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Region 7 Mark of Excellence Awards 2023 winners announced


4/23/2024


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

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 7 with 2023 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

SPJ’s Region 7 comprises Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. 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.

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 7 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
Winner: Johnson County homes, businesses damaged after tornadoes hit Eastern Iowa — by Sabine Martin, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Provost says eliminating programs and faculty positions is ‘unavoidable’ — by Andrew Kennard, Times-Delphic, Drake University
Finalist: KU Athletics kicks students out of Allen Fieldhouse — by Matthew Petillo, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas

General News Reporting (Large)
Winner: ‘Capitalism with a heart': How Ho-Chunk Inc. strengthens tribal community in Winnebago — by Brian Beach, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska
Finalist: Chipotle Union series — by Cuyler Dunn, The Lawrence Times, University of Kansas

General News Reporting (Small)
Winner: President Martin explains higher pay during year of faculty salary cuts — by Lia Reichmann, Mackenzie Swenson, Andrew Kennard, Times-Delphic, Drake University

In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: Midwives treat the growing maternal health desert in Iowa — by Emily Nyberg, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: We're still here — by Angelina Edwards, Maggie Trovato, Mae Bruce, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Finalist: Sticker shock': Greek house values skyrocket after review. The tax bills come next. — by Kloee Sander, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

In-Depth Reporting (Small)
Winner: The anti-suburbia — by McCade Gowdy, Urban Plains, Drake University

Feature Writing (Large)
Winner: The unluckiest guy from mid-Missouri — by Austin Woods, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Finalist: Cougars in the Wild: Alumna worked in TV industry before returning as broadcast engineer — by Chloe Wolfe, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Finalist: Here’s to Herky: A look back on Herky the Hawk’s 75 years as a beloved mascot — by Marandah Mangra-Dutcher, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Feature Writing (Small)
Winner: When the cameras leave — by Lincoln Roch, Drake Mag, Drake University
Finalist: We can bring back the stars — by CJ Younger, Urban Plains, Drake University

Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: ‘Makes the young ones believe’: Iowa guard Caitlin Clark’s immeasurable impact on women’s sports — by Kenna Roering, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Winner: ‘Makes the young ones believe’: Iowa guard Caitlin Clark’s immeasurable impact on women’s sports — by Kenna Roering, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: A star born before dawn: The Cody Schrader story — by Wendell Shepherd Jr., Columbia Missourian, University of Missouri

Sports Writing (Small)
Winner: For the Dogs — by CJ Younger, Urban Plains, Drake University

General Column Writing
Winner: Pride Month reviews — by John Carter Jr., Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large)
Winner: The Daily Iowan — by Staff, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: The Alestle — by Staff, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Small)
Winner: Times-Delphic — by Staff, Times-Delphic, Drake University

Best Ongoing Student Magazine
Winner: Drake Political Review — by Staff, Drake Political Review, Drake University
Finalist: Drake Mag — by Staff, Drake Mag, Drake University
Finalist: Vox Magazine — by Staff, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri

Best Affiliated Web Site
Winner: VoxMagazine.com — by Staff, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Finalist: Alestlelive.com — by Staff, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville


Art/Graphics/Multimedia

Breaking News Photography
Winner: Preacher gets noise complaint amid conflict with students — by Maximilian Lenhart, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Finalist: Encampment fire — by Jordan Barry, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

General News Photography
Winner: Eating disorder clinic — by Grace Smith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Students stand in solidarity for peace in Palestine — by Chloe Wolfe, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Feature Photography
Winner: Men's soccer shuts out SLU, takes Bronze Boot — by Chloe Wolfe, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Finalist: Fireworks — by Cody Blissett, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Photo Essay/Slideshow
Winner: Midwives treat the growing maternal health desert in Iowa — by Emily Nyberg, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Entering Everett: A neighborhood of diversity, strength and community — by Ellie Kuckelman, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska
Finalist: Iowa hosts first women’s wrestling dual — by Grace Smith, Ayrton Breckenridge, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Illustration
Winner: Artists vs. AI — by Amy Scott, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Photo Illustration
Winner: Women who lift — by Morgan Williams, Sydney Lukasezck, Ava Horton, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri
Finalist: Dying art — by Marandah Mangra-Dutcher, Emily Nyberg, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Sports Photography
Winner: Steeplechase — by Ayrton Breckenridge, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Balance beam — by Ayrton Breckenridge, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Crossover at Kinnick — by Grace Smith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Clean up on aisle Kinnick: the messy outcome after game day — by Isabelle Foland; Staff, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Students complete research at Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation — by Alicia Feyerherm, Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University
Finalist: Disking the river: How Platte River Management makes crane migration possible — by Marissa Lindemann, Platte Basin Timelapse, University of Nebraska

