SPJ Announces 2007 Mark of Excellence Award Winners From Ark.; La.; Miss.; Tenn.

Market Wire, March, 2008

The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the Mark of Excellence Award winners from Ark.; La.; Miss. and Tenn. for the 2007 calendar year. This year, collegiate journalists submitted more than 3,400 entries in 39 categories across SPJ's 12 regions.

The honorees were awarded certificates on March 29 during the SPJ Region 12 and 8 joint Spring Conference held at Loyola University in New Orleans. First place regional winners will advance to the national round of judging, which takes place next month. National winners will be announced in mid May.

For additional information on the Mark of Excellence Awards, please contact Heather Porter at 317-927-8000 ext. 204.

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

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, 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. For more information about SPJ, visit www.spj.org .

2007 Winners:

Breaking News Reporting

--  First Place: Ginger Gibson, Louisiana State University, "Charlotta
    Street party broken up early"
--  Second Place: Bart Pohlman, University of Arkansas, "Broyles' replacement
    announced"
--  Third Place: Sarah Yokubitis, Louisiana State University, "Students
    respond to campus tragedy"
    

General News Reporting

--  First Place: Ramon Vargas, Loyola University New Orleans, "Triple
    Jeopardy"
--  Second Place: Sarah Yokubitis, Louisiana Stat University, "PAR report
    calls charity system inefficient, unfair"
--  Third Place: Ramon Vargas, Loyola University New Orleans, "End of the
    Road"
    

In-Depth Reporting

--  First Place: Amy Brittain, Louisiana State University, "Pokey Chatman
    resignation"
--  Second Place: Nicholas Persac, Louisiana State University, "University
    increases fire protection measures"
--  Third Place: Elizabeth Miller, Louisiana State University, "Middleton
    Library restrooms serve as sex 'hot spots'"
    

Feature Writing

--  First Place: Orneno Wright, Grambling State University, "Comedy Fame
    Beckons Student"
--  Second Place: Rebekah Burns, University of Arkansas, "Cellular
    Distraction"
--  Third Place: Zach Smith, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, "Kickball:
    More than Child's Play"
    

Sports Writing

--  First Place: Ramon Vargas, Loyola University  New Orleans, "Coach
    crusades to get job done"
--  Second Place: Tyler Batiste, Louisiana State University, "Miles away from
    home"
--  Third Place: Moye L.P. Boudreaux, Nicholls University, "Multi-culture
    players comprise tennis teams"
    

Editorial Writing

--  First Place: The Arkansas Traveler Staff, University of Arkansas
--  Second Place: The Gramblinite Editorial Board, Grambling State University
--  Third Place: The Meter Editorial Board, Tennessee State University
    

Editorial Cartooning

--  no awards in this category
    

General Column Writing

--  First Place: Imani Jackson, Grambling State University, "Jackson
    Columns"
--  Second Place: KC Ifeanyi, Louisiana Tech University, "Diary of a Mad
    Black Man"
--  Third Place: Brian C. Browley, Tennessee State University, "From Where I
    Stand"
    

Sports Column Writing

--  First Place: Bart Pohlman, University of Arkansas, "Off the Foul Pohl"
--  Second Place: JJ Marshall, Louisiana Tech University, "From the Sports
    Desk"
--  Third Place: Michael Nissman, Loyola University New Orleans,
    "Freezing Na-Na's"
    

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published at least 4 times per week)

--  First Place: Staff, Louisiana State University, "The Daily Reveille"
--  Second Place: no award
--  Third Place: no award
    

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (published less than 4 times per week)

--  First Place: Staff, Loyola University New Orleans, "The Maroon"
--  Second Place: Staff, University of Arkansas, "The Arkansas Traveler"
--  Third Place: Staff, University of Tennessee-Martin, "The Pacer"
    

Magazine Non-Fiction Article

--  First Place: Marty Garner, Louisiana State University, "Culture Clash"
--  Second Place: Rachel Evenson, Louisiana State University, "Vive La
    Louisiane"
--  Third Place: Derek Albert, University of Louisiana at Lafayette,
    "Sugarcane Farmers May Start 'growing' ethanol"
    

Best Student Magazine

--  First Place: Staff, Louisiana State University, "Legacy"
--  Second Place: Staff, University of Mississippi, "M Magazine"
--  Third Place: no award
    

Breaking News Photography

--  First Place: Kenneth Cummings, Tennessee State University, "Miss Nat'l
    Black College Hall of Game"
--  Second Place: no award
--  Third Place: no award
    

General News Photography

--  First Place: Darryl D. Smith, Grambling State University, "Saying
    Goodbye"
--  Second Place: no award
--  Third Place: no award
    

Feature Photography