SU’s Digest earns awards at HBCU Student News Media Conference
The Southern Digest staff received honors in eight categories in the 14th Annual National HBCU Student News Media Conference's "Excellence in Journalism" Contest.
The recognition for Southern University's student-run newspaper included four first-place awards, two second-place awards, one third-place award and an honorable mention. The Excellence in Journalism Contest comprised of work from student publications at Historically Black Colleges and Universities covering the 2011 calendar year.
First-place honors went to editor-in-chief Evan Taylor for best signed commentary or column writing; former sports writer Morris Dillard for best sports news or game story; and the Digest staff for best informational graphic or news illustration along with best online multimedia package.
The Digest staff garnered second-place honors for its overall sports coverage and general excellence in regular production - producing and publishing issues more than once weekly.
Taylor earned a third-place award in spot news for coverage of Southern University System students suing the state Board of Regents and Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The Digest staff attained honorable mention in their coverage of the university's ongoing financial crisis.
The contest was facilitated by the Black College Communication Association, a nonprofit organization that works to identify resources to strengthen communications programs at HBCUs, provide technical assistance to HBCUs seeking accreditation and establish hardware systems which can be shared by member institutions to promote the understanding and advancement of communication as an academic and professional field.
In addition, Southern Digest adviser Fredrick Batiste was appointed as BCCA vice chairman during the conference, joining another Southern alumnus, Tuskegee University public affairs specialist Janene Tate, on the organization's board.
Conference sponsors included The Virginian-Pilot, Newspaper Association of American and National Newspaper Publishers Association. A panel of professional journalists served as contest judges.