Many students and the organizations themselves were recognized regionally by the Society of Professional Journalists.
Students from “Elon Local News” and The Pendulum, Elon University’s two student-run daily news-gathering organizations, were named finalists in the Society of Professional Journalists Region 2 Mark of Excellence Awards competition. The Pendulum, its website and “Elon Local News” themselves also claimed finalist nods.
Below is a list of the finalists:
- BEST ALL-AROUND NON-DAILY STUDENT NEWSPAPER — The Pendulum for its April 24, 2013, Sept. 25, 2013, and Nov. 20, 2013 editions
- BEST AFFILIATED WEBSITE — The Pendulum
- BEST ALL-AROUND TELEVISION NEWSCAST — Elon Local News for its Sept. 30, 2013 broadcast
- BEST ALL-AROUND RADIO NEWS CAST — ELN Radio for its Nov. 20, 2013 broadcast
- IN-DEPTH REPORTING (SMALL) — Ethan Smith for “Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining: The cost beyond a power bill”
- IN-DEPTH REPORTING (SMALL) — Katherine Blunt for “Scared into silence: Sexual assault persists as underreported college crime”
- IN-DEPTH REPORTING (SMALL) — Michael Bodley for “Subjected to satellite: Rural N.C. communities lag behind the possibilities of developed broadband”
- GENERAL NEWS REPORTING (SMALL) — Rebecca Iannucci for “Putting passion into practice: Teach for America remains successful despite criticism”
- GENERAL NEWS REPORTING (SMALL) — Ethan Smith for “National minimum wage at lowest real value since 1968, workers barely above poverty line”
- EDITORIAL WRITING (SMALL) — The Pendulum Editorial Board for “Why settle for lackluster leadership when it comes to controversial issues,” “Chick-fil-A (and its symbolism) to remain on campus” and “The future can wait: Elon needs to build for now”
- SPORTS WRITING (SMALL) — Andrew Wilson for “Pay for play: Ugly football games serve more purpose than entertainment”
- SPORTS WRITING (SMALL) — Andrew Wilson for “Back to basics: Kennedy cites ‘under control’ defense as key to successful 2013”
- PHOTO ILLUSTRATION (SMALL)— Al Drago for “Breaking the bank”
- PHOTO ILLUSTRATION (SMALL) — Katy Canada for “Would you like mold with that?”
- SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY (SMALL) — Al Drago for “Cameron Crazies” (The Pendulum) and “Wheel Fan” (Raleigh News & Observer)
- GENERAL NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY (SMALL) — Al Drago for “The First Day of School” and “Coming Home” (Raleigh News & Observer)
- BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY (SMALL) — Al Drago for “Moral Monday Takes a Stand” (Raleigh News & Observer)
- FEATURE WRITING (SMALL) — Abby Franklin for “Seeing black, feeling color: Music education student overcomes disability to express art”
- FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY (SMALL) — Al Drago for “Students relaxing in spring”
- TELEVISION GENERAL NEWS REPORTING — Nicole Chadwick for “Elon Dining Problems”
- TELEVISION BREAKING NEWS REPORTING — Joe Bruno for “Jason Swepson Fired”
- TELEVISION IN-DEPTH REPORTING — Nicole Chadwick, Jasmine Turner, Megan Foard and Mei Bess for “Diversity at Elon”
- ONLINE SPORTS REPORTING — Justin Biegel and Brennan McGovern for “From Elon to the NFL: Mellette Drafted by Super Bowl Champion Ravens”
SPJ Region 2 Mark of Excellence Awards are 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 regional finishers. Region 2 comprises North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware. Results of the Region 2 competition will be revealed at the regional conference awards luncheon Saturday, March 29 in Washington, D.C.