Sundial, California State University, Northridge
Finalist: SportsWaves by Karl Winter, Austin Hall, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Broadcast
Television General News Reporting
Winner: Indigenous rodeo by Mikenzie Hammel, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Eating disorders increase by Faith Abercrombie, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Help for firefighters by Sydney Witte, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: An East L.A. music program teaches young women the music of mariachi by Marilyn Parra, Annenberg TV News, University of Southern California
Finalist: USC stunt actors 'fight on' by Mya Mariey Vinnett, Annenberg TV News, University of Southern California
Finalist: Ride to the polls by Caroleina Hassett, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: USC community in uproar after custodian arrested, fired over alleged stolen backpack by Chrissa Loukas, Annenberg TV News, University of Southern California
Television Sports Reporting
Winner: A second chance at life by Zachary Larsen, Bally's Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Finalist: Persevering through pain by Marlee Zanna Thompson, Bally's Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Finalist: The first crack to the evolution of Las Vegas sports by Jade Thomas, UNLV Rebel Report, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: Chapman News Live Newscast by Chapman News staff, Chapman News, Chapman University
Finalist: UC workers strike for better pay by Annenberg TV News staff, Annenberg TV News, University of Southern California
Finalist: Cronkite News by Cronkite News staff, AZPBS, Arizona State University
Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: Cronkite Sports Report by Staff, Bally's Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
All Platform
Arts/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism
Winner: Artists hope Black History Month mural project 'educates, inspires, uplifts' by Hope O'Brien, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalist: Students get creative with alternative fashion trends by Hope Lockwood, The Graphic, Pepperdine University
Finalist: Dress to express: Students dress for themselves not the trends by Lydia duPerier, Currents Magazine, Pepperdine University
Cultural Criticism
Winner: Music and motion pictures reviews by Hien Nguyen, La Verne Campus Times Newspaper, University of La Verne
Finalist: I'm with the band columns by Chloe Walsh, The Stanford Daily, Stanford University
Finalist: Columns by Camila A. Gonzalez, The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College
Food/Restaurant Journalism
Winner: Meals under $10 for the hungry college student series by Athena Cheris, The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
Finalist: Late night eats by Calista Kirk, Adrienne Mitchel, Ryan Deeb, Collin Gaja, Chapman News, Chapman University
Finalist: Orange Food Trucks by Adrienne Mitchel & Collin Gaja, Chapman News, Chapman 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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