CONTACT:
VALERIE D. WHITE
Chairwoman
Black College Communication Association
Assistant Professor of Journalism
Florida A&M University
(850) 599-3650 (work)
(850) 219-0071 (home)

DATE:
Feb. 10, 2006

The Black College Communication Association today announced the winners of the 2005 HBCU "Excellence in Journalism" Student Newspaper Contest. Honoring the finest work of student-produced newspapers at the historically black colleges, the contest annually serves as a barometer of the progress made by the student news staffs with support from their advisers and faculty.

Although primarily an educational tool, the HBCU newspaper contest also serves as a showcase of top student work in news, features, sports and editorial writing, page design, photography, graphics and cartooning. Newspaper advisers and staffs study the winning entries for ideas to improve their own publications. In addition, newspaper industry recruiters use the winner's list as they search for job candidates. Many of the award-winning student journalists are searching for summer internships and first jobs.

The awards were announced today at the 8th annual HBCU Newspaper Conference and Job Fair, held in Greensboro, N.C., with North Carolina A&T University as the host.

This year, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel volunteered its news, editorial, design and recruiting staffs as contest judges. Additional judges include working journalists from the Associated Press, Newsday and the New York Daily News, to name a few.

A complete list of winners is below.

2005 HBCU "EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM" winners

Best Student Newspaper (twice weekly or more frequently)
First place: The Southern Digest, Southern University
Second place: The Hilltop, Howard University

Best Student Newspaper (weekly)
First place: The Meter, Tennessee State University
Second place: The Blue & White Flash, Jackson State University
Third place: The Gramblinite, Grambling State University

Best Student Newspaper (non-weekly)
Honorable mention: Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University
Honorable mention: The Hampton Script, Hampton University
Honorable mention: The Student Voice, Albany State University

Best Online Newspaper
First place: The Meter, Tennessee State University
Second place: The A&T Register, North Carolina A&T University
Third place: The Hilltop, Howard University
Honorable mention: Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University

Best News Coverage
First place: The Hilltop, Howard University, "Millions More Movement"
Second place: Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University, "SGA Elections"
Third place: The Gramblinite, Grambling State University, "Katrina"
Honorable mention: The Southern Digest, Southern University, "Katrina"

Best Spot News Story
First place: Mark Stringfellow, The Gramblinite, Grambling State
University, "She Was Everything"
Second place: Christina Wright, The Hilltop, Howard University,
"Late-Night Intruder Scares Tower Residents"
Third place: Kendrick Marshall, The Blue & White Flash, Jackson State University, "JSU Football Coach James Bell Fired"
Honorable mention: Hubert Tate, The Blue & White Flash, Jackson State University, "Plaza Changes Upset Students"

Best News Series, Investigation or In-Depth Story
First place: The Staff of The Meter, The Meter, Tennessee State University, for coverage of the selection of TSU's new President"
Second place: The Staff of The Meter, The Meter, Tennessee State University, for coverage of Hurricane Katrina's effects at TSU
Third place: Alanna Jones and DeTorsha Brunson, The Panther, Prairie View A&M University, for coverage of tuition increase

Best Headline
First place: Joanna Hernandez, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University, "Little Brother Rocks the Cradle"
Second place: Nikki G. Bannister, The Southern Digest, Southern University, "Flag Still Raises Division at LSU"

Best Special Section or Theme Edition
First place: "2005 SGA Elections," Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University
Second place: "Graduation," The Famuan, Florida A&M University
Third place: "Welcome Week 2005," The Blue & White Flash, Jackson State University
Honorable mention: "Free at Last," The Southern Digest, Southern University

Best Design, Tabloid
First place: The Southern Digest, Southern University
Second place: The Meter, Tennessee State University
Third place: The Blue & White Flash, Jackson State University

Best Design, Broadsheet
First place: Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University
Second place: The Gramblinite, Grambling State University
Third place: The Hilltop, Howard University

Best Individual Page Design
First place: Carla Aaron-Lopez, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University, "Katrina Brings Misery"
Second place: De'Eric Henry, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University, "Page One, Sept. 15, 2005"
Third place: Arion Jamerson, The Hilltop, Howard University, "Ossie Davis"
Honorable mention: Nikki G. Bannister, The Southern Digest, Southern
University, "Katrina photo essay"

Best Informational Graphics or News Art/Illustration
First place: Michael Grant, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University, "Protecting History and Ourselves"
Second place: Montree Reynolds and Michael Grant, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University, "Order of Events in Response to Katrina"
Third place: Michael Grant, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University, "Is Merging Good?"

