NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Southern Digest at Southern University and A&M College took top honors at the National HBCU Student News Media Conference, winning Best Student Newspaper, plus four first-place awards and three second-place honors.

The judges praised the Southern Digest for its hurricane coverage. "The Southern Digest staff grabs the top spot because of its excellent work on ‘Keeping an eye on Isaac.’ From the basic hard news to tips on survival to strong art and graphics to shelter information, this newspaper had everything," the judges said. They also praised the Digest for its "consistently strong covers" (first place, Best Design-tabloid), in-depth news reporting, spot news coverage and sports coverage. The Digest took first place in all of those categories.

Photo by Kangming Ma

Wendi Thomas, Lydia McCoy, Reginald Stuart at student media conference

Other winners were the Campus Echo at North Carolina Central University with 11 total awards including Best Student Newspaper (non-regular production) and two others for first place. The FAMUan at Florida A&M University and the Hampton Script at Hampton University each won six awards.

"These entries and winners show a real passion for journalism from a new generation of journalists," said Reginald Stuart, contest coordinator and recruiter for the McClatchy Company. "We’re excited about their future and look forward to seeing their work in media."

The winners were announced at the annual HBCU Student Media Conference, which met at the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute on the Vanderbilt University campus.

The contest is sponsored annually by the BCCA, a not-for-profit organization established through a grant from the Freedom Forum and comprised of historically black colleges and universities with communications programs.

"The awards show the wealth of talent we have at HBCUs because the awards where spread among the schools," said Valerie D. White, chairwoman of the Black College Communication Association. "I am grateful to the judges for providing this educational service to our students.

The mission of BCCA is to identify resources necessary for strengthening communications programs at HBCUs; provide technical assistance to HBCUs seeking accreditation; and establish state-of-the-art hardware systems which can be shared by member institutions to promote the understanding and advancement of communication as an academic and professional field.

List of 2012 HBCU Student Media Award Winners

1. Spot News

First Place

Evan Taylor, Clogged storm drains cause water hazards, Southern Digest, Southern University and A&M University, Oct. 30, 2012

Second Place

Chelsea Burwell, Students spot bed bugs, The News Argus, Winston-Salem State University, Oct. 30, 2012

Third Place

Vesma Pennant , Students work to prevent Highway 6 landfill, The Panther, Prairie View A&M University, (no date on submission)

2. Best News Stories, Investigative or In-Depth Stories

First Place

Keeping an eye on Isaac, Southern Digest, Southern University and A&M College

Second Place

Phasing out SUBR Architecture series, Southern Digest, Southern University and A&M College

Third Place

The battle for America, a four-part series:　Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University

Honorable Mention

Jones, Coleman indicted, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University

3. Best News Coverage

First Place

The　Gramblinite, Grambling State University, for its coverage of the presidential election

Second Place

The　FAMUan, Florida　A&M University, for its package one year after the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion

Third Place

The　A&T Register, North Carolina　A&T State University, for its report on Obama's visit to a rival school to talk about student loan debt

4. Best Sports News or Game Story

First Place

Tierra Smith, No contract, yes lawsuit, The Gramblinite

　Second Place

Symone Kidd and Paul Smith, Aggies mark their territory, The A&T Register

Third Place

Jerome Brown Jr., Not quite there yet, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University

5. Best Sports Feature Story

First Place

Triples, trimesters and trials, Brandon Lee, The FAMUan, Florida A&M University

Second Place

Tierra Smith, Promising debut for unlikely Tiger, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University

Third Place

Brandon Dorsey III, Lady Pirates upend UMES Hawks, Hampton Script, Hampton University

6. Best Overall Sports Coverage

First Place

Aristide Phillips and Morris Dillard III, Jaguars must regroup for PV, Southern Digest, Southern University and A&M College

Second Place

Aristide Phillips and Morris Dillard III, SU holds off Grambling. Southern Digest, Southern University and A&M College

7a. Best Arts and Entertainment Criticism

No First, Second or Third place winners

Honorable Mentions

Kendra Farmer, Thorobred News, Kentucky State University

Anna Baynham, The Blue & White Flash, Jackson State University

7b. Signed Commentary or Column Writing

First Place

Diamond Jenkins, The Blue and White Flash, Jackson State University

Second Place

Kendra Farmer, The Thorobred News, Kentucky State University

Third Place

Caleb Jackson, The Hampton Script, Hampton University

Honorable Mention

Kanesha Leak, The News Argus, Winston-Salem State University

7c. Best Editorial

No winners in the category.

8. Best Editorial Cartoon

First Place

Alan Wells, Scene from Barack-y II, The Blue & White Flash, Jackson State University

Second Place

Desmond Thompson, Statue of Liberty Hurricane Sandy, The News Argus, Winston Salem State University

Third Place

Bobby Faison, School days with Timmy, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University

9. Headline Writing

First Place

Maulana Moore, The 'Chosen' won,　Hampton Script, Hampton University, Nov. 9, 2012

Second Place

Aaron Saunders, The skinny on tight jeans, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University, Feb. 22, 2012

Third Place

Nolan McCaskill, Beckford sets the tone, The FAMUan, Florida A&M University, Nov. 28, 2012

10. Individual Page Design

First Place

Kelcie C. McCrae, Remembering Trayvon with a larger point size, The A&T Register, North Carolina A&T University

Second Place

Evan Peters, Sept. 27th Retro Edition, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University

Third Place:

Jeffrey Morris, Jan. 30, 2012 Lifestyles page (including "a different pointe in ballet"), The FAMUan, Florida A&M University

11. Best Informational Graphics or News Illustration

First Place

Kendra Farmer, Liberal studies core due to change, Thorobred News. Kentucky State University

Second Place

Andre Williams, Prairie View works to improve retention, The Panther, Prairie View A&M University

Third Place

Andre Williams, Students choose careers based on future wages, The Panther, Prairie View A&M University

12. Best Design – Broadsheet

First Place

The Register Staff, The A&T Register, North Carolina A&T State University

Second Place

Camps Echo Staff, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University

Third Place

Evan Peters, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University

12. Best Design – Tabloid

First Place

Evan Taylor, The Southern Digest, Southern University and A&M College

Second Place

Dexter Bunn and Devanique Riley, Spartan Echo, Norfolk State University

No Third Place Award

12. Best Overall Design

The Register Staff, The A&T Register, North Carolina A&T University

13a. Best Individual Photograph

First Place

Marcus Williams, Lady Panthers make fourth NCAA appearance, The Panther, Prairie View A&M University

Second Place

Alvin McBean, Swimmer, The FAMUan, Florida A&M University

13b. Best Photo Story

First Place

Chi Brown, The walls are talking, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University

Second Place

Matt Phillips, The Wasteland: A Durham dystopia, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University

14a. Best Online Audio Slide Show

No winners for this category.

14b.

Best Online Video Story

First Place

Norfolk State University

Second Place

North Carolina Central University

Third Place

Hampton University

14c. Best Online Multimedia Package

First Place

North Carolina Central University

Second Place

Southern University and A&M College

Third Place

Hampton University

14d.

Best Online Site

First Place

Hampton University

Second Place

Norfolk State University

Third Place

North Carolina Central University

15. Sesquicentennial Award

No entries. No winners.

16a. Best Student Newspaper (Non-Regular Production)

First Place

Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University

Second Place

Hampton Script, Hampton University

Third Place

UVI VOICE, University of the Virgin Islands

16b. Best Student Newspaper (Regular Production)

First Place

Southern Digest, Southern University

Second Place

The FAMUan, Florida A & M University

---------

 This article was published as a news release from the Black College Communication Association.