University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications students received nine Region 7 Mark of Excellence awards from the Society of Professional Journalists.
SPJ’s Region 7 comprises Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Award recipients were honored at the Region 7 Spring Conference in Overland Park, Kansas. Winners will move on to the national Merit of Excellence competition among category winners from the 12 SPJ regions.
Five CoJMC students were winners of a division and will move on to the national competition. National winners will be notified in late spring and recognized at the Excellence in Journalism 2016 Sept. 18-20 in New Orleans.
The awards honor the best in student journalism. As such, judges were directed to choose only those entries that they felt were outstanding work worthy of such an honor. If the judges determined that none of the entries rose to the level of excellence, no award was given. The MOE Awards honor the best of collegiate journalism from a calendar year.
School divisions are based on student enrollment, which includes both graduate and undergraduate enrollment: Large schools have more than 10,000 students and small schools have fewer than 9,999 students.
NEWSPAPERS
Sports Writing (Large)
Winner: “Mike Riley isn’t following in his father’s footsteps anymore” by Chris Heady of Leawood, Kansas
ONLINE
Online Feature Reporting
Finalist: “La Cinega” by Mara Klecker of Hermosa, South Dakota
Online In-depth Reporting
Finalist: “Sexual Assault Awareness Continues to Increase at UNL” by Jordan Huesers of Overland Park, Kansas
Online News Reporting
Winner: “UNL Student Veterans’ Lives and College Experiences” by Benjamin A.Schoenkin of Lincoln
RADIO BROADCAST
Radio In-Depth Reporting
Finalist: “Nebraska Euthanasia Debate” by Benjamin A. Schoenkin
Radio Sports Reporting
Winner: “Husker Countdown-BYU Football Suspensions” by Tommy Rezac of Valparaiso
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: “Drag Show: A new man” by Conor Dunn of Bennington
Television General News Reporting
Finalist: “Alzheimer’s: Forgotten Lives” by Erica Nett of Stoughton, Wisconsin
Television Sports Reporting
Winner: Rodeo Club by Joy Carey of Omaha
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.
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/6t9n