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 2007 calendar year. This year, collegiate journalists submitted more than 3,400 entries in 39 categories across SPJ’s 12 regions.

The honorees were awarded certificates on March 29 during the SPJ Region 12 and 8 joint Spring Conference held at Loyola University in New Orleans. First place regional winners will advance to the national round of judging, which takes place next month. National 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.

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. For more information about SPJ, visit www.spj.org.

2007 Region 12 Winners:

Breaking News Reporting
•First Place: Ginger Gibson, Louisiana State University, “Carlotta Street party broken up early”
•Second Place: Bart Pohlman, University of Arkansas, “Broyles’ replacement announced”
•Third Place: Sarah Yokubitis, Louisiana State University, “Students respond to campus tragedy”

General News Reporting
•First Place: Ramon Vargas, Loyola University New Orleans, “Triple Jeopardy”
•Second Place: Sarah Yokubatis, Louisiana Stat University, “PAR report calls charity system inefficient, unfair”
•Third Place: Ramon Vargas, Loyola University New Orleans, “End of the Road”

In-Depth Reporting
•First Place: Amy Brittain, Louisiana State University, “Pokey Chatman resignation”
•Second Place: Nicholas Persac, Louisiana State University, “University increases fire protection measures”
•Third Place: Elizabeth Miller, Louisiana State University, “Middleton Library restrooms serve as sex ‘hot spots’’

Feature Writing
•First Place: Orneno Wright, Grambling State University, “Comedy Fame Beckons Student”
•Second Place: Rebekah Burns, University of Arkansas, “Cellular Distraction”
•Third Place: Zach Smith, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, “Kickball: More than Child’s Play”

Sports Writing
•First Place: Ramon Vargas, Loyola University New Orleans, “Coach crusades to get job done”
•Second Place: Tyler Batiste, Louisiana State University, “Miles away from home”
•Third Place: Moye L.P. Boudreaux, Nicholls University, “Multi-culture players comprise tennis teams”

Editorial Writing
•First Place: The Arkansas Traveler Staff, University of Arkansas
•Second Place: The Gramblinite Editorial Board, Grambling State University
•Third Place: The Meter Editorial Board, Tennessee State University

Editorial Cartooning
no awards in this category

General Column Writing
•First Place: Imani Jackson, Grambling State University, “Jackson Columns”
•Second Place: KC Ifeanyi, Louisiana Tech University, “Diary of a Mad Black Man”
•Third Place: Brian C. Browley, Tennessee State University, “From Where I Stand”

Sports Column Writing
•First Place: Bart Pohlman, University of Arkansas, “Off the Foul Pohl”
•Second Place: JJ Marshall, Louisiana Tech University, “From the Sports Desk”
•Third Place: Michael Nissman, Loyola University New Orleans, “Freezing Na-Na’s”

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published at least 4 times per week)
•First Place: Staff, Louisiana State University, “The Daily Reveille”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (published less than 4 times per week)
•First Place: Staff, Loyola University New Orleans, “The Maroon”
•Second Place: Staff, University of Arkansas, “The Arkansas Traveler”
•Third Place: Staff, University of Tennessee-Martin, “The Pacer”

Magazine Non-Fiction Article
•First Place: Marty Garner, Louisiana State University, “Culture Clash”
•Second Place: Rachel Evenson, Louisiana State University, “Vive La Louisiane”
•Third Place: Derek Albert, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, “Sugarcane Farmers May Start ‘growing’ ethanol”

Best Student Magazine
•First Place: Staff, Louisiana State University, “Legacy”
•Second Place: Staff, University of Mississippi, “M Magazine”
•Third Place: no award

Breaking News Photography
•First Place: Kenneth Cummings, Tennessee State University, “Miss Nat’l Black College Hall of Game”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

General News Photography
•First Place: Darryl D. Smith, Grambling State University, “Saying Goodbye”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Feature Photography
•First Place: Darryl D. Smith, Grambling State University, “Omega Probate”
•Second Place: Darryl D. Smith, Grambling State University, “The World Famed”
•Third Place: no award

