Hurricane Isaac issue nets SU Digest national recognition
Chicago, Ill. — The Southern Digest, Southern University’s student newspaper, earned national top 10 recognition at the 91st Annual National College Media Convention for its special edition coverage as Hurricane Isaac bore down on the Gulf Coast.
The Digest’s August 28 issue earned a seventh-place finish in the convention’s Best of Show competition in the special edition category. The Digest finished ahead of larger publications such as North Carolina’s The Daily Tar Heel, Georgia State’s The Signal and Indiana’s Indiana Daily Student.
The announcement came during the conference, held this fall at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers and co-hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association.
“I am excited that we placed ahead of some of the schools we utilize to make our product better,” Digest editor-in-chief Evan Taylor said. “I hope that the Southern University community will continue to let us know how to better serve them. I look forward to further improving our publication.”
According to the Associated Collegiate Press, the Best of Show competition is held at all conventions and workshops sponsored by the ACP. The number of entries and places awarded may change from year to year, usually corresponding with overall attendance.
Only publications and broadcast teams with students in attendance at the convention are eligible to enter the contest.
The Best of Show signifies overall excellence among the attendees and entries.
“This recognition just illustrates what we’ve said in this office for a long time,” adviser Fredrick Batiste said. “Our students are as talented as students at larger schools, and there is not much separation between the Digest and these larger student publications.”
In the photo (L - R): Jessica Sarpy, commentary editor; Aristide Phillips, sports editor; and Evan Taylor editor-in-chief.