CONTACT:
Heather Porter, Programs Coordinator, 317-927-8000 ext. 204
Beth King, Communications Manager, 317-927-8000 ext. 211

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the Region 12 Mark of Excellence Award winners for the 2006 calendar year. This year, collegiate journalists submitted more than 3,300 entries in 39 categories across SPJ’s 12 regions.

The honorees were awarded certificates on March 31 during the Spring Conference held at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark. First-place regional winners will advance to the national round of judging, which takes place in early April. Winners will be announced in mid-May.

For additional information on the Mark of Excellence Awards, please contact Heather Porter at 317-927-8000 ext. 204 or hporter@spj.org

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization 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.

2006 Region 12 Winners:

Breaking News Reporting
•First Place: Daniel Monteverde, Loyola University New Orleans, “’Pathways’ Unveiled”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

General News Reporting
•First Place: Garesia Randle, Louisiana State University, “Waking old South Baton Rouge”
•Second Place: Clover Birdsell, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, “City scape melds past with change”
•Third Place: no award

In-Depth Reporting
•First Place: Ginger Gibson, Louisiana State University, “House vote changes produce few, incomplete records”
•Second Place: Will York, University of Tennessee-Martin, “Inappropriate relationship brings down chief”
•Third Place: Brandon Marcello, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, “Looking back in to the eye”

Feature Writing
•First Place: Jimmy Rumney, Louisiana State University, “Big Man on Campus”
•Second Place: Kelly Brown and Jared Bailey, Loyola University New Orleans, “Washed Away”
•Third Place: Richard Sisson, Louisiana Tech University, “Stone to premiere play…”

Sports Writing
•First Place: Amy Brittain, Louisiana State University, “Her Toughest Match”
•Second Place: Ramon Vargas, Loyola University New Orleans, “Ties that bind”
•Third Place: Nicole Mundy, Loyola University New Orleans, “Killer Instincts”

Editorial Writing
•First Place: Bryan Doyle, University of Mississippi
•Second Place: Cory Birdsong, University of Louisiana, Lafayette
•Third Place: The Meter Staff, Tennessee State University

Editorial Cartooning
•First Place: Joshua Morgan, Grambling State University, “The Gramblinite Cartoons”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

General Column Writing
•First Place: Jess Peregoy, Louisiana Tech University
•Second Place: April Reynolds, Louisiana Tech University
•Third Place: Marisa Turner, Grambling State University, “An Editor’s Perspective”

Sports Column Writing
•First Place: JJ Marshall, Louisiana Tech University
•Second Place: Brandon Harris, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, “Big Time”
•Third Place: Matt Dearman, Louisiana Tech University

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published at least 4 times per week)
•First Place: Staff, Louisiana State University, “The Daily Reveille”
•Second Place: Staff, University of Mississippi, “The Daily Mississippian”
•Third Place: Staff, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, “The Daily Beacon”

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (published less than 4 times per week)•First Place: Staff, Grambling State University, “The Gramblinite”
•Second Place: Staff, University of Tennessee-Martin, “The Pacer”
•Third Place: Staff, Southern University, “The Southern Digest”

Magazine Non-Fiction Article
•First Place: Tabatha Hunter, University of Mississippi, “Dakota Fanning, Georgia Peach”
•Second Place: Heather Miller, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, “Dege Legg”
•Third Place: no award

Best Student Magazine
•First Place: Staff, Southern University, “Ego Magazine”
•Second Place: Staff, Volunteer State Community College, “The Pioneer”
•Third Place: Staff, University of Mississippi, “Journalism Department Magazine”

Breaking News Photography
no awards

General News Photography
no awards

Feature Photography
no awards

Photo Illustration
no awards

Sports Photography
•First Place: Matthew Sharpe, University of Mississippi, “Alex Presley Watches Home”
•Second Place: Darryl D. Smith, Grambling State University, “Cornelius Mackey”
•Third Place: no award

Radio News Reporting
•First Place: Jon-Devin Carrere, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, “Willie Nelson Bust”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Radio Feature
•First Place: Michele Taylor, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, “The Devil’s Music”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Radio In-Depth Reporting
•First Place: Jon-Devin Carrere, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, “Street Racing”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award
Radio Sports Reporting
no awards

Radio Newscast
•First Place: KRVS-FM Staff, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, “Louisiana Focus”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Television Breaking News Reporting
no awards

Television General News Reporting
no awards

Television Feature
•First Place: Carson Roncketto, University of Arkansas, “Living with Tourettes”
•Second Place: Robin Yancey and Lori Lee, University of Arkansas, “Bruce Walker”
•Third Place: Carson Roncketto, University of Arkansas, “Senior Walk”

Television In-Depth Reporting
•First Place: M. Beth Turner, University of Arkansas, “Behind the Scenes of Television News”
•Second Place: Josh Ridgeway, University of Arkansas, “Northwest Arkansas Changes”
•Third Place: no award

Television Sports Reporting
no awards

Television News Photography
no awards

Television Feature Photography
•First Place: Robin Yancey and Lori Lee, University of Arkansas, “Bikes, Blues and BBQ”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Television Sports Photography
no awards

Television Newscast
•First Place: UATV Staff, University of Arkansas, “AOC: Arkansas on Campus”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Online News Reporting
•First Place: Daniel Monteverde, Loyola University New Orleans, “‘Pathways’ Protested”
•Second Place: The Meter Staff, Tennessee State University, “Mr. TSU switch”
•Third Place: no award

Online Feature Reporting
•First Place: Marissa Decuir, Amy Brittian, Daniel McBride and Adam Rogers, Louisiana State University, “Fire and Brimstone”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Online In-Depth Reporting
no awards

Online Sports Reporting
•First Place: Nicole Mundy and Ramon Vargas, Loyola University New Orleans, “Tulane vs. Loyola”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Online Opinion and Commentary
no awards

Best Affiliated Web site
no awards

Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication
no awards

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