Photo Illustration
•First Place: Michael Nissman, Steve Kashishian, Daniel Monteverde & Ramon Vargas, Loyola University New Orleans, “Miami Spice”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Sports Photography
•First Place: Kenneth Cummings, Tennessee State University, “Houston dives for loose ball”
•Second Place: Michael Nissman, Loyola University new Orleans, “Oh My God”
•Third Place: Donald Page, Louisiana Tech University, “Junior third baseman dives to make a catch”

Radio News Reporting
no awards in this category

Radio Feature
no awards in this category

Radio In-Depth Reporting
•First Place: Sean Manuel, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, “Honey Bee Story”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Radio Sports Reporting
•First Place: Mark Talley & Christopher Gordy, Louisiana State University, “LSU BCS Championship”
•Second Place: Christopher Gordy & Mark Talley, Louisiana State University, “LSU Men’s Basketball”
•Third Place: no award

Radio Newscast
no awards in this category

Television Breaking News Reporting
no awards in this category

Television General News Reporting
•First Place: John Reis, Southeastern Louisiana University, Laptop Initiative”
•Second Place: Rob Krieger, Louisiana State University, “Negative Champaign”
•Third Place: Elizabeth Vowell, University of Mississippi, “Strut Your Mutt”

Television Feature
•First Place: Sarah Moore, University of Arkansas, “Orrery”
•Second Place: Lauren Thom, Louisiana State University, “Hubig’s Pie Factory”
•Third Place: Robert Duncan, University of Arkansas, “UA Special Collections”

Television In-Depth Reporting
•First Place: Marci Manley & Lindsey Fields, University of Arkansas, “Immigration: Integration vs. Deportation”
•Second Place: Hayot Tuychiev, University of Arkansas, “The Story of Jarrod Garrison”
•Third Place: Claire Camapssi, University of Mississippi, “Greeks Forced Out”

Television Sports Reporting
•First Place: Chris Coleman, Southeastern Louisiana University, “Rachel Rey”
•Second Place: Chris Coleman, Southeastern Louisiana University, “Saints-Panthers Analysis”
•Third Place: Justin Gloor & Liz Bryant, University of Arkansas, “Razorback Kicker”

Television News Photography
no awards in this category

Television Feature Photography
no awards in this category

Television Sports Photography
•First Place: Chris Guagliardo, Dustin Thomas, Nick Brilleaux & John Reis, Southeastern Louisiana University, “Lady Lions vs. UTSA Game”
•Second Place: Chris Guagliardo, Southeastern Louisiana University, “Southeastern vs. Tulane Game”
•Third Place: no award

Television Newscast
•First Place: The Southeastern Channel Staff, Southeastern Louisiana University, “Northshore News”
•Second Place: News Staff, University of Arkansas, “UATV News”
•Third Place: UATV Staff, University of Arkansas, “AOC: Arkansas on Campus”

Online News Reporting
•First Place: Shannon Petrie, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, “Opposing abortion views displayed on pedestrian walkway”
•Second Place: Shannon Petrie, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, “Public meeting displays Knoxville South Waterfront Plans”
•Third Place: no award

Online Feature Reporting
•First Place: Amanda Willis, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, “Organization strives to aid crisis in Darfur”
•Second Place: Will York, University of Tennessee at Martin, “Innovation keeps violet growers from being blue”
•Third Place: Bridget Hardy, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, “A Flea in Her Ear’ takes the UT stage”

Online In-Depth Reporting
•First Place: Will York, University of Tennessee at Martin, “Ex-Wife: Drag-Racer Devastated by Wreck”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Online Sports Reporting
•First Place: Cliff Chartrand, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, “Rossi strikes in overtime”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

Online Opinion and Commentary
•First Place: Bridget Hady, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, “Freedom of Speech or Out of Control?
•Second Place: Katherine Leone, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, “Tip your bartender”
•Third Place: no award

Best Affiliated Web site
no awards in this category

Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication
•First Place: Staff, University of Tennessee, “Tennessee Journalist”
•Second Place: no award
•Third Place: no award

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