The two media organizations won in several categories at the regional gathering and claimed four first-place finishes.
The Pendulum, Elon University’s student news organization, and Elon Local News, Elon’s student newscast, were honored April 20 with Mark of Excellence Awards at the Society of Professional Journalists Region 2 conference in Norfolk, Va.
Region 2 awards were given in newspaper, TV, radio and online categories. Awards are given only to those who place in the top three in the region. First-place winners at the regional level move on to the national competition, at which time they will compete with 11 other first-place regional finishers. Region 2 comprises North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware. Below is the list of winners and where they placed in specific categories.
- BEST AFFILIATED WEBSITE (MEDIUM) — FIRST PLACE to The Pendulum
- BREAKING NEWS REPORTING (MEDIUM) — FIRST PLACE to Katherine Blunt for “Flowers vetoes resolution against Chick-fil-A”
- PHOTO ILLUSTRATION (MEDIUM) — FIRST PLACE to Claire Esparros for “Chick-fil-A: Here to stay?”
- ONLINE IN-DEPTH REPORTING (MEDIUM) — FIRST PLACE to Brennan McGovern & Joe Bruno (ELN) for “Investigation of Alamance County Sheriff’s Office“
- BEST ALL-AROUND NON-DAILY STUDENT NEWSPAPER (MEDIUM) — SECOND PLACE to The Pendulum for its March 7, 2012, Oct. 3, 2012, and Nov. 28, 2012 editions
- FEATURE WRITING (MEDIUM) — SECOND PLACE to Katherine Blunt for “Fraternity house maintenance director rebuilds life in wake of conquered alcoholism”
- IN-DEPTH REPORTING (MEDIUM) — SECOND PLACE to Katherine Blunt for “Water worries: Fracking studies raise concerns among Chatham County farmers”
- TELEVISION IN-DEPTH REPORTING — SECOND PLACE to Joe Bruno (ELN) for “DOJ investigation into ACSO”
- TELEVISION SPORTS REPORTING — SECOND PLACE to Steve Roth (ELN) for “Getting in the head of a concussion”
- BEST STUDENT MAGAZINE — THIRD PLACE to The Edge for its Winter 2012 edition
Pendulum news editor Katie Blunt, Pendulum design editor Kaitlin Dunn and Coordinator of Student Media Colin Donohue were in attendance to participate in the conference’s sessions and accept the awards.