Students in Elon University's student news organizations were named finalists and winners in a regional Society of Professional Journalists awards contest.
The Pendulum and Elon Local News, Elon University’s student news media organizations, were honored March 29 with several Mark of Excellence Awards—including 11 regional winners—at the Society of Professional Journalists Region 2 conference at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
The Pendulum was named the region’s top non-daily student newspaper, and junior journalism major Al Drago was named a regional winner in five categories for work he did for the Pendulum and the Raleigh News & Observer.
Region 2 awards were given in newspaper, TV, radio, arts/graphics and online categories. Awards are given to regional winners and finalists, with the winners moving on to the national competition, at which time they will compete with winners from the other 11 regions. 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. (The “SMALL” designation indicates a university enrollment cut-off of 9,999 students.)
NEWSPAPER
- REGIONAL WINNER to The Pendulum for BEST ALL-AROUND NON-DAILY STUDENT NEWSPAPER for its April 24, 2013, Sept. 25, 2013, and Nov. 20, 2013 editions
- REGIONAL WINNER to senior Ethan Smith for IN-DEPTH REPORTING (SMALL) for “Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining: The cost beyond a power bill”
- REGIONAL WINNER to senior Rebecca Iannucci for GENERAL NEWS REPORTING (SMALL) for “Putting passion into practice: Teach for America remains successful despite criticism”
- REGIONAL WINNER to senior Andrew Wilson for SPORTS WRITING (SMALL) for “Pay for play: Ugly football games serve more purpose than entertainment”
- REGIONAL FINALIST to junior Katherine Blunt for IN-DEPTH REPORTING (SMALL) for “Scared into silence: Sexual assault persists as underreported college crime”
- REGIONAL FINALIST to sophomore Michael Bodley for IN-DEPTH REPORTING (SMALL) for “Subjected to satellite: Rural N.C. communities lag behind the possibilities of developed broadband”
- REGIONAL FINALIST to senior Ethan Smith for GENERAL NEWS REPORTING (SMALL) for “National minimum wage at lowest real value since 1968, workers barely above poverty line”
- REGIONAL FINALIST to The Pendulum Editorial Board for EDITORIAL WRITING (SMALL) for “Why settle for lackluster leadership when it comes to controversial issues,” “Chick-fil-A (and its symbolism) to remain on campus” and “The future can wait: Elon needs to build for now”
- REGIONAL FINALIST to senior Andrew Wilson for SPORTS WRITING (SMALL) for “Back to basics: Kennedy cites ‘under control’ defense as key to successful 2013”
- REGIONAL FINALIST to Abby Franklin for FEATURE WRITING (SMALL) for “Seeing black, feeling color: Music education student overcomes disability to express art”
TELEVISION
- REGIONAL WINNER to senior Nicole Chadwick for TELEVISION GENERAL NEWS REPORTING for “Elon Dining Problems”
- REGIONAL WINNER to Joe Bruno for TELEVISION BREAKING NEWS REPORTING for “Jason Swepson Fired”
- REGIONAL FINALIST to Elon Local News for BEST ALL-AROUND TELEVISION NEWSCAST for its Sept. 30, 2013 broadcast
- REGIONAL FINALIST to senior Nichole Chadwick, junior Jasmine Turner, sophomore Megan Foard and senior Mei Bess for TELEVISION IN-DEPTH REPORTING for “Diversity at Elon”
RADIO
- REGIONAL FINALIST to ELN Radio for BEST ALL-AROUND RADIO NEWSCAST for its Nov. 20, 2013 broadcast
ARTS/GRAPHICS
- REGIONAL WINNER to junior Al Drago for PHOTO ILLUSTRATION (SMALL) for “Breaking the bank”
- REGIONAL WINNER to junior Al Drago for SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY for “Cameron Crazies” (The Pendulum)
- REGIONAL WINNER to junior Al Drago for GENERAL NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY (SMALL) for work he completed for the Raleigh News & Observer
- REGIONAL WINNER to junior Al Drago for BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY (SMALL) for “Moral Monday Takes a Stand” (Raleigh News & Observer)
- REGIONAL WINNER to junior Al Drago for FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY (SMALL) for work he completed for the Raleigh News & Observer
- REGIONAL FINALIST to junior Katy Canada for PHOTO ILLUSTRATION (SMALL) for “Would you like mold with that?”
- REGIONAL FINALIST to junior Al Drago for SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY for “Wheel Fan” (Raleigh News & Observer)
- REGIONAL FINALIST to junior Al Drago for General News Photography (SMALL) for work he completed for the Raleigh News & Observer
- REGIONAL FINALIST to junior Al Drago for FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY (SMALL) for work he completed for the Raleigh NEws & Observer
- REGIONAL FINALIST to junior Al Drago for FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY (SMALL) for “Students relaxing in spring” (The Pendulum)
ONLINE
- REGIONAL FINALIST to The Pendulum for BEST AFFILIATED WEBSITE for The Pendulum
- REGIONAL FINALIST to sophomore Justin Biegel and junior Brennan McGovern for ONLINE SPORTS REPORTING for “From Elon to the NFL: Mellette Drafted by Super Bowl Champion Ravens”
Coordinator of Student Media and Instructor Colin Donohue was in attendance to accept the awards.