FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 21, 2008
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications, (304) 696-7153
 

Marshall University students excel in SPJ awards

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Students from Marshall University’s W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications were honored with several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists on Saturday, March 15 during the Region 4 Spring Conference in Pittsburgh.

Marshall students received 14 Mark of Excellence Awards at the conference, which took place at the William Penn Hotel. Journalism students from Michigan, Ohio, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia participated in the conference. Students from 18 public and private universities in Region 4 submitted 377 entries in different categories.

The winners received certificates and the first-place regional winners will advance to the national competition in April. National awards will be announced in May.

“Marshall students have always performed well, both in print and radio categories,” said Nerissa Young, advisor of The Parthenon, Marshall University’s student newspaper. “We know we have good students; these awards validate that claim.”

Dr. Chuck G. Bailey, professor of Radio-Television Production and Management in the School of Journalism, said Marshall’s radio students have established a tradition of being able to successfully compete at the national, regional or state level with other student-operated college radio stations.

“This solid performance in SPJ’s Mark of Excellence Contest is further evidence of the quality of the work performed by our talented broadcasting students at WMUL-FM and the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications,” Bailey said.

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization. Members of the society are dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

The organization was founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi. The Society of Professional Journalists 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.

The following are Marshall’s award winners:

Breaking News Reporting

Second place: Casey Rowe, a senior from Scott Depot, W.Va.; Sarina Lopresti, a senior from Poughquag, N.Y.; and Leann Dickens, a senior from Orgas, W.Va., “Emmons fire kills 9, including students”

Editorial Writing

First place: Kristin Steele, a junior from Wayne, W.Va., and Brad Bader, a graduate student from Winfield, W.Va.

Breaking News Photography

First place: Jennifer Chapman, a senior from Barboursville, W.Va., “Stirring up campus”

Radio News Reporting