Maryland at Top of Regional SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards
For immediate release, April 4, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md.— With 27 awards, including 12 first place, students from the University of Maryland and the Philip Merrill College of Journalism were among the most lauded in the Region 2 Mark of Excellence Awards presented by the Society of Professional Journalists at the regional conference April 1.
The college-produced radio show “Terp Weekly Edition” on WMUC and the online news magazine “Maryland Newsline” were named best in the region and will advance to the nationals. The independent student newspaper, The Diamondback, overtook North Carolina’s Daily Tar Heel as the best daily newspaper.
"We're quite proud of our students and faculty and congratulate them for this excellent showing," said Dean Thomas Kunkel. "We celebrate their individual achievements, of course, but the strong showing in the SPJ competition also speaks to the school's commitment to journalism across all platforms."
Students from Maryland won six awards for news-editorial, five photo, 12 broadcast and four for online news. They were selected from hundreds of entries in 43 categories submitted by students in the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Delaware and Virginia. Maryland was second for the number of awards received this year, just behind the University of North Carolina and well ahead of other area schools including The George Washington University, American, Washington and Lee, Virginia Commonwealth, Western Carolina, Towson and Regent universities.
First place winners will advance to the national competition where they will compete against other top finishers from across the country.
This year’s awards go to:
NEWS-EDITORIAL:
General Column Writing:
Second Place – Danny Jacobs for “The Ha-Ha Platter”
General News Reporting:
Second Place – Robert Salonga for “Hard-Hit Maryland Community Soldiers”
In-Depth Reporting:
Third Place – Katrina Altersitz and Mary Ellen Slater for “Homestretch for Maryland Racing?”
Feature Writing:
First Place – Kathleen Cullinan for “Mothers Losing Sons to War”
Second Place – Chris Landers for “On Your March, Get Set, Mow”
Best All Around Daily Newspaper:
First Place – The Diamondback, staff
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Breaking News Photography:
Second Place – Pouya Dianat for “Huddle”
General News Photography:
First Place – Pouya Dianat for “Scantily Clad”
Feature Photography:
Second Place – Pouya Dianat for “2005 Terrapin Basketball Preview”
Sports Photography:
First Place – Pouya Dianat for “Eye of the Tiger”
Second Place – Pouya Dianat for “Players Surround Friedgen”
BROADCAST:
Radio News Reporting:
First Place – Danielle Hayner for “Faking It”
Third Place – Mark Leff for “Bridging the Gap”
Radio Feature:
Second Place – Linsey Edwards, “Are You Game”
Radio In-Depth Reporting:
First Place – Matt Holmes for “Henry Plummer”
Third Place – Amanda Swartz and Andrea Berry for “Student IDs”
Radio Sports Reporting:
First Place – Mark Butman, for “Diamond Dreams”
Second Place – Jackie Congedo for “It’s a Riot”
Radio Newscast:
First Place – “Terp Weekly Edition,” Staff
TV Feature Reporting:
Third Place – Tricia Barba for “Roller Grannies”
TV In-Depth Reporting:
Second Place – Dave Kosin for “Chesapeake Bay Health”
TV Feature Photography:
Third Place – Andrew Williamson for “Veterans’ Day”
TV Newscast:
Second Place – “Maryland Newsline,” Staff
ONLINE:
Online News Reporting:
First Place – Maryland Newsline and Capital News Service for “Inauguration 2005”
Online Feature Reporting:
First Place – April Chan for “New Orleans Family Makes Home in Maryland”
Online In-Depth Reporting:
First Place – Mike Santa Rita, Melanie Lo, Ryan Basen and Kim Hart for “Uncovered: Maryland’s Health Insurance Crisis”
Best All-Around Independent Online Publication
First Place – “Maryland Newsline,” Staff
For more information contact: Matthew C. Sheehan at 301.405.8320.