The CoJMC recently was honored for four Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ) awards in Region 7. Winners were announced at the spring 2019 regional conference, which was held April 5-6, in Warrensburg, Missouri.
Students in the spring 2018 Nebraska Mosaic course received three awards for their reporting project, “Painting a New Picture: New Americans and their Art,” The project was a finalist in the Best Use of Multimedia category and was named a winner in Online Feature Reporting and will advance to the SPJ national competition in that category. The project can be viewed at https://nebraskamosaic.atavist.com/painting-a-new-picture.
Additionally, Mosaic student 2018 alum Lindsey Yoneda was named a winner in the Online/Digital Feature Videography category for her Mosaic project, “What We Carried: Lincoln.” She will also advance to the national level. Her project can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GnyedPj5eQ&feature=youtu.be.
Students in the Nebraska Mosaic course, taught by Professor Michelle Hassler, publish stories for and about Nebraska’s refugees and immigrants. Students study global issues and often interview people from all over the world as they practice multimedia storytelling. The capstone course allows students to make an impact in the community.
“The students worked so hard on this project, but it was a labor of love for them,” Hassler said. “They were so excited and dedicated to tell the stories of refugee artists in Nebraska. It’s wonderful for them to be recognized by professionals for their excellent journalism.”
In addition, the fall 2018 Star City News class was also named a winner. The course is comprised of students from BRDC 472: Advanced Broadcast News, led by Professor Barney McCoy, and BRDC 462: Advanced Broadcast Production, led by Professor Laurie Thomas Lee. Students in the Star City News course produced 16 live half hour newscasts and supporting social media posts for LNKTV. The newscasts were available for viewing on all of Lincoln’s cable systems. The students also produced a two-hour live Election Night news special for LNKTV.
Their winning project can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/310856576.
“These outstanding students continued the award-winning legacy of journalistic excellence in our college,” McCoy said. “Their ability to work as a team was impressive. They made critical news judgements. They excelled in their individual reporting, producing and digital support roles each day. They pulled it all together to produce professional Star City News newscasts. I could not have been prouder of these fine broadcasters.”
A best in show Mark of Excellence (MOEy) award will be given for the overall best entries among all national winners from the SPJ’s 12 regions. The Society of Professional Journalists annually presents the Mark of Excellence Awards to honor the best of collegiate journalism in print, radio, television and online.