The Pendulum, Elon's weekly student newspaper, and Phoenix14News, Elon's weekly student newscast were honored March 27 with Mark of Excellence Awards at the Society of Professional Journalists Region 2 competition in College Park, Md.
Region 2 awards were given in newspaper, TV, radio and online categories. Awards are given only to those who place in the top three in the region. First-place winners at the regional level move on to the national competition, at which time they will compete with 11 other first-place finishers. 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.
- Phoenix14News placed first in the BEST ALL-AROUND TELEVISION NEWS CAST category. The show will move on to the national competition.
- Seniors Randy Gyllenhaal and Drake Springer placed first in the TELEVISION GENERAL NEWS REPORTING category for the story “Driven to Distraction.” They will move on to the national competition.
- Seniors Pam Richter and Ashley Barnas and sophomore Sam Calvert placed first in the ONLINE SPORTS REPORTING category for the Fall 2009 Sports Preview. They will move on to the national competition.
- Senior Morgan Little placed first in the ONLINE OPINION & COMMENTARY category for his staff editorials. He will move on to the national competition
- Seniors David Wells and Caroline Matthews placed first in the PHOTO ILLUSTRATION category for “How to Kick a Field Goal.” They will move on to the national competition.
- Little placed second in the EDITORIAL WRITING category for his staff editorials.
- Junior Lindsay Fendt placed second in the BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY category for her photo that accompanied the “Danger in the Dark” story.
- Seniors Angie Lovelace and Barnas placed second in the FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY category for “Lupe Rocks Elon.”
- Wells placed second in the SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY category for “They’re Back.”
- Fendt placed third in the SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY category for “Carter improves on and off court.”
- The Pendulum Online won third place in the BEST AFFILIATED WEB SITE.
Pendulum editor in chief Pam Richter, managing editor Anna Johnson and assistant sports editor Conor O’Neill, as well as Pendulum adviser and coordinator of student media Colin Donohue, were in attendance to participate in the conference’s sessions and accept the awards.