News Videography
Winner: Students protest University of Iowa Matt Walsh visit — by Matt Sindt, Cody Blissett, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Feature Videography
Winner: The underground of Ellinwood — by John Billinger, Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University

Data Visualization
Winner: Guns in Iowa — by Marandah Mangra-Dutcher, Liam Halawith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Finalist: Caitlin Clark — by Jami Martin-Trainor, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa


Audio

Radio News Reporting
Winner: ‘Let’s not lose our humanity at this time’ — by Anna Colletto, KBIA, University of Missouri

Radio Feature
Winner: Uncertainty over Loaves and Fishes move sows worry in Columbia homeless community — by Harshawn Ratanpal, KBIA, University of Missouri
Finalist: Autumn birding in Nebraska: An experience for all — by Hallie Gutzwiller, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska
Finalist: A BUZZworthy collaboration: UNL Bee Club and Reactor Coffee create a fun drink — by Jackson Reddick, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Columbia's call for safety and responses to national school shootings — by Halle Jackson, KBIA, University of Missouri
Finalist: Obstacles after incarceration — by Katie Quinn, KBIA, University of Missouri

Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: Very few disc golfers are women. One local player works to get more women on the course — by Halle Jackson, KBIA, University of Missouri

Best All-Around Radio Newscast
Winner: Morning Newscast — by Staff, KBIA, University of Missouri

Podcast (Narrative)
Winner: The Subgenropedia — by Alex Neill, 90.3 KRNU, University of Nebraska

Podcast (Conversational)
Winner: Studio B Session — by Connor McGovern, Abigail Ruhman, Sarah Petrowich, Jamie Baker, KBIA, University of Missouri
Finalist: Alestle After Hours — by Hannah Ledford, Dylan Hembrough, Mary Kate Castleman, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Finalist: Above the Fold — by Natalie Dunlap, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa


Broadcast

Television Breaking News Reporting
Winner: Matt Walsh's Lecture Sparks Protests on Campus — by Ashley Weil, DITV, University of Iowa
Finalist: Iowa City pro-Palestine protesters share their perspective — by Ashley Weil, DITV, University of Iowa

Television General News Reporting
Winner: Veterans Day — by Olivia Moss, Autumn Garrett, Jacob Henry, Aric Avey, The Point News Magazine, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: UI Introduces a virtual reality 'Metaversity' — by Ashley Weil, DITV, University of Iowa
Finalist: Civil engineers work to combat O street's accidents — by Nathan Hawkins, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska

Television Feature Reporting
Winner: First week — by Clancy Callahan, David Mazula, Jacob Henry, Jaden Lester, The Point News Magazine, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Children's trick or treat — by Clancy Callahan, Jaden Lester, Matthew Clark, The Point News Magazine, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Hot Dog Gun means a whole lotta fun this fall — by Max von Gries, DITV, University of Iowa

Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: How JUUL impacted the evolution of the vaping epidemic in Nebraska, U.S. — by Anne Gallagher, Nebraska News Service, University of Nebraska
Finalist: An inside look at Iowa soil richness — by Cara Dulin, DITV, University of Iowa
Finalist: Restrictions at Catholic hospitals recue abortion access, even in blue states — by Naomi Delkamiller, News 21, University of Nebraska

Television Sports Reporting
Winner: National champions — by Clancy Callahan, Cienna Romines, Jaden Lester, The Point News Magazine, College of the Ozarks
Finalist: Iowa Women's Wrestling dominates first-ever home duals — by Michael Merrick, DITV, University of Iowa

Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: DITV — by Staff, DITV, University of Iowa
Finalist: Nebraska Nightly — by Staff, Nebraska Nightly, University of Nebraska

Best All-Around Television News Magazine
Winner: The Point Newscast — by Aric Avey, Cienna Romines, David Mazula, Bethany French, The Point Newsroom, College of the Ozarks


All Platforms

Arts/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism
Winner: Unbound Book Festival preview — by Ezra Bitterman, McKenna Neef, Jane Steinbrecher, Natalie-Elizabeth Tan, Vox Magazine, University of Missouri

Campus Reporting
Winner: After two years, still no progress on proposed ISB 2 to replace Haworth Hall and other columns — by Matthew Petillo, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas

Food/Restaurant Journalism
Winner: Metro East Eats — by Staff, The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Regional Political Reporting
Winner: Daily Iowan Political Reporting — by Liam Halawith, The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa

Science/Environment/Climate Reporting
Winner: Students complete research at Fort Leavenworth military reservation — by Alicia Feyerherm, Tiger Media Network, Fort Hays State University

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