Best Overall Sports Coverage
First place: Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University
Second place: The Hilltop, Howard University
Third place: Southern Digest, Southern University

Best Sports Feature Story
First place: Mike McCray, A&T Register, North Carolina A&T University, "The Fayetteville Slugger"
Second place: Garvin Linley, The Hilltop, Howard University, "Alison Richardson"
Third place: Kendrick Marshall, The Blue & White Flash, Jackson
State University, "Leading by Example"

Best Sports News or Game Story
First place: Chris Faughn, Lincoln Clarion, Lincoln University of Missouri, "NCAA Sports Infractions by Lincoln 'Not Intentional'"
Second place: Drew Costley, The Hilltop, Howard University, "'Little Things' Amount to Big Frustrations for Lady Bison"
Third place: Kendrick Marshall, The Blue & White Flash, Jackson State University, "JSU Scores Victory on Field Goal"
Honorable mention: Robert Louis Love III, The Student Voice, Albany State University, "ASU Takes Care of Business for 3rd Straight Year"

Best Use of Photography
First place: Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University
Second place: The Hilltop, Howard University
Third place: The Southern Digest, Southern University
Honorable mention: The Gramblinite, Grambling State University

Best Individual Photograph
First place: Nikki G. Bannister, The Southern Digest, Southern University, "Katrina's Mighty Weight"
Second place: Maya Gilliam, The Hilltop, Howard University, "Change."
Third place: Maya Gilliam, The Hilltop, Howard University, "Students React to the Presidential Visit"
Honorable mention: Douglas Toussaint, The Southern Digest, Southern University, "I Wasn't Safe"
Honorable mention: Maya Gilliam, The Hilltop, Howard University, "Millions More Movement"

Best Sports Photograph
First place: Josh Halley, The Southern Digest, Southern University, "Lady Jags Win"
Second place: Darryl D. Smith, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University, "Clyde Edwards"
Third place: Josh Halley, The Southern Digest, Southern University, "Jags Shut out Panthers"
Honorable mention: Roderick Heath, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University, "Eagles Call Shots"

Best Features/A&E Section
First place: The Hilltop, Howard University
Second place: Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University
Third place: The Gramblinite, Grambling State University
Honorable mention: The Panther, Prairie View A&M University
Honorable mention: The Southern Digest, Southern University

Best Arts and Entertainment Criticism
First place: Wendell Graves, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University, "'The Day After' the 'Kamikaze'"
Second place: Amber R. Perry, The Southern Digest, Southern University, "Real Life Pays in 'Rent'"
Third place: Carla Aaron-Lopez, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University, "Common: 'Be'"
Honorable mention: Wendell Graves, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University, "Trap Star Represents the Streets with Latest Release"

Best Editorial/Opinion Section
First place: The Hilltop, Howard University
Second place: The Meter, Tennessee State University
Third place: The Famuan, Florida A&M

Best Editorial
Honorable mention: The Meter, Tennessee State University, "Short-Term Thinking Hurts Students in the Long Run"

Best Editorial Cartoon
First place: Wilbert Norwood, "The Breaks: 'Go Back to Southern'" The Southern Digest, Southern University
Second place: Kalen Davis, "President Bush," Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University
Third place: Brandon Murphy, "Crossing Fayetteville Street," Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University

Best Column or Signed Commentary
First place: Markuetric Stringfellow, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University "Let Us Do Our Job"
Second place: Eddie R. Cole Jr., The Meter, Tennessee State University, "Editor Disgusted with Some TSU Officials"
Third place: Marisa D. Turner, The Gramblinite, Grambling State University, "Handle Your Business or it Will Handle You."
Honorable mention: Jessica Lynn Gibson, The Blue & White Flash, Jackson State University, "Events After Hurricane Katrina Make Us Ask, 'Who is to Blame?'"
Honorable Mention: Carla Aaron-Lopez, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University, "Shrinking GOP"

Best Feature Writing
First place: Brandi Worley, The Southern Digest, Southern University, "I Wasn't Safe"
Second place: Ayesha Rascoe, The Hilltop, Howard University, "Ossie Davis"
Third place: LaShonda D. Levy, The Blue & White Flash, Jackson State University, "Spoken Word"
Honorable Mention: Julius Jones, Campus Echo, North Carolina Central University, "The Wise Ones"
Honorable Mention: Nikki G. Bannister, The Southern Digest, Southern University, "Banner's Back, Part One"

Best Yearbook
Honorable mention: Southern University
Honorable mention: North Carolina Central University
Honorable mention: Tennessee State University

JUDGES
Lolly Bowean, metro reporter, Chicago Tribune
Fia Curley, graduate student, Ohio University
Joe Demma, investigations editor, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Cornelius Foote, Reach Media Inc., Dallas
Eric Gay, staff photographer, The Associated Press
Latease Hewlett, Baltimore-based freelance feature/fashion writer
Karsten Ivey, graphics reporter, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Alva James-Johnson, reporter, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Michael Johnson, designer, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Titus Ledbetter, reporter, The Gazette
Greg Lewis, reporter, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Belinda Long, graphics reporter, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Chan Lowe, editorial cartoonist, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Mira Lowe, director of recruitment, Newsday
Douglas C. Lyons, senior editorial writer, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Mike Mayo, metro columnist, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Robbie Morganfield, executive director, Freedom Forum Diversity Institute
Denis Paquin, administrative photo editor, The Associated Press
Kathy Pellegrino, recruitment editor, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Clem Richardson, columnist, New York Daily News
Nicole Roberts, assistant editor/news, Newsday
Arnie Rosenberg, assistant city editor, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Amy Sancetta, national photographer, The Associated Press
Cliff Schiappa, Midwest photo editor, The Associated Press
Mike Terry, sports staff writer, Los Angeles Times
Jean Thompson, editorial consultant, Black College Wire
M. Dion Thompson, former bureau chief and staff writer, The Baltimore Sun
Sherri Winston, lifestyle columnist, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Robyn Wishna, designer, South Florida Sun-Sentinel